5.1

GENERAL POLICIES

5.1.1

RULES OF THE GAME

Each sport shall adopt the game rules that are accepted by that sport's governing body in New South Wales, together with any modifications as adopted by the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association.

5.1.2

NUMBERS AND COLOURS

For the purpose of identifying teams for State Carnivals and State Championships, the numbers and colours are allocated as follows:

5.1.3

COACHING

No coaching, other than where such is part of the rules of the game -eg. Softball and Baseball, shall take place during the actual competition games. The team manager or coach will not be allowed on the court or field of play, unless specifically called upon by the umpire or referee.

5.1.4

TROPHIES/AWARDS, ETC

(a)

An existing trophy (as approved by the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association) for winning teams together with pennants or medallions (winners and runners-up) for individual team members or competitors shall be awarded to record their achievement.

(b)

Appreciation pennants or gifts may be awarded at each activity. The award of these items shall be arranged by the Convener of the sport concerned, in consultation with officials from the host region.

5.1.5

STATE GRANTS/SPONSORSHIPS

All requests for assistance from sporting bodies or sponsors must be sent through the Executive Officer and all grants should be received through this Association.

5.1.6

ADVERTISING

(a)

No advertising is to be shown on Combined High Schools official playing uniform.

(b)

Advertising may appear at a Combined High Schools fixture venue with permission of the ground authority.

(c)

Conveners must consult with the Executive prior to entering into fund raising and sponsorship proposals.

(d)

The words "Department of School Education" must not appear on any written documents which relate to fund raising and sponsorship.

5.1.7

AGE DETERMINATION

The age group students are eligible to compete in, is the age students turn in the year of competition, as indicated by the age group the competition is conducted in.

5.2

KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS

Refer "Knockout Competitions" - Section 2.15.

5.2.1

APPROVED KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS

Knockout Competitions on a school basis are held in the following approved sports as determined by the Council of the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association.

(a)

BOYS

·         Australian Football - 15 years teams only

·         Baseball

·         Basketball

·         Cricket

·         Hockey

·         Netball

·         Rugby League - Open teams and 14 years teams

·         Rugby Union - 15 years

·         Soccer

·         Softball

·         Squash

·         Tennis

·         Touch

·         Volleyball

·         Water Polo - Open teams and 15 years teams.

(b)

GIRLS

·         Baseball

·         Basketball

·         Cricket

·         Hockey

·         Netball

·         Rugby- Open and 15 years teams

·         Soccer

·         Softball

·         Squash

·         Tennis

·         Touch

·         Volleyball

·         Water Polo - Open teams and 15 years teams.

(c)

CO-ED OR SINGLE SEX

·         Lawn Bowls

• Table Tennis
• Swimming

(d)

CENTRAL SCHOOLS ONLY
            Netball (Girls)
            Cricket (Boys)
            Touch (Boys/Girls)
            Lawn Bowls (Co-ed)
            Rugby League (7’s)
(In this context central Schools are Netball (Girls) defined as small K-10 or K-12 schools Cricket (Boys) (usually with less than 250 students in Touch (Boys and Girls) yrs 7-10 or 7-12) serving small rural communities with populations of some 4000 people or less)

(e)

COMBINATION OF COUNTRY CENTRAL SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS
Country High Schools may combine with neighbouring central schools if the central school has insufficient numbers to participate in CHS Knockout Competitions.  For this option to be taken up:

• The central school must have insufficient student/players to enter a team on their own.
• The application to combine must be forwarded to the CHS Office on the ‘Knockout Entry Form’ indicating the schools(s) and the sport(s).
• Regional Sports Associations will have the opportunity to comment on combined entries when the knockout nominations are forwarded from the Combined High Schools to the Regional Sports Association
• If permission is given it is available only for the competition in the year of application.

(f)

COLLEGE COMPETITIONS
In 2001 Year 10 or below College competitions will be conducted for schools that form part of a College. (In this context College Schools will be defined as yr 7 - 10 schools that are part of a named College as determined by the Department of Education and Training)

5.2.2

ENTRIES

Entries for the above competitions will close on the last day of term 3.

5.2.3

RULES AND CONDITIONS

(a)

Competition shall be on a school basis. In the case of central schools or small country high schools two or more may combine for knockouts provided the total secondary enrolment of these schools does not exceeds four hundred pupils (400) and also provided the schools are in close geographic proximity to each other.

(b)

Central Schools entering competitions in 5.2.1 (d) may not combine schools.  Two competitions will be conducted.  A Year 10 or below (16 years and under) competition and an Open Age competition (students may not turn 20 years of age in the year of competition).

(c)

ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS

(i)

Players must be bona fide students of the State school, or combination of State schools, they represent. Students transferring to another school automatically lose their qualifications to compete for their former school in any competition conducted by this Association.

(v)

Students entered in open competitions conducted by this Association must be below 20 years of age in the year of competition. Students who attain the age of 20 years in the year of competition are not eligible.

(ix)

Where age group competitions are conducted, the maximum age attainable by students eligible to compete, will be the age students turn in the year of competition as indicated by the age group the competition is conducted in.

All teams must be accompanied by a teacher from that school, or group of schools where applicable, and if this does not occur, that team will automatically lose the match by forfeit.

5.2.4

THE DRAW

(a)

Unless specified in the particular knockout rules and where practical Region Conveners make up and conduct the draw in all sports for their Region up to the stage of Regional Finalist. The State convener should stipulate dates and conditions for all aspect of competition including the method considered by them to be most suitable for conducting the final round from sixteen teams through to State knockout winner. This should apply to all sports. All such draws and results are to be forwarded at the earliest possible time to the State Conveners of each respective sport. At the Region level Knockout competitions may be conducted in a competition format deemed appropriate by the Region.

(b)

Where possible with Combined High Schools knockouts the final eight teams remaining in the knockout assemble at a central venue to play the remaining games to finalise the knockout competition.

(c)

The State Convener shall circulate the draw, through the Executive Officer, as soon as practicable after the closing date for entries.

5.2.5

DETERMINATION OF HOME AND AWAY GAMES

All Combined High Schools knockout competitions determine home and away games by the following method (unless specified under the particular knockout competition rules):

(a)

The first mentioned school on the draw is the home school in round 1.

(b)

The home school in other rounds shall be the school which has the least number of home games.

(c)

Where the number of home and away games are equal:

·         The first mentioned school in the draw shall become the home school in odd numbered rounds.

·         The second mentioned school shall become the home school for even numbered rounds.

(d)

In the event of a forfeit in a state knockout the draw as it appears on a home and away basis will remain unaltered and the forfeit will not become a home match to the non forfeiting team.

(e)

In the case of the "home school" not satisfying home school duties with regard to the notification period, the "visiting team" shall automatically become the home school. The visiting school in assuming home school duties, must satisfy all home school requirements with the exception of the notification period which shall be:- give three school days notice, confirmed by fax, with a choice of three dates, or play on a date mutually agreed upon. The offered dates, unless mutually agreed upon shall not be the "new" visiting schools sports day or a weekend. In Knockout Rounds if both schools do not take up the option to be home school, the Region convener or the state convener, where applicable, will decide a time, date and venue for the match to be played prior to the next round completion date.

5.2.6

FIXTURES

(a)

All fixtures shall be played at the earlier possible date.

(b)

Each fixture must be played on, or before, the designated date set down in the draw. Failure to play the fixture by the due date may result in disqualification.

(c)

An extension of time can only be granted by the State Convener and only in exceptional circumstances.

(d)

The duties of the "home school" shall be:

(i)

Give the visiting school five school days notice, confirmed by fax, with a choice of three dates or play on a date mutually agreed upon, except where the away school becomes the home school, due to the original home school not being able to fulfil its home school responsibilities, the notification shall become: Give the visiting school three days notice confirmed by fax with a choice of three dates or play on a date mutually agreed upon.

(ii)

The offered dates, unless mutually agreed upon, shall not be the visiting school's sports day or on a week-end.

(iii)

Provide accommodation/billets as required by the visiting school.

(iv)

Make suitable social arrangements for hosting the visiting team, before, and after the match.

(v)

Make all necessary arrangements for the conduct of the match as set out in the knockout competition rules.

(vi)

Provide suitable first aid equipment.

(vii)

Make facilities available before, during and after the match.

(viii)

A home school unable to comply with the "duties" of the home school may request the visiting school to become the home school. (Original home and away status remains when determining future rounds).

5.2.7

EXPENSES

Each school is responsible for its own travel, accommodation and managerial costs and arrangements.

5.2.8

DISPUTES

(a)

The "Disputes Committee" is elected annually at the commencement of each school year. The Disputes Committee acts as an "Appeals Committee" when:

- sporting conveners have made decisions on disputes/ protests arising out of Combined High Schools knockout competition matches and schools wish to challenge this ruling.

- or the result of the match is protested.

The committee will comprise the CHS convener of the sport involved, plus two named Vice-Presidents of the Combined High Schools Sports Association. The CHS Executive Officer is empowered to act on the Disputes Committee in the absence of the named members.

(b)

DISPUTES IN KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS

Where there is a dispute in knockout competitions (time, venue, etc) schools in the first instance must refer this matter to the respective Sports Convener, who will make a decision which schools are required to comply with. A school which does not comp