Best Practices During Athletic Competition

Medical Checklist

Issued October 2022

Updated September 2025

National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) offers best health practices to keep collegiate athletes safe during rugby competition. These best practices are recommendations for those clubs and teams that do not have current protocols through their college or university.

These best practices do not supersede or take place of those protocols and policies in place by a rugby team’s college or university.

Recommended Medical Team (if not provided by the host team’s school)

• Licensed healthcare provider (e.g., athletic trainer [ATC], EMT, physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, chiropractor), preferably who is familiar with rugby, sports injury management, and acute trauma management.

Items to relay to the medical team prior to competition day:

• Match schedule
• If Medical Team is not already connected with the club or team, connect them via email chain, text, or WhatsApp. The NCR Policies below should be communicated to the Medical Team prior to each competition day.
• NCR Lightning Policy
• NCR Heat Illness Policy
• NCR Catastrophic Injury Policy
• NCR Onsite Concussion Protocol Policy

Items necessary for competition day:

• AED (supplied by school, EMT, Athletic Trainer, or located at or near match day site)
• Confirm that EMS is either present or alerted of event and on stand-by
• Taping and Splinting supplies (provided by each competing team)

Items encouraged for competition day:

• Cooler with ice
• Taping Table (encouraged for Athletic Trainer to bring when possible)