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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 13A.06.03.07" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="06" chapter_num="03" heading="State Tournament Policies.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The MPSSAA games or tournament committees representing all of the districts shall administer and supervise tournaments in the various sports at the district, regional, and State level.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>All participating schools shall abide by the rules established by each MPSSAA tournament committee.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Although certain aspects of a tournament may vary from year to year, the following basic policies shall be observed by all tournament committees:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The tournament may not interfere with local board of education policy.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A member MPSSAA school or local school system may decide whether or not to participate in the tournament.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A member MPSSAA school shall compete in its classification when the tournament is so structured.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Certified and approved officials' organizations shall be assigned games in a fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory manner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>All awards and recognition shall conform to Regulation .08 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>MPSSAA tournament committees shall make every effort to establish game sites to avoid extensive travel for participating teams.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>All policy and procedure changes for State tournaments shall be subject to the approval of the MPSSAA Executive Council with the Association Tournament Committee serving in an advisory capacity. Emergency decisions on tournament policies and procedures may be made by the MPSSAA Executive Director.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>When a student is found ineligible during the progress of a tournament, the contest last played shall be forfeited, and the team which was defeated shall take its place.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“All-star teams” or best “individual athlete” awards may not be selected from approved tournaments.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Sports at the State tournament level shall be governed by approved game rules.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>If a team or any students participating in a State tournament contest leaves the field of competition before completion of a contest, or fails to continue play when eligible to do so, or is guilty of misconduct detrimental to the tournament, then the team, coach, or students may be suspended from further participation in the current tournament, and from the same tournament in the succeeding year, upon the determination of the tournament committee and the Executive Director.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>The rules of the MPSSAA do not provide authority to order games replayed. Protests arising from decisions and interpretations by officials during the game will not be considered. Officials' decisions and interpretations are final.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Expansion of any sport to the State level shall be recommended by the State Board of Control of the MPSSAA and approved by the State Superintendent of Schools after consultation with local superintendents of schools.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Tournament rules and procedures established by the MPSSAA may be appealed on behalf of a student, coach, or school by a local superintendent of schools to the State Superintendent of Schools. The appeal shall be adjudicated by a committee of three local superintendents of schools appointed by the State Superintendent of Schools. The decision of the committee shall be final.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>