Weekly Sports Overview

The following requirements are regarded as basic to the proper conduct of games in terms of our sporting ideals and essential to the smooth administration of the program. The basic consideration behind these regulations is the realization of the ideals of the Association, the maximum enjoyment of all participating in these games, their welfare, dignity and safety.

1. Schools are to enter all ‘A’ competition weekly sports teams when participating in a year level. Entry of teams into additional fixtures can only occur if all the ‘A’ competition sports have been fielded.  Notification to be made to the EISM Office of any team withdrawal from a published fixture in Results Vault must be done by completing the form ‘EISM Team Withdrawals & Additions’ (Appendix IV).
2. The Division in which each EISM Member School will be competing in for weekly sport can be located in Appendix VIII.
3. Each of the students competing is to be a bona fide student of the school represented. If a sports teacher has reason to doubt the bona fides of any player the matter should be reported to the Executive Officer.
4. The year levels agreed upon for each team entered are to be strictly observed.
5. All players and coaches to have the EISM Sporting Code of Conduct explained to them prior to the commencement of the season.
6. In all sports, the best players should constitute the “A” team. During the season, swapping of “A” & “B” players is permissible, but should always comply with the best player available playing in the “A” team rule.
7. No student may play more than once in any EISM round of games, e.g. (i) Year 9 & Senior, (ii) volleyball and cricket or any other combination. Once a student has completed playing in their nominated competition, their EISM season has concluded. No student from these teams are to play in any other sport for the remainder of that season.
8. The number of students per team is listed below. If teams cannot maintain the minimum number on the field, a forfeit is given. The forfeit scores listed will only be allocated with tied teams for Grand Final places and using mini ladders to ascertain finalists. In Results Vault forfeits are to be entered as a 0-0 score with a ‘Win/Loss on Forfeit’ result.  The maximum winning margin should be applied to final results before submitting.

            Sport                                   Team Numbers                                        Score

                                           Team     Interchange    Minimum        Maximum Margin

          Badminton                     8             Up to 8                  6                               NA
          Basketball                      5             Up to 5                  4                         50 points
          Bowls                              3             Zero                      2                               NA
          Cricket 20/20               11             Up to 2                  7                              NA
          Cricket Super 8’s           8             Up to 2                  6                               NA  
          Football 15’s                15         Unrestricted           12                         60 points
          Football 12’s                12         Unrestricted             9                         60 points     
          Hockey                          11        Unrestricted             9                            7 goals
          Hockey – Modified         7         Unrestricted             5                           7 goals
          Ind. Cricket                     8             Up to 2                  6                       no “-” scores
          Ind. Soccer/5-A-Side    5             Up to 5                  4                            7 goals
          Netball                            7             Up to 3                  5                          30 goals
          Soccer                          11         Unrestricted             7                            7 goals
          Softball                           9             Up to 2                  7                           15 runs
          Table-Tennis                   6             Up to 4                  4                               NA
          Tennis                             8             Up to 4                  4                               NA
          Touch                              6             Up to 6                  4                          10 goals
          Ultimate Frisbee            7        Unrestricted              5                          10 goals
          Volleyball                        6             Up to 6                  4                               NA

Uniforms

1. Schools shall register their sports uniforms with the EISM Executive Officer for inclusion into the EISM Website. Photos of the uniform items are to be sent to the Executive Officer. Wherever confusion arises because competing teams have similar colours, the home team shall have preference and the visiting team wear the “clash strip”.
2. Before the match commences, coaches must establish that the students of both teams are in the correct uniform. This is a confidential discussion between coaches and is not to involve students.  Coaches are not to allow students on the playing field without correct uniform. Students in incorrect uniform are to be asked to leave the field of play.
   The result sheet has a box to be ticked if the uniforms are all correct.
    –        If the minimum team numbers do not have the correct attire, a forfeit is given.
             A social match between the teams can be played.
    –        If neither team have enough students in correct uniform to commence a match,
             then both teams will be deemed to have forfeited.
             No points for this match will be awarded.
3. In selected sports, a combination of shorts and track pants can be worn. For field sports, only shorts to be worn.
4. Any compression garment that is not visible and is worn under the students uniform is permissible. ie. under track pants in an indoor sport.
5. If there is a medical condition, then compression garments can be worn that are visible. The compression garment would need to be skin coloured and an explanatory note would need to be provided.

Home Teams 

1. Visiting teams are to be greeted on arrival by a representative of the home team and directed to the various venues.
2. Home schools provide facilities for players and the match ball.
3. Home schools are to check that the venues listed on Results Vault are correct. To confirm arrangements, the visiting team must contact the home school at least two days before matches are to be played.
4. Schools to make every effort to ensure that visiting teams are suitably accommodated, guided to the dressing rooms and given whatever assurance may be necessary about their belongings.
5. Home Teams to complete the ‘Home Team Match Day Checklist’ EISM Handbook Appendix V

Away Teams & External Venues 

1. The Coach must be conversant with the ideals of the Association and its Regulations. Staff/Coaches-Student ratios must follow Victorian Education Department policies. Games may not go ahead without adequate supervision.
2. When visiting a school or external venue, their rules need to be observed. 
3. Schools need to have a Staff member with first aid qualifications, a 1^st Aid Kit, Mobile Phone, clash bibs (as necessary), contact details for each School’s First Aid Officer and a Student Accident Management Plan.
4. Any student diagnosed as having anaphylactic reactions MUST have with them their own epipen whenever they attend EISM sport.
5. Teams need to have with them the appropriate Venue and Risk Management Information as well as the relevant information from the EISM Handbook.
6. An attendance register for Away teams needs to be provided upon request to the Host School.
7. All visiting staff to display appropriate identification (eg VIT, School ID, WWC Check).

Matches

1. The starting time of games is 1.30pm unless otherwise stated. Start times must be observed however games may start at other times by mutual agreement.  Heads of Sport should confirm arrangements prior to every game; referees & umpires must be notified accordingly.  All Junior games should be for at least 1hr duration for completion.  All Senior games are to be for 1.5hr duration for completion (if needed and where possible), depending on the sport being played.
2. All timing of games must be by a stopwatch of some description. Games that cannot be properly timed will be deemed null and void and a drawn match recorded.
3. The Weekly Sport ‘Pre-Match Protocol’ should be followed for every match. Also for all sports a ‘Red’ & ‘Orange’ card system is in operation as detailed in the ‘Umpires’ Section.
4. Students are not to use electronic devices when participating in sporting activities.
5. Time Outs. If at any time during a sporting contest, the teacher responsible for the students’ welfare believes that they are in an unsafe environment, then a ‘time out’ should be called. When the situation has settled down (maximum of 5 mins), the match can re-commence. If the match recommences and a further time out is called due to safety concerns, then the match will be abandoned. The result of the match will be determined in accordance with the Conduct of Weekly Sport – Allocation of Results on days that EISM matches cannot be completed. On all occasions when a time out is called, the pro forma (Appendix II) is then completed by the school and sent to the Executive Officer.

Results

1. For all weekly sporting events, both teams are to either enter their results or confirm their results in Results Vault by 11.00am the following day. For disputed results, note details in the comment section and communicate with the school involved to resolve the issue.  Advise the EISM Office exec@eism.org of the outcome of that discussion or to request a review.
2. Unconfirmed results will be made official 24 hours after confirmation is required. Any appeal about the status of the match must be received by the next Monday so resolution can be achieved before the next round of matches is played. The status of official matches will not be amended outside of this period.
3. Winning teams get four points, two points for each team for a draw.
4. When entering results note the maximum winning margin detailed in ‘Conduct of Weekly Sport -Team Entries’ and amend the result accordingly.
5. When the maximum winning margin has been reached, the mercy rule (where applicable) is to be invoked. This is the EISM policy and not up for discussion between coaches.

Forfeits

1. A team not appearing shall forfeit the match. Teams have 15 mins from the scheduled start time to begin play or a forfeit can be claimed by a Head of Sport. Consideration needs to be given to schools stuck in traffic. Mobile calls to schools need to be made in these circumstances.
2. If a school gives sufficient notice before forfeiting and also advises relevant venues and officials of the cancellation there are no costs incurred. However, in the case of a school forfeiting within 24 hours of a match, the forfeiting school would be required to pay costs for any transport, umpires or venues caused as a consequence of this forfeit.
3. A list of schools’ forfeited matches shall be provided to the Principals each term.
4. In the event of an “A” team forfeiting, then the “B” team plays as the “A” team, as this team is the best team on that day representing their school in that sport.

Match Amendments

1. All amendments must be presented to the EISM Office for approval.
2. When a school makes an amendment to an existing match, schools are still responsible for letting the originally booked venues and officials aware of the changes that have been made. As a courtesy, at least 24 hours’ notice is expected. If information is not given, the school making the change is responsible for all costs incurred.

Allocation of Results for Incomplete Matches (weather event, injury etc)

Timed Games:
Basketball, Football, Hockey, Netball, Soccer, Touch, Ultimate Frisbee
If a game is abandoned before 75% of the game is completed, then a draw will be called.  If the game has reached the last 5 minutes, then that result will stand.  If over 75% of the game has been played and it is not the last 5 minutes, if a team is leading by 2 goals or more, they will be declared the winning team.  If the game is tied or there is only one goal the difference, it will be a draw or in a Grand Final, a shared premiership.

Set Accumulation Games:
Badminton, Bowls, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball
A deciding number of sets/ends beyond 50% of the match must be completed before a result can be given (eg. 3 sets out of a possible 5). The team that has won the majority of sets/points is declared the winner. If the match is tied in sets/points or a deciding number of sets/ends beyond 50% of the game has not been played, a draw or shared premiership is awarded.

Other:
Cricket:        It is a draw, irrespective of what the score is.
Softball:      Two completed innings will be deemed a game.

Qualification for Weekly Sport Finals

The student must have played at least half of their games in the team that has qualified for a final.  Playing a couple of games in an “A” team to help out does not disqualify a player from playing in “B” finals.  Players are not to swap teams mid-season to strengthen a team with finals aspirations.

If a school has an “A” & “B” team from the same sport playing in finals, normal team selections that are used during the season would apply to that school. 

In the case where a school challenges the qualification of a student for a final, Heads of Sport should be contacted to resolve the issue before play commences.

If requested, you must be able to justify your team selections to the Executive Officer.

Completion of Weekly Sport Season

 If any games are postponed they must be played at least a week prior to the finals to ensure that all ladders are completed by that time. This allows schools time to make proper arrangements before finals.

Finalists will be determined on a head to head basis.

When two teams are tied for a place in the Semi-Finals, Grand Finals, Declared Premiership (not including Yr7 & 8 competitions) the team that won the match between those two schools will take the higher place on the ladder. If the schools have played twice, then an aggregate score of those two games is taken. If the schools have not played, or have had a tied result during the season, then the two tied teams will have their scores compared with the highest placed team that both schools have played.

If three or more teams are tied, all results from between those teams will be made into a mini ladder. The teams from this mini ladder are then placed back into the main ladder in the same order as the mini ladder.

• Teams that did not play will be given a draw for that match.
• Teams that have played twice will have an aggregate score.
• Goals/Sets for and against will be used to break a deadlock in the mini ladder. If in a sport, the school does not nominate how many games they won, it will be deemed to be “0”

 Semi-Final Guidelines

The higher ranked school will be the Home Team for the Semi-Final.  Umpires are arranged as per normal Weekly Sport arrangement, refer ‘Conduct of Weekly Sport – Umpires’.

In the event of a Tie, a “Heat Out” or “Wash Out” in a Semi-Final, the higher placed team advances to the Grand Final.  No extra time to be played in Semi-Finals.  

Nominations for Grand Final Hosts

During each season schools will be nominated to host finals. The venues of finals are not to change unless there are exceptional circumstances and only if approval is given by the Executive Officer.

Duties of Grand Final Hosts

Host schools for finals need to arrange for a venue, book all of the umpires and have someone in place to present the trophy, pennant, best player medallions and premiership medallions.  Part of the duty is to ensure that the trophy is in place.  This may involve contact with the previous year’s premier.

Competent umpires are required in accordance with details in the Handbook.

1. All umpires and officials are to have a current ‘Working With Children Check’. They are required to have this visible in a lanyard when they enter an EISM Member School. 
2. Umpires should be attired so that they are clearly distinct from the playing group.
3. For Year 7 & Year 8 matches, if you are unable to supply a paid umpire, Students may be used so long as they are competent in their knowledge of the rules, they are 2 year levels older than the age being officiated and there should be no visual link between the umpire and the school.
4. It is incumbent on the schools to inform the umpires of the EISM rules that are relevant to each sport. All associated EISM rules and coloured cards (red/orange) are to be available to the umpires at the commencement of each match.
5. Umpires should only let a match commence when they are content that the match is being properly timed by reliable people using electronic or other suitable timing equipment.
6. It is still the coach’s prime responsibility to have their players play within the rules of the game, and to remove them from the match if in the opinion of the coach, the student is not playing within the spirit of the game.
7. In certain circumstances, coaches can be used as Umpires if it means that the match can be completed.

 Orange card: To be issued if the player is not responding to umpires directions on how to play the game or using mild inappropriate language.  Penalty – Player to leave the field of play.  The Player can only return to the field of play after having spoken to their coach. There is no time limit that the player must stay off the field. The player can be replaced.  Two Orange cards to the same player is equivalent to a Red card.

Red card: To be issued for striking offences, unduly rough play or inappropriate language to the umpire. The player is to leave the field of play.  The player cannot be replaced. After a Student has been ‘Red carded’, the EISM De-Registration Form (Appendix IV) must be completed and returned to the Executive Officer before that student can participate in any other EISM sanctioned event.

Finals Umpires. Umpires for finals are arranged and paid by the host school. If it is a neutral venue, one school will nominate as host. Schools can then send an invoice to the EISM for reimbursement of the payment.  The number of Umpires in Grand Finals is to be the same number as ‘A” games.  If additional Umpires are required, approval needs to be sought and given by the EISM.

Umpires/Referees No Show

a)   No Game – go home, share points
b)   No Game – social match, share points
c)   No Game – re-match in Catch-up Round (if available)
d)   Play – Both schools provide an umpire for the game.
e)   Play – Each school to officiate for one half.
f)   Play – If agreed, one school may officiate the whole game