2011-2012 AAA Handbook - Arkansas Activities Association

Recruitment - Contracts - Protests - Violations - Appeals
Rule 4. RECRUITMENT. The Arkansas Activities Association
expressly prohibits recruitment of an athlete by anyone.
Any school representative found guilty by the AAA Board of
Directors of knowingly using or permitting to be used in an
interscholastic event any student so recruited by anyone,
whether that person is connected with the said member
school or not, may cause the school to be suspended for up
to one full year (365 days) or to be expelled. See Article III,
Rule 3, Recruitment.
Rule 5. CONTRACTS BETWEEN SCHOOLS
A. Scheduled contests among members of the association
shall be covered by contracts drawn up on regular AAA
contract forms. Contracts may be cancelled only upon
mutual agreement in writing between the two schools
involved.
NOTE: An exception to this requirement may be made by
the Executive Director when it is determined that a schedule
change is necessary for a school to be in compliance with a
change of rules and regulations adopted by the Governing
Body. Contractual agreements exceeding one year shall be
limited to and shall coincide with reclassification cycles.
B. A school canceling a game or contest without mutual
consent shall:
1. forfeit the game,
2. pay the stipulated forfeiture fee of the contract,
3. reimburse the other involved school for all reasonable
financial obligations incurred in their preparation for the
scheduled contest.
The school canceling a contract without mutual agreement
may not schedule another contest during the week
prescribed in the contract that was canceled. All forfeitures
and reimbursements shall be made within thirty (30) days
following the designated contract date canceled. Failure to
make such payment may cause the school to be penalized
by suspension.
Rule 6. CONTRACT WITH OFFICIALS
A. Contracts between schools and officials shall be made on
AAA-approved contract forms. Contracts will not be
canceled except upon mutual agreement in writing between
the schools and officials involved.
NOTE: An exception to this requirement can be made by
the Executive Director when it is determined that a schedule
change is necessary for a school to be in compliance with
change of rules and regulations adopted by the Governing
Body.
B. Schools or officials breaking the contract without mutual
consent shall pay to the offended party the sum stipulated in
the contract.
C. All game officials for regular season events in those sports
for which the Board of Directors specifies that registered
officials are required shall be selected by mutual agreement
of the competing schools.
If the official(s) approved notifies the host school that the
contract cannot be fulfilled fewer than forty-eight (48) hours
before the scheduled event is to begin, the host school shall
not be required to get approval of the visiting school for a
replacement official of an equal or higher classification.
However, if the host school’s conference establishes a list of
approved officials, the host school may employ a
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replacement from that list regardless of the official’s
classification.
Rule 7. ENFORCEMENT OF CONTRACTS
A. Oral Contracts. The association will not enforce oral
contracts or contracts not drawn up on AAA contract forms.
B. Breach of Contract. A breach of contract may be declared
if a coach orders the team to cease play before an
interscholastic event is completed.
C. If a school knowingly or unknowingly violates a contract by
playing an ineligible player, the game must be forfeited to
the opposing team. However, in the cases of transfer
students, where legitimate errors or omissions in the official
school transcript as received are proved, such player must
be withdrawn from participation upon discovery of the error
without penalty to the school.
D. Cancellations. The Executive Director may also authorize
cancellation of games due to epidemics, accidents, or other
hazards ordinarily judged to be of natural causes.
E. Two-Year Contracts. Football contracts and other twoyear
contracts shall be drawn up with the date to be played
based upon the numbered week of the AAA calendar rather
than upon the month and day of the month and shall
coincide with classification cycles.
NOTE: This regulation is designed to eliminate
misunderstandings that sometimes arise when contracts are
drawn up on a home-and-home basis and the second game
is to be played on the corresponding week number.
(Exception: out-of-state games.)
Rule 8. PROTESTS ON GAMES AND OFFICIALS
A. Basis for Protest. No protest concerning scheduled
games will be considered unless the protest is based upon
a violation of contract shown by the contract made and
signed upon AAA contract forms.
1. Games may be played under protest, provided the
protest is made in writing, one copy being given to the
coach of the protested team and a copy mailed to the
AAA office. Verbal notification to the opposing coach
and game officials must also be made prior to the start of
the contest.
2. A protest must be made in writing to the Executive
Director who must investigate and render a decision.
3. If a game is protested and the protest is allowed, the
innocent team shall win by forfeit.
NOTE: Officials’ Judgment Calls. The association has no
authority to reverse a judgment decision made by an official
regarding interpretation and application of playing rules.
SECTION 4. VIOLATIONS, APPEALS, AND
PENALTIES
Rule 1. REPORTING VIOLATIONS. Any authorized
representative of a member school or involved game official
may file a complaint against any school or school
representative for a violation of the rules and regulations of
this association. Such complaint shall be filed with the
Executive Director of the Arkansas Activities Association in
writing within five working days after the discovery of the
violation.