Team Checklist

Congratulations on qualifying for National 7s. You’ve already completed the hardest part by qualifying for the tournament, and can now start planning your trip, confirming eligibility and sharing your players’ information. Please carefully read the onboarding steps below and complete each step by the deadline.


Pre-Tournament Checklist

  • Ensure that your team, players and coaches are registered and eligible with NCR. You can learn more about registration and eligibility on the NCR website. Registration needs to be completed prior to submitting a Player Eligibility Form.
  • Submit the Player Eligibility Form to eligibility@ncr.rugby by April 1 or, for teams qualifying after that deadline, within a week after qualification.
  • Book air travel. If needed, contact the NCR travel agency PRS Travel.
  • Book Hotel. The CRC is a stay-and-play tournament, and it’s mandatory that all teams stay at a tournament hotel. Do not delay in booking your hotel. We strongly advise booking within one week of qualification to secure a hotel in your preferred location and price. Cut off date for booking hotels is April 18th. An opt out fee will be charged for any team that wishes to stay outside of one of our 26 tournament hotels or books after the April 18th CRC block release. Do not contact hotel directly, contact Bill Price bprice@wise-traveler.com (480)-246-4101 with any questions regarding booking your hotel.
  • Teams traveling with their own medical personnel must notify Michael Lewis, the Chair of NCR's Medical and Safety Committee. 

    - We have provided a template for the letter. The notification must be sent to Mike at medical@ncr.rugby by April 19.
  • All teams are expected to bring their own basic medical supplies including a fully stocked medical kit with taping supplies for prophylactic taping, basic OTC medications and sunblock.
  • If your team is bringing a media person, please submit a request for media credentials by sending the person's name, email, and phone number to info@ncr.rugby. With the credential, your media person will have field access during your team’s games.
  • Pre-order your team's tournament t-shirts (closed). All orders must be submitted by April 22. Teams are limited to ONE order per team.

Arrival Checklist

Training Information: After completing all necessary eligibility requirements your team contact will receive a link from kelsea@ncr.rugby to sign up for training. Each team is guaranteed a one-hour training session on a half of a field.

Training location: Maryland SoccerPlex, Fields #18-20
Men’s training: Thursday, April 25, 8:00am - 4:00pm
Women’s training: Friday, April 26, 8:00am - 4:00pm

Check In Information:

  • Team's will check in 15 minutes after the completion of their training session(i.e., training slot 8am-9am, check in at 9:15am).
  • If your team is local and not attending a training session, you will receive a schedule link from kelsea@ncr.rugby just for check in.
  • Your team will receive the following during check in:
  • Credentials
  • Printed match rosters for the entirety of the weekend
  • Pre-ordered t-shirts. 
  • Teams are eligible to receive the following credentials:
  • Rostered players: (15 max)
  • Coaches (3 max)
  • Medical (1 max). This credential requires pre-approval and a letter from your school.
  • Media (1 max). This role requires pre-approval by submitting the request to info@ncr.rugby.
  • You will not be able to enter player zones or spectate in the stadium without this pass. 
  • Photo ID's are required to check in. (school ID preferred, state ID accepted)

Check In Location:

Men's Check In: Located on the Stadium West Concourse.
Women's Check In: Located behind the team village, outside of the ticketed area. Teams will enter through the team entrance once they receive a credential.

Follow the map to the entrance of the Player village which is on the left side of the Field house, along with all match fields throughout the weekend.

Have any questions or concerns? Please contact info@ncr.rugby or your division commissioner.

Match Day Checklist

Stadium Entry

Credentialed players and team staff may enter the stadium through any general admission gate, but teams are strongly encouraged to park in the team parking lot behind the Field house (driveway on the left of the building) and enter through the Team Village. Only credentialed team staff should be on the team vehicles, as credentials are required for the team lot. 

Players and team staff will have access to all general admission areas inside the stadium (East stands, Spirit Hill).

Pre-match check in

Teams must check-in and submit their match rosters to their No. 4 table by kickoff two games prior to their match. Teams playing in the stadium will submit their rosters at the entry tunnel on the north end of the stadium.

If you are playing in one of the first two matches of the day, check in at the No. 4 table no later than 40 minutes before your scheduled kickoff time.

Pre-match flow

Outside the stadium, coin toss will take place at halftime of the game prior at the No. 4 table. Teams should be staged and ready to take the field at this point. Inside the stadium, the coin toss will take place at halftime of the game prior at the entry tunnel on the north end of the stadium.

Teams playing on fields 9, 11 (stadium) and 12 will warm up on Field 8. Teams on all other fields must warm up in their try zones. The use of cones, pads or any equipment above and beyond balls is prohibited from use in try zones. Warm-ups must conclude by halftime of the game prior to yours, as you’re due for coin toss and staging. Elongated warm-up times and tardiness to the coin toss will not be tolerated.

Taking the Field

For in-stadium matches, the production crew will notify the Red Hat when the broadcast has returned from commercial breaks which should occur no later than 2 minutes before the scheduled match. The Assistant Referees will line up the two teams at the Dead Ball Line 4 minutes before the scheduled match. The referee will be in front of both teams.

The Red Hat, located beside the No. 4, will advise the referee team that the players can enter the field. The Referee will advise both teams that they can enter the field. The Referee and Assistant Referees will run onto the field immediately after the teams have entered.

"Home" and "Away" team designations are clearly labeled on the schedule in the NCR app, and signs clearly marking "Home" and "Away" benches will be on every field. Please download the app and be prepared to take the right bench.

Team Village

This is the designated and roped-off rest area reserved for team tents just northwest of the stadium overlooking the Team Drop off & Parking Lot and outside fields. Only credentialed players, coaches and staff will be allowed in this area, but it is not a secured space, and players will leave personal items at their own risk.

Teams may bring their own tents, as on-site tent rentals are not available. The maximum tent size is 10x10. Tents may be left overnight, at your own risk, but all contents of the tent must be packed up or thrown away every day.

Teams may have performance drinks and food on site, like bananas, oranges, bars, gatorade, etc., but they are restricted to the Team Village.

Teams are responsible for cleaning their areas and keeping them tidy at all times.

Contacts

Please send all questions to Membership Services at info@ncr.rugby.

Men’s Division I Club

Brad Dufek

brad@ncr.rugby
Men’s Division II

Brad Dufek

brad@ncr.rugby
Men’s Premier Cup

Pat Clifton

sevens@ncr.rugby
Men’s Small College

Brad Dufek

brad@ncr.rugby
Women's Division II

Angela Smarto

smarto@ncr.rugby
Women's Small College

Kelsea Thompson

kelsea@ncr.rugby
Women’s Division I Club

Angela Smarto

smarto@ncr.rugby
Women’s Premier Cup

Pat Clifton

sevens@ncr.rugby