Gameplay - Appeals and Suspensions Procedures

by Will Hack | December 13, 2012

The Game Play Department has recently finalized plans for two sets of procedures: a procedure for appealing official games, and a procedure for reporting major incidents which may result in the suspension of a quidditch player. We are hopeful that these procedures never need to be used, but we find it important to have them in place just in case. You can find the procedures below:

APPEALS PROCEDURE The appeals process exists in order to fix correctable mistakes when the result of a game was impacted. Appeals are only for unusual and extreme cases, and we encourage teams not to submit them unless there are clear grounds for appeal. The only practical effect an appeal can have is the removal of an official game from the IQA rankings. Appeals which do not qualify under the grounds for appeal will automatically be dismissed. Here are the grounds for an appeal: “A clearly incorrect implementation of the rules that played a direct role in determining the outcome of the game. Judgement calls and missed calls do not apply.” For examples of appealable and non-appealable games, please check out our Tumblr post. AT THE GAME 1. When a call that can be appealed occurs, the Captain and/or Coach must make the appeal immediately. 2. After the game, the head referee must note that an appeal occurred, and the grounds for that appeal as explained by the appealing team. AFTER THE GAME 3. Prior to the Friday after the game occurs, the appealing team must fill out an appeals form. If the form is not filled out in time, the appeal can not considered. That form is available online. IN THE GAME PLAY DEPARTMENT 4. The Game Play department makes an initial determination whether the situation described by a team is eligible for appeal. If it is not, the appeal is immediately dismissed. 5. If the appeal goes forward, a Game Play member will gather information on the situation from the Head Referee. The Game Play department may also seek information from assistant referees, team captains, and anyone else who has further information on the appealed game. 6. Once the Game Play department makes a final decision, we will e-mail the involved teams with that decision as well as the reason behind the decision. If an appeal succeeds, the appealed game is struck from the record and excluded from the rankings.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE  The disciplinary procedure exists to disincentivize poor behavior among quidditch players. Any incidents during official games must be reported with this form within 6 days by the captain of either team involved in incident, head referee, or tournament director. Disciplinary procedure is only for egregious breach of conduct, and we encourage teams and officials not to submit disciplinary procedure forms unless there is a clear reason for suspension. Submissions which do not qualify under the grounds for suspension will automatically be dismissed. Here are the grounds for suspension:

1. Inciting a brawl results in an automatic suspension of at least 2 official games. Offenders may be subject to suspension from IQA events. 2. Involvement in a brawl results in an automatic suspension of at least 1 official game, but anyone attempting merely to protect others or stop the fight shall not be punished. Offenders may be subject to suspension from IQA events. 3. Serious foul play results in an automatic suspension of at least 1 official game. Offenders may be subject to suspension from IQA events. 4. Violent language or discriminatory remarks towards a person such as those concerning their race, color, language, religion, gender, gender identity, orientation, or origin results in an automatic suspension of at least 1 official game. Offenders may be subject to suspension from IQA events. -- For particularly egregious offenses, players may be suspended indefinitely, including from World Cup and Regional Championships. -- Any of the above offenses directed towards a referees results in at least an additional 1 game suspension. AT THE GAME 1. At the game, no action must be made by a reporting party, but that person should attempt to record and remember the pertinent details of the incident. This includes what game the incident occurred in, as well as the names of any involved parties. AFTER THE GAME 2. Within 6 days after the event occurs, the reporting party must fill out a disciplinary conduct review form. If the form is not filled out in time, the conduct cannot be reviewed. That form is also available online. IN THE GAME PLAY DEPARTMENT 3. The Game Play department makes an initial determination whether the situation described in the form is eligible for suspension. If it is not, the case is immediately dismissed. 4. If the case goes forward, a Game Play member will gather information on the situation from the Head Referee. The Game Play department may also seek information from assistant referees, team captains, and anyone else who has further information on the appealed game. 5. Before any decision is made, the Game Play department will contact the captain of the player being reviewed in order to gain that player's own response to the situation. 6. After the Game Play department feels it has enough information to make a determination, it will make a determination on whether to suspend a player, and for how long, based on the suspension guidelines specified above. IN THE IQA MANAGEMENT 7. The Game Play department reports its decision to the IQA management for approval. Any suspensions are reported to the affected teams and IQA officials. DURING A SUSPENSION 8. If a player is suspended, that player may not play in any of his or her team's games until the suspension is complete. Once the player has sat out the number of required games, that player will be allowed to rejoin the team for any later games or tournaments. A suspended player may rejoin a team mid-tournament, if the team chooses to use up a roster spot for that player even during the games in which the player may not participate.