General Competition Rules

General

1. 1. All Championships and Competitions shall be conducted under U.K. Athletics rules as appropriate to the Championship or Competition except where modified in the E.S.A.A. Competition Rules.
   2. Where relevant, team competitions may be decided by reference to groupings determined by the size of the secondary school populations within the boundaries of the County as identified from the official figures.

      The groupings shall be determined on the following basis:
      Group A: school population of secondary age over 100,000
      Group B: school population of secondary age between 60,000 and 100,000
      Group B: school population of secondary age below 60,000.

      A review of these figures shall take place every three years. General Committee may decide the grouping of those Counties which fall within 1,000 of these limits and which would be subject to a change of group.

AGES

2. Unless otherwise stated the age limits for all Championships and Competitions shall be:
   1. Junior - Thirteen years and under fifteen years of age on 31st August at the end of the current school year.
   2. Intermediate - Fifteen years and under seventeen years of age on 31st August at the end of the current school year.
   3. Senior - Seventeen years and under nineteen years of age on 31st August at the end of the current school year.

ELIGIBILITY

3. 1. All bona fide scholars in unbroken full-time attendance (on the school roll on the Friday before the last Monday in May of the current school year) at schools recognised by the Department for Education and Skills, shall be eligible to compete in the Track & Field, Combined Events and Race Walking Championships appropriate to their age.
   2. Bona fide scholars in unbroken full-time attendance at schools recognised by the Department for Education and Skills on the Friday prior to the Cross Country Championships shall be eligible to compete in that event in a race appropriate to their age.
   3. Other students in post-compulsory full-time continuous education in a College of F.E., and, in respect of which are not in receipt of payment, are eligible to compete in the Championships applicable to their age. This therefore excludes all part-time students, including those on block release. The General Committee reserve the right to determine all questions regarding eligibility or otherwise of those nominated.

4. All competitors in the Association Championships shall be in full-time attendance at schools or recognised educational establishments in affiliation with the county athletic association in which the schools or recognised educational establishments are geographically situated, and allocated in accordance with the current rules of the Association. All competitors in the Association Championships shall derive eligibility for participation from the geographical situation of the school or recognised educational establishment attended.
   
   
5. Teams shall be under the management and control of Team Stewards who must be qualified teachers.
   
   
6. Failure to comply with Rule 5 may render a team liable to disqualification.
   
   
7. In all Championships competitors must wear at least vest and shorts (or equivalent clothing) in registered County Colours, which are clean and so designed, and worn, as not to be objectionable even if wet. All visible clothing must conform with registered County Colours. In Schools' Cup Competitions competitors will wear the recognised school vest and shorts (or equivalent clothing) as above.
   
   
8. In all Championships every competitor shall wear the distinctive number supplied to competing teams by the E.S.A.A. and allocated to him/her in the programme.

DRUG ABUSE

9. The use of drugs to enhance performance before or during competitions is forbidden and anti doping tests may be carried out at any E.S.A.A. event.

OFFICIALS

10. Officials for Championships and Cup Competition Finals shall be appointed by the E.S.A.A. through its appropriate committee.

PROTESTS

11. 1. Any protest or objection by a competitor or team against the conduct or placing of another competitor or team in any competition or relating to any matter which may develop during the carrying out of the programme shall be made to the appropriate referee by an authorised team steward within 60 minutes of the official announcement of the result. The decision of the referee shall be final and shall be announced immediately.
    2. Any other protest concerning eligibility or qualification to compete should be made in writing to the Hon. Secretary E.S.A.A. within seven days of the event.

ALTERATION TO RULES

12. 1. No alteration to rules shall be made other than at the Annual Council Meeting or a Special Council Meeting called for that purpose, and in accordance with Constitution and General Rule 9.
    2. Where changes in rules of competition necessitate changes in training and equipment County Associations shall receive one year's notice.