Womens - Tier 3

The third tier of competition in NEWCRC.  Designed for developmental clubs.

NEWCRC is proud to offer a true "Developmental" tier for women's clubs not quite ready for a higher level of competition.  This tier's structure is intended to incentivize clubs to travel for matches even if they only have a limited number of players on a given date.
 
Even if one team is unable to attend, no other clubs will be left without a competition option that day.  Our hope is that this effort will foster camaraderie and enthusiasm among all clubs involved, and allow clubs to gain valuable experience.
 
The approved competition format changes are summarized below, but please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

1. The goal for Tier 3 is to play 15's rugby, however possible.  To accommodate this, combining clubs on a given weekend may be necessary.
2. Each week there will be 3 host locations.  Each location will host 3-4 clubs.
3. These clubs must communicate prior to arrival, clearly stating their estimated roster size for that date.  Based on that information, the clubs must then coordinate among themselves to play the appropriate type of competition; 15's (preferred), 10's, or 7's rugby.
   • Example 1; Team A arrives with 20 players, Team B with 10, and Team C with 7.  Team B and C can combine and play 15's, or multiple games of 10's versus Team A.
   • Example 2;  Team A has 13 players, Team B has 12, and Team C has 8.  This would be a great opportunity to play multiple games of 7's rugby, with Teams A and B providing substitutes to Team C as necessary.
   • Example 3;  In the instance where all clubs have sufficient numbers, multiple short 15's games may be played (20-minute halves) to ensure all clubs get equal field time.
4. Match reporting will be critical for determining which, if any, clubs should be considered for promotion to Tier 2 at the end of the season.  The match reporting form will need to be completed by all teams each week.

Please understand that this system requires good communication, and adjustments on the fly - not unlike a rugby match.  There are bound to be some hiccups, so bear with us.  A positive outlook and proactively looking for solutions when issues arise would be much appreciated.

A few items that I'll expand upon here;

• Clubs will only host 1 or 2 times per season and travel 3-4 times.  This will reduce your annual referee & trainer expenses, but increase your travel costs slightly.  The majority of your travel will be to other clubs in your "local" area, and we will do our best to limit total travel over the season.
• There will be no Tier 3 "Standings".  The combined sides will make this impossible to accurately track.
• If two clubs arrive with full sides (20+ players) while the 3rd (and/or 4th) club does not have a full side, PLEASE make every effort to combine sides so all players can get balanced playing time.  While I understand the desire to play your full side as you would in a competitive tier, we must also remember that the purpose of Tier 3 is the development of all clubs involved.  Forcing a club with low numbers to watch your A-Side 15's game before playing your B-side in 7's is not in the spirit of NEWCRC Tier 3.
• Potential promotion to Tier 2 will be based on several factors
  • Consistent roster size
  • On-Field success (will be gathered from your opponent's match reports, and discussed via email with me, as well as in-person at the AGM)
  • Adherence to league policies (Good standing with USA Rugby, NEWCRC dues paid in a timely manner, Filing of match reports, etc...)