A USA Rugby coach is a certified coach who works to protect and ensure player welfare. He or she is capable of teaching technical and tactical principles of the game appropriate for a player’s age and skill level. USA Rugby coaches have demonstrated an understanding of the laws and mandates of the game and are committed to professional development.

The new registration fee for coaches will be $65.00. The increased registration fee will be applied to the cost of certification and support other elements of the Coach Development Program. The registration fee will not be redistributed to the National Team or other areas of USA Rugby. It will help to offset the cost of courses and resources available through Coach Development. Coaching membership will continue to include a background check, member accident insurance, third party liability insurance, and the traditional member benefits and discounts with USA Rugby affiliates. However, these benefits will only be extended to the coach once he or she has completed all requirements for certification.

In the past, club administrators may have registered coaches for their club. Coaches are urged to complete registration themselves as the process requires both a social security number and completion of certification requirements. For instructions on how to register, visit the membership FAQs page. Instructions on how to complete certification requirements will be emailed to you upon your successful registration.

All Coaches will need to be certified in the new program. The minimum USA Rugby coach certification requirement will entail the completion of the Level 100 Coaching Course and the Player Protection Package. These courses will be provided online at no additional cost and concentrate on familiarizing coaches with the game and essential ethical issues including player safety and abuse.

No. Ample time will be provided for Coaches to complete certification requirements after registration. Coaches who do not complete the certification requirements during this grace period will become inactive pending completion. Inactive Coaches will not receive insurance benefits.

Yes. For members to register multiple roles with USA Rugby (coach and player for example), it will be necessary to complete the Dual Role request. This form can be filled out electronically. To locate the form, select “Membership” from the left hand navigation panel and “Membership Forms” from the subsequent drop-down menu. Dual Role request will be listed under “Registration Forms.”

Coaches who are certified under the current coach development model will be grandfathered into the new program. However, these coaches must complete the online Player Protection Package within two weeks of registration to maintain certification. The Player Protection Package is included in the cost of registration and consists of the USOC SafeSport course, USADA TrueSport course, and the CDC Concussion Management course. Upon completion of this online material, currently certified Coaches will become active certified Coaches in the new system.

• Coaches who have completed the Introducing Rugby course will become Level 200 Coaches, and will have until August 15, 2013 to complete the additional Level 200 requirements (Fundamentals of Coaching and First Aid)
• Coaches who have completed the Developing Rugby Skills will become Level 300 Coaches and will have until August 15, 2013 to complete the additional Level 200 requirements (Fundamentals of Coaching and First Aid)
• Coaches who have completed the Advance Coaching Course will become Level 400 Coaches
• All coaches are expected to complete the Player Protection Package to maintain active certification in the new program

No. First Aid certifications earned through the Red Cross and other accredited organizations will satisfy the USA Rugby requirement. Coaches can submit valid certifications directly to the Coach Development Department in order to fulfill the First Aid requirement.

Coaching certification will now follow the current USA Rugby membership cycle. So long as the professional development requirement is met each registration cycle, Coaches will remain certified indefinitely. Registration will still be necessary each registration cycle.

Professional Development Credits are similar to Continuing Education Units (C.E.U’s) in the current system. Coaches will receive Professional Development Credit through completion of pre-approved educational courses. This credit is used to fulfill annual certification requirements.

Projected course topics include strategy, safety, officiation, nutrition, conditioning, psychology, and administration in addition to existing course offerings provided through the IRB, the American Sport Education Program, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and other organizations.

Each course will be assigned a credit value, with 10 credits needed each year to retain a coaching certification. In general, online courses will earn Coaches 5 credits while courses attended in person will earn them 10.

Insurance coverage will not be provided to Coaches that have not earned certification. A club’s eligibility will be affected if they fail to register a Coach certified at the appropriate level.

All registered Coaches must attain certification appropriate for their level of play. In the first year of the program, all Coaches must complete the Level 100 course and the Player Protection Package mentioned above. Completion is estimated to take four to five hours and the courses will be available online. All teams will need a Level 100 coach registered with their club in order to be regarded as compliant. Clubs that fail to register a certified coach will not be issued Certificates of Insurance. Eventually, all contact coaches will have to achieve Level 200 certification, and all contact teams will be required to register a Level 200 coach.

To check your current certification status, use the “Join USA Rugby” link atop the left hand navigation panel on the USA Rugby homepage to enter the membership portal. The “Check Membership Status” link on the following page will allow you to determine your coaching status and certification level.

Questions about certification status can be directed to James Wilber and Chase Langdon at the USA Rugby National Office. This information will be available online through the USA Rugby website.

Chase Langdon

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

303-539-0300 x 131

The USA Rugby website will be continuously updated during the transitional period to reflect an accurate course schedule. Information on Professional Development Courses will also be updated in the coming months. Host applications for course offerings will also be available online.