January 2008 Rules Changes

8. UMPIRES AND REFEREE

b. The authority of the Umpire(s) and/or Referee shall extend from the time each game is scheduled to start until its end, and it shall include the ability to file a Conduct Violation in accordance with By-Law 11 against a player whose conduct is not in the best interest of the sport. For the purpose of this rule, the “end” of a game will occur approximately 15 minutes following the final whistle.

14. DURATION OF PERIODS

b. Each period will be a maximum of seven and one-half minutes in length. At the end of seven minutes of elapsed time, a horn (or bell) will sound to indicate thirty seconds remain in the period. At the end of seven and one-half minutes of elapsed time, a horn will sound twice to terminate the period. If a single horn is used in place of the 30 second bell, the horn will be sounded twice to terminate the period.

(1) Should a goal be scored after the seven minute horn (or bell) the Umpire shall sound the whistle and end the period.

(2) If a foul is confirmed after the 7 minute horn and less than 5 seconds remain, the clock will be reset to provide 5 seconds of play, the penalty executed, and the period will end on the second horn. If more than 5 seconds remain, or if play is stopped for other than a confirmed foul, the actual remaining time shall be played.

33. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Unsportsmanlike conduct, including but not limited to the following, shall not be permitted:

a. Vulgar or abusive language

b. Disrespectful attitude toward any official, player, coach or spectator

c. Arguing with Umpire(s) or other officials

d. Inappropriate behavior by any member of a team organization

e. Delay of game by feigning injury to player or mount

f. Delay of game for unnecessary tack time out

g. No player may swing the mallet in “windmill” fashion as in appealing for a foul

33. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT INTERPRETATION: Unsportsmanlike conduct, in any manner, or in any language, is not to be tolerated. The whistle and/or red flag should stop play and the provisions of Rule 35.e.(5) SELECTION OF PENALTIES applied.

EXAMPLES:

Red #2 steals the ball from Blue #3. Blue responds with a blistering tirade in Spanish. The Umpire, although not fluent in Spanish, recognizes the tone and may call a foul.

Team Blue's coach stalks the sidelines yelling loudly at his players and questioning the Umpires' judgment. This behavior is a team foul and should be penalized.

A tailgater on the sunny side of the field is vulgar and abusive toward a female player on the Red Team. Although obviously partisan, this individual is not part of the Blue Team organization. The Umpire should ask club management to deal with the situation.

Late in the game and trailing by a goal, Red #3 calls for tack time. In the Umpires' agreed judgment Red #3 is managing the clock. A Penalty may be awarded.

Blue #1 attempts a clever play and loses the ball. The Captain, Blue #3, lets go with a loud and extensive rant about the stupidity of the play. Even though addressed to a team mate, Blue's comments are abusive and should be penalized.

Special rule for 2008

Any USPA member club so requesting may, with the consent of the USPA Executive Committee, implement the following rule for USPA events during 2008:

OUTDOOR RULE 34. REPEATED FOULS

34. b. Any player penalized four (4) times during an event, or series of events, as defined by the Club Committee prior to the onset of an event or series of events, and set forth with particularity on the series or event Entry Form, for violations of Rule 33. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT will be suspended for a subsequent game in the designated event(s).

a. The Club Committee will notify the player and team sponsor of the suspension not less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled game time.

b. The Club will maintain a list available to all players of the number of Rule 33 violations charged to each player during the event(s).

c. A player wishing to protest the accuracy of the list may do so in writing to the Executive Director of the USPA, or his designee, who will investigate and announce his findings. His decision is final.

d. A player suspended from a game under this rule will be considered to have three Rule 33 violations charged to him when he again plays and each additional Rule 33 violation will result in an additional one game suspension during, or after the conclusion of the series or the event(s).

e. A player who believes he has been unfairly charged with Rule 33 violations may submit a written appeal to the Chairman of the USPA accompanied by a non-refundable appeal fee of $1,000. The Chairman shall then appoint a hearing officer to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violations, conduct a hearing at which the Club and the player may present evidence, witnesses and other proof and may cross examine adverse witnesses. The Hearing Officer will then make a non-binding recommendation to the Chairman. The Chairman may uphold or reduce the number of violations charged to the player. The Chairman's decision is final. If upheld, the costs of the hearing, including the Hearing Officer's fee, the Club's reasonable attorney's fees and costs will be charged to the player. Fees and costs charged to the player shall be paid in full as a condition precedent to the player's reinstatement to good standing.

f. In each game, the Umpire assessing a Rule 33 violation against a player will confirm with the scorer the identity of the player and specific violation. This information to be noted on the official score sheet and retained until the conclusion of the event(s).

g. A player receiving a 4th Rule 33 violation under this rule in the final game in the event(s) or series, as defined in the Entry Form, may, at the discretion of the Club Committee, be suspended from a game of a subsequent event in which the player is entered even though that subsequent event was not defined on the Entry Form.

2008 membership classifications

3. Dues, Registration Fees and Fiscal Year.

b. Member Club Dues

1) Active Member Club—Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) annual dues. Annual Dues are payable prior to January 1 of each year. Annual dues will be discounted to Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) if paid prior to January 1 of the upcoming year. An Active Member Club shall be located within the United States and shall, upon election to annual membership in the Association, share all privileges and obligations of the membership. The privileges include voting, hosting Association events, recommending handicaps, and registering players. The obligations of an Active Member Club shall include, at all times, an obligation to apply and enforce the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association. Failure of an Active Member Club to discharge its obligations may be grounds for suspension or termination of the privilege of Club membership by the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors, or the Chairman of the Association. During the term of any suspension of its membership, a Club shall have the rights and obligations of an Inactive Member Club.

c. Registration Fees.

1) Registered U.S. Citizen Player—Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) annual fee. A U.S. Citizen Player shall be a U.S. Citizen registered through an Active Member Club and shall enjoy all individual benefits and obligations of the Association.

a) Registration fees are due January 1 of each year. Registration fees will be discounted to One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) if received prior to January 1.

b) The fee for a Player not registered during the prior year is Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) at any time during the calendar year.

2) Registered non-U.S. Citizen Player—Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) annual fee.

a) Registration fees are due January 1 of each year. Registration fees will be discounted to Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) if received prior to January 1.

b) The fee for non-U.S. Citizen Player not registered during the prior year is Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) at any time during the calendar year.

c) A Registered non-U.S. Citizen Player registered through an Active Member Club who is not a U.S. Citizen shall enjoy all the individual benefits and obligations of the Association with the following exceptions: A Registered non-U.S. Citizen Player shall not be eligible to be selected as a Club Delegate for an Active Member Club; shall not serve on theBoard of Governors of the Association; shall not be eligible to vote for any member of the Board of Governors of the Association; and will not be eligible to be listed with an Active Member Club for purposes of determining the number of Active Members Club ballots for Circuit Governor elections.