The Captain’s Run
As we saw earlier, the Captain’s Run is a training session which is led by the team captain rather than by a coach. It takes place at a pre-determined time, usually on the day before the match.
Each team will have an hour for the Captain’s Run, within which they are expected to spend around 50 minutes on the field.
Field of play protection
As there is little time for the ground staff to work on the pitch between the Captains’ Runs and the match itself, it’s necessary to protect the field of play.
Therefore, scrummaging and lineout drills are not allowed during Captain Runs. Players must not wear studs, with the exception of four nominated kickers.
In the event of adverse weather, if the risk to the playing surface is significant, so as to put the fixture in jeopardy, you can take the decision to cancel the Captains’ Runs in order to preserve the playing surface for match day. This is part of your decision making role as Match Commissioner. In such an instance, be sure to inform the teams as soon as possible.
Opting out
The Captain’s Run is not mandatory for the teams and may be replaced by an official training at the team training ground. Should the team decide not to attend the Captain’s Run, the Team Manager must make an official announcement of the official training time 24 hours in advance.
You would then need to arrange a time to speak to the Team Manager to discuss the match day arrangements and must email all the required documentation if you won't be meeting face to face.
Privacy and media access
It is your responsibility to ensure that nobody except for the Venue Operations staff attends the Captain’s Run. This is to ensure privacy for the team’s training. In particular, aside from the agreed media window, TV cameras must be switched off and if possible covered and not pointing toward the pitch.
Tournament Terms of Participation normally stipulate that each team must allow accredited press and media personnel to attend one training session per day. Where a team holds a closed training session, the team must allow accredited members of the media ten minutes access to the Captain’s Run for vision. The times of these 10 minute windows must be communicated to the Tournament Media Manager at least 24 hours in advance.
Captain’s Run Briefing
During each Captain’s Run, one team representative must make themselves available to meet with you and the Match Manager (and/or their representative) for the match briefing.
The Captain’s Run briefing time and place will be confirmed in advance by the Match Manager who will inform the Match Commissioner and Team Liaison Officer.
The precise agenda of the Captain’s Run Briefing will depend somewhat on the specifics of your situation, but the list below gives you some ideas for items to go on that agenda.
- Captains Run rules - teams are in and out within the hour
- If any activities are happening at the stadium during the Captain’s Run, inform the Team Managers
- Confirm media windows (these should have been checked and confirmed the day before)
- Review run sheet
- Ensure that the team sheet has been submitted to the tournament organiser (as latest 24 hours in advance of the match)
- Shirt numbers and colours confirmed and must not be changed from this point forth
- Changing room allocation
- Delivery of ice, water and isotonics
- Broadcast and team filming
- Seating areas for staff and substitutes
- Warm up areas before the game
- Anthem protocol and position
- Whether the team intends to perform a cultural challenge, and if so, the approximate duration
- Allocation and rules of the Technical Zone
- Head Injury Assessment (HIA), protocol and responsibilities
- TMO protocol
- Warm up during the game – no balls or equipment in in-goal
- Which member of team management is instructing the 4th and 5th official of any substitutions
- Post-match snacks
- Crisis Management process
- Match footage distribution post-match
The opposing team
The opposing team must not be present at a Captain’s Run.
Therefore, the second team should not gain entry to the stadium until the first team has finished their Captain’s Run and vacated.
Similarly, the first team must leave the premises before the second team’s Captain’s Run begins.
This is why the Captain’s Run is designed to last for 50 minutes rather than the full hour - to ensure that the changeover is complete and no part of the session is witnessed by the opposition