This section is about safety. It is about how to lessen the chances of players getting injured. The material addresses the ways to manage the risks of playing rugby.
Since 1995, the EPRU has been pro-active in making rugby a safer sport with its publication of "Safety Precaution Recommendations". In 1998, a more comprehensive safety publication EPRU Making Rugby Safer (PDF) was issued. This document was well-received by the rugby community nationwide and is used by many Unions as "their" safety document. In continuing its pro-active approach to rugby safety, the EPRU has issued its "Safer Rugby Program" and feels its 7-step approach to rugby safety will help to make the rugby experience even better for all involved. Please start using it today.
In recent years, safety has received more focus by both National and International Rugby governing bodies as seen by the wealth of information found at USA Rugby's website (www.usarugby.org ) as well as the IRB (www.irb.com). USA Rugby has partnered with the National Center for Sports Safety ( www.sportssafety.org) to provide its sports safety course "PREPARE" which is now part of the Coaching Certification Program. PREPARE can also be taken directly online at the NCSS website. The IRB has produced its "Rugby Ready Program" ( www.irbrugbyready.com) and can be taken online. Both of which are part of the EPRU's "Safer Rugby Program".
EPRU Safety Director, Bryan McCloskey, will be preparing on a regular basis the EPRU Safer Rugby News. This newsletter is dedicated to providing our membership with tips, guidance, information, etc. that teams can easily use to better their safety preparation for their players.
Every EPRU club (U15, HS, U19, College and Seniors) is expected to have an Emergency Action Plan in place before the start of their season. Use this EAP Template as a tool to create your own as well as Safer Rugby News, Vol. I, Issues 2, 3 and 4.
Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this program are both welcome and encouraged and should be sent to the EPRU President at president@epru.org.
This section is also about another kind of safety - safety from legal entanglements for the coach and administration. The litigation explosion in America has not skipped the world of athletics. The EPRU's Safety/Risk Management officer is Dr. Richard Borkowski. Dr. Borkowski has prepared a series of articles which are a kind of defensive game plan to lower the chance of injury to players and litigation problems for coaches. That is a "win-win" situation. The key to good risk management is preparation, foreseeability and vigilance. Understanding and applying the simple safety strategies in this section is most important. It is your coaching duty.
Richard P. Borkowski, EdD, CAA, is a sport and recreation safety consultant based in Narberth, PA. He served as the Director of Physical Education and Athletics at the Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pennsylvania for 33 years. He founded and coached the rugby team at Episcopal Academy for over 20 years. He also served as the chairman of USA Rugby's Safety & Risk Management Committee and is currently a member of that committee. He offers seminars, does evaluations and writes on the subject of sport safety
His second book, titled "The School Sports Safety Handbook," published by LRP Publications in Horsham, Pennsylvania contains a Rugby Safety Checklist. His third book, "The Athletic Administrator's Scheduling Book," was published in March 2001. Dick can be reached via email at drbork@epru.org.
EPRU 'Safer Rugby News' - The Latest Safety News is Now Available - As part of its continuing proactive approach towards rugby safety, the EPRU will be issuing a regular newsletter to help clubs to be best prepared for the care of their players. Contact: Bryan McCloskey, MS, ATC, EPRUsafety@gmail.com, phone: 610-436-2139, More Details
01/07/10
EPRU Welcomes Dr. Brian Reiter - The EPRU is excited to have Dr. Reiter as a go-to resource for orthopedic injuries with same-day or next-day availability to rugby players. , More Details
01/06/10
- 11/06/10
EPRU 'Safer Rugby News' - The Latest Safety News is Now Available - As part of its continuing proactive approach towards rugby safety, the EPRU will be issuing a regular newsletter to help clubs to be best prepared for the care of their players. Contact: Bryan McCloskey, MS, ATC, EPRUsafety@gmail.com, phone: 610-436-2139, More Details
12/13/09
USA Eagles Captain Todd Clever Tackles Dehydration, More Details
12/01/09
IRB New Online Strength & Conditioning Resource, More Details
10/31/09
Playing It Safe: Concussion Training for Coaches - take the course online in only 20 minutes - discount for rugby coaches too! , More Details
Rugby Safety - MRSA Skin Infections and Swine Flu - Please take this information to heart and share it with everyone and follow the guidelines., More Details
09/01/09
Making Rugby Safer and Medical Preparedness - Have you read the EPRU's proactive safety practices "Making Rugby Safer"? If not, please take the time to do so. Is your Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place? Do you have Medical Coverage at your matches? Contact: Bryan McCloskey, MS, ATC, EPRUsafety@gmail.com, phone: 610-436-2139, More Details
06/10/09
Summer Rugby: The Art of Staying Cool - Hydration - learn how to keep your cool and play at your best during the hot summer months, More Details
06/09/09
MARFU Lightning Policy (Print It and Keep it in your Kit Bag !) - BE SAFE - get custom severe weather warnings sent to your cell phone or PDA (www.weather.com). Read the policy and know what to do., More Details
06/09/09
EPRU SAFETY SPECIAL REPORT - LIGHTNING SAFETY - Is your club either hosting or attending a tournament this summer? If so, please be prepared. Contact: Bryan McCloskey, MS, ATC, EPRUsafety@gmail.com, phone: 610-436-2139, More Details
06/08/09
Frequently Asked Sports Nutrition Questions - Time and again, athletes repeatedly ask questions about sugar, protein, supplements, caffeine, carbs, recovery, and body fat. See what Nancy Clark has to say., More Details
05/18/09
IRB Rugby Ready Proves to be a Global Hit - Rugby Ready, the IRB’s online best-practice coaching and Rugby preparation resource has proven a global hit with Rugby players, coaches and administrators around the world. Contact: Mark Harrington, IRB Training Manager, Mark.Harrington@irb.com, More Details
03/21/09
Hey, it's raining ! Can we play ? Know the EPRU Weather Policy - designed to guide teams when bad weather can affect whether a match is played or not. Contact: Steve Cohen, sdcohen4@mindspring.com, phone: 609-714-2203, More Details
08/20/08
IRB Addresses ELV Injury Concerns and Issues Dangerous Play Directive - To address the concerns over injuries associated with the new ELVs, especially collapsing of the maul, the IRB has provided 3 documents., More Details
07/05/08
START YOUR ENGINES: The ABC's of Sports Nutrition - Eating a performance-enhancing diet isn't easy, and for many athletes and active people, nutrition is their missing link. If that's you...time for you to learn a few ABC's., More Details
06/07/08
Optimal Sports Performance - Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, a muscle physiology researcher at McMaster University in Canada and a physician, knows all about the exhortations by supplement makers and many nutritionists on what to eat and when to eat it for optimal performance. , More Details
04/27/08
EPRU Medical Coverage Questionnaire for College and High School/U19 Clubs - Completion by ALL Colleges and HS/U19 clubs is due BY May 15. The EPRU Medical Committee has a vision in which all participating members will be cared for appropriately when injured while playing. Contact: Bryan McCloskey, eprufeedback@gmail.com, More Details
03/09/08
Rugby Safety News - Scrum Pox Alert - Proper care can avoid skin infection from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MSRA). It is incumbent on the rugby community to take a proactive stance on this issue. Contact: Dr. Lyle Micheli, Michelilyle@aol.com, More Details
03/08/08
EPRU Sets Standards of Conduct for Participants and Supporters - A high degree of sportsmanship and fairness is expected from players, coaches, match officials and supporters. Contact: Steve Cohen, sdcohen4@mindspring.com, phone: 609-714-2203, More Details
07/05/06
RUGBY SAFETY: Free Tool Kit on Concussions - The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has made available a valuable and free tool for all rugby coaches, players and parents. More than 300,000 people sustain sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries every year in this country., More Details
02/26/06
Injury Survey Report Validates Rugby Safety - HS Rugby Tends to Have Lower Injury Rates than Youth Football and Hockey, More Details
02/01/06
2006 USA Rugby Guidelines on the Application of Law for Youth Non-Contact - Five proposals adopted by the Youth Guidelines Committee of USA Rugby Contact: Rick Humm, USA Rugby Game Development, rphumm@usarugby.org, More Details
03/07/00
Enhancing Safety in Youth Rugby - In the past several years USA Rugby has devoted much of its effort to increasing youth rugby participation in this country. Grants from the International Rugby Board (IRB) have enabled USA Rugby to create promotional materials, hire a full-time Youth Manager, and host clinics and camps to demonstrate the game and how it is played safely at the youth level. These monies have also been used to establish clubs and leagues at high schools, YMCAs, boys and girls clubs, and local parks and recreation departments across the United States. USA Rugby now has 27 Youth Development Officers (YDOs) throughout the U.S., More Details
02/20/00
The Need for a Certified Athletic Trainer - In the EPRU, we have found that a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) at our championship and all-star events is an invaluable asset in the proper care and well being of our players, More Details
This section is about safety. It is about how to lessen the chances of players getting injured. The material addresses the ways to manage the risks of playing rugby.
