NEWS

*Changes are designated with bold type.*

RULE 8- UMPIRES AND REFEREE
a. All Umpires and Referees shall be members of the USPA. Every game shall have two mounted Umpires and a Referee, or three mounted Umpires. These Officials shall be charged with the responsibility of seeing that the game is conducted in accordance with the Rules. In these Rules and the accompanying Interpretations and Examples, the words “Umpire,” “Umpires” and “Umpire(s)” are used interchangeably, except where the context requires otherwise.
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 Complaint in accordance with the Association’s Sport-Related Conduct Violation Procedures, Part I of the Association’s Disciplinary Procedures Policy, 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.
c. Should any incident or question not provided for in these Rules arise during a game, such incident or question shall be decided by the Umpires.
d. Subject to Rule 11.a (“Protests”), all decisions of the Umpire, or agreed decisions of two Umpires, shall be final. In the event two are serving and they disagree, the Referee shall decide which Umpire’s opinion is to prevail or call offsetting penalties, if confirming fouls called on both teams. In the event three mounted Umpires are serving and no two agree, then no foul will be called.
e. If desired, one or more additional Referees may be positioned: (1) To provide testimony at the request of the Umpires. (2) To decide which Umpire’s opinion is to prevail. (3) To call offsetting penalties in the event two Umpires are serving and they disagree.
f. Mounted Umpires shall appear in proper uniform and wearing a protective helmet of the same kind and in the same manner as is required of players by Rule 4.a.

Rule 8. UMPIRES AND REFEREE a, b, c...INTERPRETATION: The Umpires and Referee are the representatives of the Host Tournament Committee and the final authority during the course of the game. Any interference with the execution of their duties may result in a penalty or complaint of Conduct Violation. Decisions of the Umpire(s) on matters not covered by the Rules are final. However, decisions which deviate from the Rules may be protested in accordance with the Association’s Sport Protest Procedures, Part III of the Association’s Disciplinary Procedures Policy.