PROTESTS AND APPEALS

I.  APPEALS

    A.  An appeal of any decision (made by a committee, a conference, a sport chairman, an officer of the Section) must be made within five school days upon receipt of that decision.  The high school principal shall submit to the Executive Director a written request co-signed by the athletic director for an appeal hearing.  This request shall be accompanied by a certified or school district check in the amount of $300 (three hundred dollars), non-refundable.  (Approved 5/12/14)

    B.  An appeal of the decision of the Appeals Committee may be made to the Athletic Council.  A written notice of appeal from the high school principal co-signed by the athletic director accompanied by a certified or school district check in the amount of $400 (four hundred dollars), non-refundable, must be submitted to the Executive Director within five school days of receipt of the Appeals Committee's decision.  The Athletic Council shall have the power to affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the Appeals Committee.  (Approved 5/12/14)

II.  PROTESTS - SEASON CONTESTS (LEAGUE AND NON-LEAGUE)

    A.  Notification

        1.  The intent to protest and specific reason(s) for such must be filed with the officials (if any) and the opposing coach as follows:

    BADMINTON, BOWLING, FENCING - Before the next game begins or before the next contestant begins his/her turn.

    SWIMMING - Before the next event.

    FIELD HOCKEY, LACROSSE, SOCCER - Immediately (if necessary, a substitute is to be sent to notify the official that the coach is protesting the game). If the game ends before the protest can be lodged, the protest must be made before the teams leave the field.

    CROSS COUNTRY, GOLF, TENNIS, TRACK - Before any team leaves the contest site.

    BASEBALL, SOFTBALL - Before the next pitch.

    VOLLEYBALL - Before the next serve.

    BASKETBALL - On the first dead ball.

    GYMNASTICS - Prior to the flashing of the third score after the competitor in question.

    FOOTBALL - Prior to the time the ball becomes alive following the play in question unless the period has officially ended (in which cases, before the official holds the ball over his head indicating the end of the period or game, if last period) [see NF rule 3.34, 3.5.10, 3.6.2c].

    WRESTLING - Prior to start of subsequent period [as per NYSPHSAA Wrestling Handbook 6-6].

        2.  Letter - The Executive Director must receive a protest letter from the high school principal co-signed by the athletic director describing the basis for the protest.  Such letter must be received within five days of the contest protested and be accompanied by a certified or school district check payable to Section XI in the amount of $300 (three hundred dollars), refundable only if protest is upheld.  (Approved 5/12/14)

     B.  Protest - Section Tournaments - Prior to each Section sponsored competition, the site chairman (or host athletic director) shall establish a protest committee (unless the rules of the sport provide another procedure) which will decide immediately on any and all questions and/or protests relative to the competition rules or the conduct of the competition.  Such decisions shall be final with no right of appeal.

III.  HEARING PROCEDURES

     A.  Protests

         1.  The protest of any other contest (league or non-league) shall be referred to the President of Section XI (via the Executive Director) who shall appoint a chairman for the hearing.

         2.  A hearing shall be held within five school days of the receipt of the letter and check.

         3.  Protest Hearing Committee
             a.  It is recommended that there be three or five (including the chairman) voting members of the committee.
             b.  Personnel from the schools directly involved in the protest shall not be members of the committee.
             c.  The Executive Director (or Assistant) shall attend the hearing.
             d.  The appropriate sport chairman and rules interpreter shall act as consultants to the committee and will not vote.
             e.  The athletic directors and coaches of the schools involved are expected to attend the hearing.
             f.  Game officials are expected to attend the hearing.
             g.  Attendance is limited to school and Section XI personnel.
             h.  Schools involved in the protest shall be notified of the committee's decision.
              i.  The Executive Director shall forward a report of the committee's decision to the involved schools within five school days.

     B.  Appeals

          1.  An Appeals Committee (appointed by the Section XI President) shall rule on all appeals.

          2.  A hearing shall be held within seven school days of the receipt of the written request for an appeal hearing.

          3.  Appeals Committee

              a.  It is recommended that there be a minimum of five voting members (including the chairman) of the Appeals Committee.

              b.  If any Appeals Committee member is from a school directly involved in an appeal, he/she shall refrain from serving on the Committee for that appeal.  An individual may serve on only one hearing panel in any progression of the Protest/Appeals Procedure.

              c.  The Executive Director (or Assistant) shall attend the hearing.
              d.  The appropriate sport chairman and rules interpreter shall act as consultants to the committee and will not vote.
              e.  The athletic directors and coaches of the schools involved are expected to attend the hearing.
              f.  Game officials are expected to attend the hearing.
              g.  Attendance is limited to school and Section XI personnel.
              h.  Schools involved in the protest shall be notified of the committee's decision.
              i.  The Executive Director shall forward a report of the committee's decision to the involved schools within five school days.


         4.  Athletic Council Appeal Hearings

              a.  If any Athletic Council member is from a school directly involved in an appeal to the Council, he/she shall refrain from serving on the Council for that appeal.  An individual may serve on only one hearing panel in any progression of the Protest/Appeals Procedure.

              b.  The Executive Director (or Assistant) shall attend the hearing.
              c.  The appropriate sport chairman and rules interpreter shall act as consultants to the committee and will not vote.
              d.  The athletic directors and coaches of the schools involved are expected to attend the hearing.
              e.  Game officials are expected to attend the hearing.
              f.  Attendance is limited to school and Section XI personnel.
              g.  Schools involved in the protest shall be notified of the committee's decision.
              h. The Executive Director shall forward a report of the committee's decision to the involved schools within five school days.

 

Rev.  7/1/20