Playing under protest guidance

BUCS Playing Under Protest Guidance Always make sure you print and take a playing under protest form with you to games just in case. The forms are available in your team pack or from the Sports and Societies Administrator. You can also find these forms to print on the BUCS website.

What does ‘Playing under Protest’ (PUP) mean?

If the team feels that when they arrive, or during a fixture, the conditions breach those outlined in the BUCS rules and regulations, they should complete a ‘Playing Under Protest’ (PUP) form immediately.

When do you use a PUP form?

The PUP form must be fully completed immediately once an issue is identified and the opposition captain must countersign the form, they cannot refuse. If they do refuse, you should contact the Sport & Societies Administrator immediately. See diagram on page 3.

When can’t you use a PUP form?

If a team chooses to travels to a fixture already aware of a breach of BUCS rules and regulations, they have accepted this and therefore cannot ‘play under protest’.

The in play decisions (e.g. awarding a penalty kick) made by qualified Referees/Umpires/Officials are final and cannot be appealed against. It is part of sport that you will not always agree with decisions.

Unless new information comes to light the form cannot be filled out after the fixture is completed.

What is the outcome of a completed PUP form?

Filling out the ‘Playing under Protest’ form does not guarantee an appeal of a result, just gives you the RIGHT TO APPEAL if the breaches of BUCS rules and regulations are believed to have had an effect on the final result.

What happens if you don’t complete a PUP form?

You CANNOT appeal a result or any breech of rules.

What are the costs and timescales for submitting a ‘PUP’ Form?

Any initial appeal has to be submitted to BUCS by the Sports and Societies Administrator before 5pm the day after the match and this will incur as £50 deposit fee. The Sports and Societies Administrator will guide and support you through the appeals process. The £50 fee will be returned and paid by the opposition only if the appeal is successful.

What are common reasons for using a PUP form?

Please be understanding regarding certain issues, for example if the opposition is late due to a traffic accident on the road.

1. What happens if the opposition are late or do not arrive?

No arrival - If a team does not arrive for a fixture and do not have a legitimate reason, you are entitled to claim the fixture. Before leaving the venue, you should contact the Sport and Societies Administrator so he can inform the opposition institution.

Late arrival - You do not automatically claim a walkover if the opposition are late, as they may be late for a wide range of legitimate reasons. If there is still time to play the game e.g. there is light and the facility is available, the game must be played*. If you and the opposition agree, a shortened format can be used but if the game is played the result stands.

If there is not the time to play the game and there is a legitimate reason for lateness or nonarrival the game will have to be replayed at the home venue.

If there is no reason, the Sports and Societies administrator will claim a Walkover on the opposition. *There are also some sport specific rules about late arrival for some sports. You should check these ahead of the season and apply as applicable.

2. Officials Not qualified or not neutral - Check the official requirements for your league as they have very different requirements dependent on the standard of the league. If you still have an issue fill out a ‘playing under protest form’ and contact the Sports and Societies Administrator.

No officials for a fixture - If you are let down by an official, as soon as you know there is an issue, let the Sports and Societies Administrator know. There are a couple of different outcomes whether you are the home team or away team: The home team does not have written proof that an official(s) was appointed – the away team can claim the walkover. You must contact the Sports and Societies Administrator so he can claim the fixture in writing.

The home team has written proof they were appointed – this may apply even if the home team does not have this evidence to hand, they can produce this afterwards. The away team has two choices – decide to not play the match and it will be re-arranged at their venue or play the match with unqualified officials and complete a PUP form before the fixture begins. If the match is going to be re-arranged, you must contact the Sports and Societies Administrator so he can confirm in writing.

3. Eligibility of players If you believe a player isn’t eligible (either isn’t a student or normally plays for a higher ranked team) you should complete a PUP form before the fixture starts.

4. Quality of Facilities If you believe the facilities doesn’t meet the rules and regulations you should complete a PUP form before the fixture starts.

When to complete a PUP form

Arrive at the fixture

Yes

Are any rules being breached? You should check the rules.

No

Complete a Playing Under Protest Form

Play the match

Start the match

At the first break in play e.g. end of game in tennis or ball goes out of play in football

Yes

No

Submit the Playing Under Protest Form to Sports and Societies Administrator by 10am the next day

Appeal will be submitted to BUCS if you lost the match

Have any of the conditions changed and is there now a breach of rules during play?

Complete the match

Unsure?

If at any stage you are unsure about how to use a Playing Under Protest Form or unsure on the rules, contact the Sports and Societies Administrator.

07495668645 or 02082404000 (Ext 1046.)

Outcome of appeal

How to complete a PUP form

Regulations can be found on the BUCS Website in the Rules and Regulations section or by contacting the Sports and Societies Administrator.

(The regulation number can be filled in later if necessary)

You MUST sign and print your name and You MUST note the time at which you signed the form.

Also the opposition captain MUST sign and print the form or if you are being protested you MUST sign and print and The opposing captain MUST also note the time on the form.

Both captains must initial all completed explanation boxes.

Explain what rule you believe has been broken for example the court markings are incorrect.

You must use a different box per different regulation that may have been broken.

This is where the opposition can provide details of their version of events. They may state that they agree or disagree with the protest and any explanation.