Birmingham CC League Rules as at Sep 2007

Birmingham & District Invitation Cross-Country League.

AGREED RULES w.e.f. 1 September 2007

1. That the name of the League be the Birmingham & District Invitation Cross-Country League.

2. That the objects of the League be the promotion of combined races, allowing any numbers of runners to compete.

3. All Member Clubs MUST be affiliated to the MCAA for Cross-Country running.

4. That the management of the League be vested in a President, President Elect, Three delegates from each Club, Hon. Secretary, Hon Treasurer, also an Asst. Secretary & Treasurer, if the AGM feel that these Assistant Officers are necessary, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting each year with the Past presidents.

5. An Executive Committee shall be elected at the AGM and will consist of the following:

i) The President ii) President Elect

iii) Immediate Past President iv) The Hon.Secretary

v) The Hon. Treasurer vi) The Race Secretaries

vii) The Race Referees. Vii) Assistant Secretary

This Executive should be instructed to meet once a year after the close of each season to discuss relevant matters from the preceding season. Duties of this Committee shall be to make recommendations for items for discussion at the next AGM, if thought necessary. Also this Executive would have the powers of an appeals committee and as such could be asked to meet, at the discretion of the Hon. Secretary, if any problem should arise through-out the season. This committee shall have the power to co-opt members if it deems necessary.

6. That the Headquarters be a suitable venue in the Birmingham & District area, where meetings may be held.

7. Races to be confined to FIRST CLAIM TEAM MEMBERS of member Clubs.

NO GUEST RUNNERS

Athletes must have reached the age of Seventeen years by August 31st./September 1st. at the commencement of the coming Cross-Country season. The rules of the E.C.C.A., uk:athletics rules for competition and MCAA shall apply.

8. University Clubs MUST comply with Rule 5 First Claim Status (3) in the most recent verson of the uk:athletics rules book * Rules For Competition 2007 page 8.

9. That the League be divided into Divisions containing Clubs of equal strength. The three Clubs finishing first, second and third place in all Divisions except the highest Division to move to the higher Division; and the three Clubs finishing at the bottom of the tables in every Division except the lowest to move into a lower Division.

a. In the event of a club in any Division not completing a scoring team in ALL four fixtures, it shall forfeit its membership of the League. Any Club in this position would have to re-apply for membership in writing (before the next AGM). If re-admitted, it would take up its place in the lowest Division.

b. In the event of a club in any Division excepting the lowest Division failing to complete a scoring team in one, two or three of the four races, the club will automatically finish at the bottom of that Divisional table in the final placing and would therefore be relegated to the Division below.

c. If a club in the lowest Division fails to complete a scoring team in any of the four races, it will automatically finish at the bottom of that Division and will be required to re-apply for membership of the League, in writing (before the next AGM). If re-admitted, the club would take up a place in the lowest Division.

d. In the case of a tie:

i) In the result of a tie in team competition, the team who places highest in the fourth race shall be declared the winner.

ii) In the result of a tie in individual competition, this shall be resolved by adding the accumulated times from the races that both the tying athletes competed in. The athlete with the lowest aggregate time being declared the winner.

e. Scoring the Junior Individual race will be scored as a separate race. i.e. the first Junior home shall score one point, the second home two points etc.

f. The top three teams in each Division to receive League awards respectively; also the top three Individuals, on points, in each Division will receive League awards (scored over three races). An additional award shall be made to the athlete with the best aggregate over the four races. In addition the top three juniors in each Division will receive a League award (Scored over three races).

g. If Clubs require extra Awards, these may be purchased through the League Secretary. However, only those athletes that have scored in one or more fixtures shall be eligible for an award, purchased or not.

h. Providing Clubs field twelve finishers in each race there will be a 'B' competition with results printed and distributed to Clubs.

10. That the distances of races be from 5 to 7 miles, races to be decided on Championship lines. All races will start at 2:30pm, unless circumstances decree otherwise, in which case Clubs will be notified.

11. Affiliation fee to be decided at the AGM (at present £55-00.) per Club per annum. Numbers and results sheets are to be supplied by the League.

12. Any Club that fails to pay its affiliation Fee by the A.G.M. shall have their invitation to compete in the League withdrawn.

13. Each race shall be in the charge of an appointed Referee whose decision shall be FINAL. League Judges and Timekeepers for each Division shall be appointed by the AGM and will be responsible for giving and recording the official placings and times at each race. An appointed Starter will start the races.

14. The Hon. Secretary of the promoting Club shall arrange for Marshals, Officials and First Aid Cover for each race. A Disc system of scoring shall be used. Each Club shall provide its own Disc steward.

Please note: Referees have been told that they MUST cancel any fixture where there is no First Aid cover provided. This agreed at the 2001 AGM. It is the host Clubs that is responsible for booking First Aid and checking that St.John Ambulance / Red Cross will be in attendance. Written confirmation of First Aid cover is desirable.

15. The dates and venues of all League races shall be decided at the AGM and those Clubs submitting written application to stage a League Fixture shall be given preference when choosing venues for the coming season.

16. The Hon. Secretary of each promoting Club MUST inform all Clubs in their Division, the President, League Secretary, Race Secretary, Referee, Judges and Timekeepers as to the Venue, Travel Directions and the type and distance of the course at least FOURTEEN (14) DAYS before the race is to be run. Host Clubs will be liable to forfeit their League expenses if they fail to comply with the above instructions. To receive these expenses Clubs must furnish the Hon. Treasurer with photocopies of the invoices of costs incurred by the Club in the promotion of their League race.

Reimbursement will only be for the hire cost of facilities and for the cost of First Aid. This may be made to the full amount at the discretion of the Executive. Please take note that all promotion expenses must be with the Treasurer by the 30th. April, following the close of each season. Failure to do this will result in the Club forfeiting its claim, and no payment will be made.

17. CLUB COLOURS MUST BE WORN. The Referee will disqualify any athlete who does not comply with this rule.

18. Safety pins are not provided by the League for athletes’ numbers. This is the responsibility of individual Clubs to provide. The League Officials would appreciate if athletes could pin their numbers on the sides rather than top and bottom of the number. All four corners would be even better.

19. The responsibility for the up to date engraving of the Leagues Trophies, is that of the holding Club. Clubs MUST return League Trophies to their Division Secretary by the THIRD RACE of the season.

20. The secretary will provide each promoting Club with a permit application form at the beginning of the season. This must be filled in and returned to the secretary in order that a permit for the event can be obtained from the MCCA.

Notes on the proposed, revised rules 2 September 2005

1) Rule 5 the addition of post of Assistant secretary to be added.

2) Previous rules 9 and 15 were combined and revised – clarifying the conditions for promotion and demotion between Divisions and when clubs fail to complete scoring teams.

3) Rule 12 to be revised- the date for clubs to pay their affiliation fee is proposed to change to “by AGM”.

4) Rule 17 to be revised to state that reimbursement to clubs for event promotion expenses will be made in full at the discretion of the Executive.

5) Previous rule 21 to be removed as the same statement already exists in Rule 10.