OFFICIAL CHANGES TO THE USPA RULES FOR 2010

PLEASE NOTE: Each USPA member will be provided a USPA White Book that will include the 2010 USPA Rules and Rules Interpretations and is asked to review the USPA Rules and Rules Interpretations. Changes to the 2010 Rules and Rules Interpretation will be listed in bold black font. Any questions concerning the USPA Rules and Rules Interpretation, please contact the USPA Executive Director.

1) Rule 1. TEAMS
Effective January 1, 2010 each Team in a USPA event with an upper handicap limit of 22 goals or less shall, excluding the sponsor, have a minimum of one Registered Player Member as defined in the Association By-laws.

2) Rule 14. DURATION OF PERIOD
a. (1) The period shall terminate when, following the 7 minute horn, the ball is out of play, out of bounds or hits the sideboards, a goal is scored or the Umpire stops play for any reason other than a confirmed foul.

Interpretation of 14. DURATION OF PERIODS If a penalty hit is awarded after the 7 minute horn, the penalty will be executed in the time remaining before the 7-1/2 minute horn. If less than 5 seconds remain before the second horn, the clock will be reset to 5 seconds. In both cases, the remainder of the period will be played until ended as described.

EXAMPLES: After the 7 minute warning horn, Blue #3 scores and is simultaneously fouled by Red #2. Penalty No. 1 is awarded. Because the goal is “awarded” and not “scored” the chukker does not end. The ball is bowled in at the 10 yard line with a minimum of 5 seconds on the clock. In the closing seconds of the chukker, Red hits a long ball to goal. The Timer sounds her horn but the can is empty. Several seconds are lost until the can is changed and the horn sounded during which time Red scores the goal. The Timer should advise the Umpire that the chukker was “intended to end” well before the goal scored. The goal does not count and play is resumed at the point where the horn was intended to sound. The 7 minute horn sounds when the ball is in the Umpire’s hand for a bowl in. The chukker ends as the ball is out of play.

3) Rule 20. HOW PLAY COMMENCES
New Example added to the Interpretation:

Following Red’s goal, Blue #1 is slow returning to the lineup and is 20 yards from center when the ball is ready for play. Blue #3 wins the bowl in and hits to Blue #1. Delayed whistle and foul (spot hit) against Blue #1 for improper positioning. Had Blue not become involved in the play, the Umpire could elect not to call a foul. The ball may not be put in play with Blue on the wrong side of center.

4) Rule 22. HOW PLAY IS RESUMED
No substantive changes to the Rules (See below) and clarifications were made to the Interpretations and Examples (See Rules White Book)
a. After the ball goes across a team’s end line (other than from a Safety as provided in Rule 21.a., the team whose end line is crossed shall hit the ball in, or hit at it, from a point on the field which is within one foot of the point where the ball crossed the end line, except as provided in subsection e. (3). below. Should this point be closer than 12 feet to a side board or goal post, the ball shall be hit, or hit at, from a point on the field which is within one foot of the end line and which is 12 feet from that side board or goal post (but not between the goal posts). Each team shall be given a reasonable time to position itself for the resumption of play, and no member of the team defending against the hit-in shall be closer than 30 yards to the end line when the Umpire says “Play” and the ball is hit or hit at. Players should be expected to position themselves at a slow canter.

If play is stopped because a member of the defending team is closer than 30 yards to the end line after the Umpire says “Play” and the ball is hit, or hit at, the Umpire shall move the ball straight ahead (perpendicular to end line) 30 yards. Play shall then be resumed as before with no member of the defending team closer than 60 yards to the end line. The Umpires shall indicate to the defending team the location of the appropriate distance from the end line.

e. In all other cases, the Umpire puts the ball into play by bowling it in, in the same manner as provided in Rule 20 except as provided below after allowing the players a reasonable time in which to line up.
(1) After a goal has been scored, except goals awarded by handicap or Penalty No. 1, the Umpire shall bowl the ball in with the ends changed.
(2) After the ball is hit across the side boards or side line the Umpire shall bowl the ball in from a point 10 yards inside the boards or line where it went out and toward the opposite boards or line. Should a period end with the ball rebounding off the boards, play shall be resumed as though the ball went out of play.

5) Rule 34. SELECTION OF PENALTY
34. REPEATED FOULS
a. For undue repetition of careless or deliberate fouls by one or both teams, the Umpire should exact a more severe penalty for each occurrence until conduct in the best interest of the game resumes.
b. At the Host Club’s option, any player penalized four times during an event, or series of events, as defined by the Club Committee prior to the onset of that event or series of events, for violations of Rule 33. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT will be suspended for a subsequent game in the designated event(s).

34. REPEATED FOULS...INTERPRETATION: It is the club’s responsibility to advise all players that this rule will be applied and to which events it will be applied. As a guide,
the following should be observed:
a. The entry form should clearly identify the designated events.
b. A player should be given 24 hours notice of any suspension.
c. A player who feels he has been unfairly charged may appeal through the protest procedures of By-law 12.
d. Following a suspension, the player may return to the event with three charged violations. Each new violation will result in an additional suspension.
e. A player receiving a fourth violation in the last designated game, may be suspended for a subsequent game at the discretion of the Committee.
f. 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.

6) Rule 35. SELECTION OF PENALTY
Minor edits made to the penalty selection (See USPA White Book)