Category: WHBPC

Conduct on the court at the WHBPC 2017

The NAHBPA along with our host club, Lexington Bike Polo are doing many things to make this year’s WHBPC a wonderful and memorable experience for all attendees.

As part of our efforts to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for players, volunteers, and spectators, we will be actively encouraging players to steer clear of unsportsmanlike conduct. Excessive protest of referee decisions, general disruptions of game proceedings, and verbal and/or physical assault (both on and off the court) will not be tolerated throughout the week.

The NAH will be advising all referees to treat rules §6.7 & §7.2 with firm and immediate action. On the court this means immediate penalties and personal game misconduct penalties. Off the court this could lead to game suspension for players and removal from the event facility for spectators and volunteers. The NAH will also reserve the right to review player conduct by request of the head referee, a member of the NAH, or the opposing team captain following a match. Post match reviews could lead to further suspension. Players will be notified by the NAH and the Referee at the start of the game whether they are to immediately serve an escalated Game Misconduct penalty or could be subject to one during that game. These escalations will follow a player for the duration of the tournament.

Below you can find the full text for §6.7 & §7.2. We encourage all players to review the entire 2017 ruleset prior to WHBPC 2017. We look forward to having you all and we expect everyone to play and spectate in accordance with these simple rules, and treat one another with decency and respect.

– NAH & Lexington Bike Polo

https://nahbpa.gitbooks.io/nah-ruleset-2017

• §6.7 – Personal Misconduct
  • §6.7.1 – Physical aggression or verbal abuse as defined in §7.2 is subject to an automatic Personal Misconduct penalty.
  • §6.7.2 – If necessary, the Referee immediately stops game play to end an altercation. The penalty is assessed per §1.1.9.3. Possession goes to the fouled team and the game restarts according to §4.2.3 with the following modifications:
    • §6.7.2.1 – The offending player is removed from the court for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or the remainder of the game – at the discretion of the Referee.
    • §6.7.2.2 – On the first offense, their team continues play with 2 players on the court for 30 seconds – the duration of a minor penalty – before a third player can enter play. On subsequent offenses, their team continues play with 2 players on the court for 2 minutes – the duration of a major penalty – before a third player can enter play.
  • §6.7.3 – Prior offenses and the impact of the infraction on the course of play will determine the severity of the penalty for both the player and their team. If a team receives multiple severe Personal Misconduct penalties in one game, the Referee stops the game immediately and the penalized team forfeits the game. The offending team is subject to tournament ejection based on review by the tournament organizers and head Referee. The final scoreline is determined by the head Referee.

• §7.2 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct
  • §7.2.1 – An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is assessed when a player is judged by the Referee to be behaving in an unsportsmanlike manner. Examples of this include, but are not limited to:
    • §7.2.1.1 – General disruption of game proceedings or excessive protest of Referee’s decisions.
    • §7.2.1.2 – Verbal or physical assault of a Referee, Goal Judge, Timekeeper, Scorekeeper, Event Organizer, Spectator, or any other Player on the court.
      • §7.2.1.2.1 – This is automatically assessed as Personal Misconduct per §6.7.
    • §7.2.1.3 – Relocating an opponent’s dropped mallet in order to make it more difficult for them to recover per §9.6.
    • §7.2.1.4 – Failure to tap-in or leave the play after dabbing.
  • §7.2.2 – This penalty is assessed as a Minor, Major or Personal Misconduct at the Referees discretion, except in §7.2.1.2.

First off, we need to ask a favor of the polo community. In order for us to stream to mobile, YouTube requires that we have at least 100 subscribers. So if you could take 30 seconds and click the button below to subscribe to our channel, that would enable everyone to stream this year’s WHBPC on their mobile device!

WHBPC Livestream – Watch Party Support & Giveaway

NAHBPA and Lexington Bike Polo are proud to announce we are producing a high-quality livestream of the World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championship on October 6th and 7th on the NAH YouTube channel – at no charge to the viewer and free of external advertising. Our hope is that clubs, family and friends around the world to be able to enjoy the livestream and show their support. Our goal is to document the event for players to consume and learn, to amplify and grow the sport with a broader audience, and to allow players around the world to share in the experience. To this end, we are asking for your help and support.

There are two ways in which you can help:

• Setup a watch party for your club at a local establishment. A bike shop, coffee shop or bar/restaurant that has a YouTube capable television / projector. If you can identify this establishment, we will provide artwork for flyers to promote the watch party for you to print, and we can assist in coordinating with the venue for food/drink specials, etc.
• Participate in our fundraising efforts for the livestream by purchasing raffle tickets for a dedicated online raffle. We are asking for $5 from individuals for 1 ticket, or $50 from an official watch party for 10 tickets. The online raffle will be conducted separately from the raffle happening at the tournament, so watch parties are guaranteed to win the 3 prizes below!

 
What do you get for participating in the raffle?

• Your name / club name / venue will be mentioned by commentators both days on the livestream.
• Your name / club name / watch party venue will be listed as a supporter alongside sponsors on at least one game to be posted on YouTube after the event has concluded.
• You will be entered in a drawing for 3 prizes*:
  • 1st Prize: Limited-edition custom WHBPC Pake Bourbon Chaser bike polo frameset
  • 2nd Prize: Gift Certificate Package, T-Shirt, Hat, Can Coozie
  • 3rd Prize: T-Shirt, Hat, Can Coozie
• *Winners will be drawn before the final game. Prizes will be delivered after the tournament has concluded

Your support would mean that we can provide this livestream free of advertisements and continue the legacy of community driven event organizing that makes bike polo what it is. Please contact joe@nahardcourt.com to discuss how to setup a watch party in your city and receive the artwork, but most importantly you should use the donation buttons below to enter in the raffle.