PROCEDURE FOR APPEALS
1. All appeals must commence “I(We) wish to appeal---“and then set forth the rules claimed to have been infringed. In the event of an appeal not covered by a specific rule, then the case for appeal should be clearly stated with all the relevant information submitted. Only formal appeals properly lodged in time per rule will go through the appeals procedure.
2. All Appeals properly lodged, must be heard by the appropriate Appeals Committee.
3. Appeals will in the first instance, be lodged with the committee under whose jurisdiction the activity is being organised. All areas/Counties participating in an event at the National Finals be notified if there is an appeal pending.
4. Appeals Committees will have power to impose such penalties and restrictions as they in their absolute discretion will decide.
5. A team proved illegal will be disqualified from further participation in that competition. Sanctions may be imposed against the Team Managers and against the Area and County.
6. An Individual proved illegal will be disqualified from further participation in all Community Games Activities for a period of one year from the date of the relevant Appeals Committee decision.
7. Appeals Committees will have power to award the event to such competitor or team as they will decide.
8. Area, county and Provincial Bye-Laws which have not been submitted and approved by the Board of Directors, will not be considered relevant if submitted in Appeals by Area, County or Provincial Executive Committees.
9. Dates, decided by Area, county, Province and National, for entry or completion of activities, will be regarded as part of the normal running of Community Games and will be accepted by Appeals Committee, provided that proof is furnished that notification was sent and received at the appropriate level.
10. A minimum of three Members must hear an Appeal at all levels.
11. In the absence of the Appeals Chairman, at Area, county, or Provincial level, a chairman will be elected from the Appeals Committee members present and in the event of four members hearing an Appeal, the Chairman will have a casting vote.
12. Members of the Appeals Committee must declare a vested interest in an Appeal and withdraw from that Appeal.
13. A member of an Appeals Committee can not hear his own Area or County Appeal, or plead a case before his own Committee.
14. An individual can only be a member of one Appeals Committee.
15. Subject to a maximum of two appeals on any issue, appeals will proceed as follows:- At Area Level, progressing to:- Area Appeals Committee.
County Appeals Committee. At County Level progressing to:- County Appeals Committee. National Appeals Committee.
At Provincial Level progressing to:- Provincial Appeals Committee. National Appeals Committee.
At National Level, direct to:- National Appeals Committee.
16. The Board of Directors will decide at its first meeting, the appropriate fees for all appeals and notify all counties within 14 days. Appeal fees will be reviewed annually.
17. Appeals in individual events at Area Level, must be signed by a parent or guardian of the individual involved or by a responsible adult, and lodged with the Area Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within thirty minutes after the result of the event has been officially made known.
18. Appeals against the decision of the Area Appeals Committee in individual events must be signed by the Area Secretary and lodged with the County Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within 48 hours after the decision has been officially made known.
19. Appeals in individual events, relays and squads at County level must be signed by the Area Manager or Area Secretary and lodged with the County Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within 30 minutes after the result has been officially made known.
20. Appeals against the decision of the County Appeals Committee in individual events, relays or Squads must be signed by the Area Team Manager or Area Secretary and lodged with the General Secretary of the Community Games Company accompanied by the appropriate fee within three days after the decision of the County Appeals Committee has been officially made known. Evidence of posting within the three-day period will be proof of lodgement of appeal within the stipulated period.
21. Appeals in individual events, Relays or Squads at National Level must be signed by the County Manager or County Secretary and lodged with the Activities Committee, at a designated point accompanied by the appropriate fee within 30 minutes after the result of the event has been officially made known.
22. Appeals in Team Events at Area Level must be signed by the Team Manager and lodged with the Area Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within one day after the result has been officially made known.
23. Appeals against the decision of the Area Appeals Committee in team events must be signed by the Team Manager and lodged with the County Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within 2 days after the result has been officially made known.
24. Appeals in team events at County Level must be signed by the Area Secretary and lodged with the County Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within 3 days after the result has been officially made known.
25. Appeals against the decision of the County Appeals Committee in team events must be signed by the Team Manager or Area Secretary and lodged with the Company Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within 3 days after the decision of the County Appeals Committee has been officially made known. Evidence of posting within the 3 days’ period will be proof of lodgement of appeal within the stipulated period.
26. Appeals in Team Events or Judo at provincial Level must be signed by the Team Manager or County Secretary and lodged with the Provincial Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within 3 days after the result has been officially made known or such shorter period as the provincial Bye-Laws so prescribe. Evidence of posting will be proof of lodgement within the stipulated period.
27. Appeals against the decision of the Provincial Appeals Committee in Team Events or Judo must be signed by the Team Manager or County Secretary and lodged in duplicate with the Company Secretary accompanied by the appropriate fee within 4 days after the result has been officially made known. Evidence of posting will be evidence of lodgement within the stipulated period.
28. Appeals in Team Events at National level must be signed by the County Manager or County Secretary and lodged in the Games Committee Office accompanied by the appropriate fee within 30 minutes after the result has been officially made known.
29. The Chairman of the Appeals Committee at each level will give the official decision of the Appeals Committee in writing to the appellant at the conclusion of the Appeal and he will forward a copy to the appropriate Secretary at which level the appeal took place.
30. The Company Secretary must be informed of all appeal decisions at County, Provincial and National level and will be so informed by the Chairman of the Appeals Committee under whose jurisdiction the appeal took place.
31. When an Appeal fails, the fee will be forfeited and so much of the outlay incurred in hearing the appeal, as will be determined by the Committee, must be discharged by the appellant within 7 days of the decision being made known. Failure to pay the outlay within the said period, will debar the appellant from further participation in the Community Games Company until paid.
32. Complaints, queries and other such issues will be investigated by the Executive Committee at which level they were submitted and a decision having been arrived at, will not progress further.
33. Two Representatives from each party involved in the Appeal will be invited to attend the hearing, both having the right to speak. They will be notified of the nature of the Appeal or the reason for disqualification.
34. The Chairman of the Appeals Committee will inform all parties involved that once the official decision is given, there will be no further comment from anybody involved in the Appeal.
35. Parties not complying with Rule 34, will be further penalised by the Board of Directors.
36. Appeals Committees may summon as many witnesses as they feel necessary.
37. Parties involved in an appeal will be interviewed separately and will remain in attendance in case of a recall.
38. At Area, County or Provincial levels, the Official Result will be the time it is announced over the P.A. system, placed on a notice board or communicated by whatever means available.
39. At National level, the Official Result will be when it appears on the Official Notice board accompanied by time of posting.
40. The Referees' decisions on the field of play in team events are final provided he has applied the Rules and Bye-Laws of Community Games Company and no Appeal will be accepted on such Referees' decisions.
41. Athletic Track and Field Referees, Swimming Gala Referees and Quiz Masters decisions are final provided he has applied the Rules and 3 Bye-Laws of the Community Games Company and no Appeal will be accepted on such Referees decisions.
42. Appropriate expenses will be paid to the Appeals Committee only. All Appellants must cover their own expenses. Persons called under Rules 36, may be granted expenses by the relevant Appeals Committee.
43. When an appeal is successful the fee will be reimbursed immediately.
National Appeals Committee: Chaired by the Deputy President plus four elected Provincial Delegates. Minimum of three members required to hear an Appeal. In the absence of any member, the President, in consultation with the Chairperson, will appoint a replacement.
The decision of the National Appeals Committee shall be final.
The Board of Directors, being the governing body of the Company between Annual General Meetings, will invest such powers in the National Appeals Committee that all decisions taken by the Committee on all Appeals lodged with it will be final and binding. Further Appeals to the Decisions made by the National Appeals Committee can be brought before Just Sport Ireland.
Appeal fees are available on the Appeals Form and subject to annual review by the Board of Directors
