1 GENERAL RULES FOR CONVENORS
1.1 Sanctioning
1.1.1
Sanctioning is a policy wherein the Association condones pipe band competitions that meet its requirements as set out from time to time in these rules. A convenor who wishes to hold a sanctioned competition shall ensure that his competition is governed by these rules in their entirety, by inserting the appropriate clause in his prospectus.
1.1.2
Certain competitions may be allocated Championship or Regional status by the Executive Committee. Any convenor who wishes to apply for Championship or Regional status must submit a proposed date for his competition to the Executive Committee before the Annual General Meeting two years preceding the date of his proposed gathering.
1.1.3
The number of Championship and Regional competitions for a particular season shall be decided by the Association in general meeting two years prior to that season taking place. Where there are more convenors applying for status than the number of allocated Championship or Regional competitions respectively, the Executive Committee shall invite convenors to motivate their applications at a special meeting. The criteria used to award status shall be communicated to the convenors at the Annual General Meeting of the year preceding.
1.1.4
The aforementioned applications shall include a comprehensive prospectus setting out details relating to venue, date, prize money, events, entry fees etc. The Executive Committee may require any necessary modifications before the convenor dispatches the prospectus to bands.
1.1.5
All prospectuses for the ensuing year shall be lodged with the Executive Committee by the 31st October of the current year so that said prospectuses can reach all bands before the end of the current year.
1.1.6
Any convenor wishing to hold any other competition shall apply to the Executive Committee at least three (3) months prior to the proposed date of the competition whereby Rule 1.1.4 shall apply.
1.1.7
The prospectus, as per Rule 1.1.6, shall be dispatched as early as possible, but not later than one (1) month prior to the proposed date of the competition.
1.2 Fees and Levies
1.2.1
The competition fees and competition levies for the year shall be determined by the Association in a general meeting.
1.2.2
The convenor shall pay to the Association a competition fee depending on the status of the competition :
Championship Final R1 425.00
Championship R950.00
Regional Final R700.00
Regional R700.00
The fee for any other contest shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
1.2.3
In addition, the convenor shall pay to the Association a competition levy of R130.00 per band, for each band that participates in the competition, irrespective of the number of times each band may perform.
1.3 Selection of Adjudicators and Officials
1.3.1
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the allocation of adjudicators at each sanctioned competition. It shall select adjudicators from the Approved Adjudicators List.
1.3.2
The Executive Committee shall communicate its selection to the convenor by no later than one (1) week prior to the competition.
1.3.3
The Executive Committee shall nominate a person, or persons, to act as recorders and as band marshals.
1.3.4
The Executive Committee shall be represented on the day by a designated Association representative, or representatives, who shall be members of the Executive Committee.
1.4 Payment of Adjudicators and Officials
1.4.1
The convenor shall pay to each adjudicator, as a minimum, R70.00 for the first event, and then R20.00 per event thereafter.
1.4.2
In the case of the band marshals, an amount determined by the Executive Committee dependant on the number of band marshals and their pro rata share of the responsibilities based on a minimum total amount of R120.00.
1.4.3
In the case of recorders, an amount determined by the Executive Committee dependant on the number of recorders and their pro rata share of the responsibilities based on a minimum total amount of R150.00.
1.5 Entries
1.5.1
All bands have to submit their entries by the closing date for entries as specified within the respective competition prospectuses.
1.5.2
In the event that a band has not submitted its entry form by the closing date, a convenor, in consultation with the Executive Committee, may permit late entries subject to the imposition of a surcharge of 50% of the total entry fee (exclusive of the competition levy), which surcharge shall accrue to the convenor.
1.5.3
All competition entry fees are due and payable to the relevant convenor by the closing date for entries as specified within the respective competition prospectuses.
1.6 Band Withdrawals
1.6.1
Any band that has entered a competition and subsequently withdraws its participation shall be liable to pay the convenor the full entry fee.
1.7 Contest Arena
1.7.1
The convenor shall be responsible for the proper preparation of the competition arena, and shall mark out all lines and circles clearly. More than one competition arena may be used.
1.7.2
The start line shall be seven (7) metres long.
1.7.3
The centre of the competition arena shall be thirteen and a half (13.5) metres measured perpendicularly from the middle of the start line.
1.7.4
The competition circle shall have a radius of three and a half (3.5) metres from the centre of the competition arena.
1.7.5
The adjudicators’ circle shall have a radius of six and a half (6.5) metres from the centre of the competition arena.
1.7.6
The competition arena shall be bounded by a barrier of hazard tape not closer than five (5) metres to the perimeter of the adjudicators’ circle.
1.7.7
The boundary of the competition arena shall be interrupted by the gate, which shall be seven (7) metres wide and allow access to the start line.
1.7.8
The middle of the Drill, Dress and Discipline line shall be twenty (20) metres measured perpendicularly from the middle of the start line. It shall be parallel to the start line and at least seven (7) metres long.
1.7.9
The adjudicators’ tent shall be adjacent to the recorders’ tent and shall have direct and immediate access to the competition arena but shall be secured from outside interference by the public. The adjudicators’ tent and the recorders’ tent shall not encroach on the competition arena.
1.7.10
The Executive Committee may require that the convenor modify the field layout to accommodate special areas for the training of adjudicators, as may be required from time to time.
1.8 Final Tune-Up Area
1.8.1
The convenor shall provide a final tune-up area for each competition arena.
1.8.2
The final tune-up area shall be no closer than 30 metres from the competition arena, and shall in no way cause any disturbance to competing bands.
1.8.3
The final tune-up area shall be no smaller than 15 x 15 metres.
1.9 Drum Majors’ Competition Arena
1.9.1
Convenors shall be prepared to provide an area of at least 65 x 25 metres for the drum majors’ line abreast contest, provided that the drum majors’ adjudicator may, at the competition and in conjunction with the convenor, determine the size of such area.
1.10 Order of Play
1.10.1
The Executive Committee shall by means of a random process compile the order in which bands are to compete.
1.10.2
The results of such determination, which shall include the times at which each band must perform, shall be published no later than one (1) week prior to the competition.
1.10.3
Any pipe band member of the Association in good standing, who has entered the competition, has the right to be present when the order of play is compiled.
1.10.4
The Executive Committee may depart from the criterion of randomness if a band has requested to play in a particular position and all other bands in the same event have consented to its request.
1.10.5
Any band or bands failing to abide by the order of play, or start times, may be disqualified by the Association representative unless the convenor, in consultation with the Association representative, agrees that exceptional circumstances justify a departure from the order of play.
1.10.6
At all competitions, bands shall compete in the following order unless special condonation has been received from the Executive Committee :
Novice Juvenile
Juvenile
Grade 4
Grade 3
Grade 2
1.11 Duration of Events
1.11.1
The band marshal shall be responsible for timing all band performances. Times shall be recorded and forwarded to the Executive Committee after each competition.
1.11.2
Timing shall begin at the start of the drum rolls and end when the band stops playing.
1.11.3
In the event that a band undercuts or exceeds the allowed time for performance, such band shall receive a verbal warning from the band marshal. In the event that the band repeats the offence during the same contest season it shall be disqualified from that event.
1.11.4
The Executive Committee shall provide the band marshal with a list of bands who have been warned during the contest season.
2 GENERAL RULES FOR PIPE BANDS
2.1 Band Complement
2.1.1
A pipe band (“band”) shall consist:
2.1.1.1
In the case of Novice Juvenile bands, of at least four (4) pipers, two (2) side drummers, and one (1) bass drummer.
2.1.1.2
In the case of Juvenile bands, of at least four (4) pipers, two (2) side drummers and one (1) bass drummer.
2.1.1.3
In the case of Grade 4 bands, of at least four (4) pipers, one (1) side drummer, and one (1) bass drummer.
2.1.1.4
In the case of Grade 3 bands, of at least five (5) pipers, two (2) side drummers and one (1) bass drummer.
2.1.1.5
In the case of Grade 2 bands, of at least six (6) pipers, three (3) side drummers, and one (1) bass drummer.
2.1.2
A miniature band (mini-band) shall consist of four (4) pipers, two (2) side drummers and one (1) bass drummer and may include no more than two (2) tenor drummers.
2.1.3
A piping quartet shall consist of four pipers.
2.1.4
The band complement requirements in 2.1.1 for Novice Juvenile and Juvenile bands include piping and drumming instructors, as the case may be.
2.2 Restrictions on Players and Bands
2.2.1
No band may enter for or compete in a sanctioned competition unless it is a member of the Association in good standing. No band may compete with a player who is not a registered member of that band.
2.2.2
No person may be simultaneously registered with two or more bands, except for players in Novice Juvenile or Juvenile bands, who may also register with one (1) band in Grade 4, Grade 3 or Grade 2, and piping or drumming instructors for Novice Juvenile and Juvenile bands, who may register as instructors with other Novice Juvenile and Juvenile bands, as well as with one (1) band in Grade 4, Grade 3, or Grade 2, and piping or drumming instructors for Grade 4 bands, who may register as instructors with other Grade 4 bands, as well as with one (1) band in Grade 3 or Grade 2.
2.2.3
No person may register with a Novice Juvenile or Juvenile band if they are not under nineteen (19) on the 1st January of the current competing year.
2.2.4
The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, permit a person who is excluded by 2.2.3 above to register with a Novice Juvenile or Juvenile band, provided that such person is a full-time scholar enrolled at a secondary school.
2.2.5
Novice Juvenile, Juvenile and Grade 4 bands may register more than one piping and/or drumming instructors at their discretion, provided that in each event, not more than one (1) registered piping instructor and one (1) registered drumming instructor compete. Instructors need not comply with 2.2.3 above.
2.2.6
In the case of Juvenile bands, the piping instructor may not act as Pipe Major but may do so in the case of a Novice Juvenile or Grade 4 band. This rule is limited to those functions of a Pipe Major that pertain to: giving commands, setting tempo and signalling breaks and transitions.
2.2.7
In the case of Novice Juvenile, Juvenile and Grade 4 bands, the drumming instructor may not act as lead drummer.
2.2.8
A person who plays both pipes and drums (whether side, tenor or bass) may, on written application to the Executive Committee, be granted permission to register with two bands provided he plays only pipes in one band, and only drums in the other.
2.3 Bands Competing in Higher Grades
2.3.1
Bands may compete in a grade other than which they are registered according to the following protocol :
Novice Juvenile into Grade 4
Juvenile into Grade 3
Grade 4 into Grade 3
Grade 3 into Grade 2
2.3.2
A band playing up may play up into either event or both events in the higher grade.
2.3.3
No band may play up unless they have also competed in both events in the grade in which they are registered.
2.3.4
Bands may not play up at Championship competitions.
2.3.5
Bands must comply with the rules relating to band complement (2.1 above) for the grade into which they are playing up.
2.3.6
Bands playing up shall be liable to pay the full entry fee for the additional event, but shall not be liable to pay the competition levy twice.
2.3.7
Bands playing up are eligible for prizes, but not for points, in the higher grade.
2.4 Events and Musical Requirements
2.4.1
The events and musical requirements for the forthcoming contest season shall be determined by the Association in general meeting.
2.4.2
Convenors may offer any of the events enumerated in 2.4.3 below. At competitions in which both events in a grade are offered, the event (a) shall be played first.
2.4.3.1
Grade 2
(a) A March, Strathspey and Reel event. At Championship (Regional) competitions, bands to submit two (one) MSR sets (set) each consisting of a march of at least four repeated parts, a strathspey of at least four parts, and a reel of at least four parts.
(b) A Medley Selection event. Bands to submit a selection of tunes not less than four (4) but not more than six (6) minutes in duration.
2.4.3.2
Grade 3
(a) A March, Strathspey and Reel event. Bands to submit one MSR set consisting of a march of at least four repeated parts, a strathspey of at least four parts, and a reel of at least four parts.
(b) A Medley Selection event. Bands to submit a selection of tunes not less than three (3) but not more than five (5) minutes in duration.
2.4.3.3
Grade 4
(a) A March Selection event. Bands to submit a selection of quick marches not less than three (3) but not more than five (5) minutes in duration.
(b) A March, Strathspey and Reel event. Bands to submit one MSR set consisting of a march of at least four repeated parts, a strathspey of at least four parts, and a reel of at least four parts.
2.4.3.4
Juvenile
(a) A March, Strathspey and Reel event. Bands to submit one MSR set consisting of a march of at least four repeated parts, a strathspey of at least four parts, and a reel of at least four parts.
(b) A Medley Selection event. Bands to submit a selection of tunes not less than three (3) but not more than five (5) minutes in duration.
2.4.3.5
Novice Juvenile
(a) A March Selection event. Bands to submit a selection of three quick marches of two repeated parts each in either 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 time signature.
(b) A March, Strathspey and Reel event. Bands to submit one MSR consisting of one four-parted march or two two-parted marches in 2/4 timing and; one four-parted strathspey or two two-parted strathspeys and; one four-parted reel or two two-parted reels.
2.4.4
Novice Juvenile and Juvenile bands may compete in an open juvenile grade where prizes and points will be awarded according to the registered grade of the respective band.
2.4.4.1
Each Novice Juvenile and Juvenile band shall play their respective March, Strathspey & Reel as per Rule 2.4.3.5 (b) and Rule 2.4.3.4 (a) above.
2.4.4.2
Each Novice Juvenile band shall play their respective March Selection and each Juvenile band shall play their respective Medley Selection as per Rule 2.4.3.5 (a) and Rule 2.4.3.4 (b) above.
2.4.5
In the Grade 4 and Novice Juvenile March Selection event, no tune may be played more than once.
2.4.6
A Best Drum Corps event may be offered in each grade.
2.4.7
A Best Bass Section event may be offered in each grade.
2.4.8
A Drill Dress and Discipline event may be offered for the Novice Juvenile and Juvenile grades combined, and Grades 4, 3, 2 and 1 combined. Such event shall be adjudicated in the (a) event in all grades, except for Novice Juvenile and Grade 4 where it shall be adjudicated in the (b) event.
2.4.9
An Overall Winner event may be offered in each grade.
2.4.10
Drum Majors’ competitions operate under the aegis of the Drum Major Competition Rules.
2.4.11
The standard events are annexed to these rules in the form of a sample prospectus which may be used by convenors in the preparation of their competition.
2.5 Protocol of Events
2.5.1
Bands on their way to the start line shall cross the Drill, Dress and Discipline line. Judging for Drill, Dress and Discipline commences when the first rank of pipers crosses the line.
2.5.2
Bands shall arrive at the start line ready to perform at the required time. The Band Marshall’s watch shall be the official time, and bands should ensure that their watches are synchronised. At the sole discretion of the band marshal, a single verbal warning of pending disqualification may be announced by public address if a band has not arrived at the start line in time for their performance.
2.5.3
Any band thus warned, which does not immediately respond shall, at the discretion of the band marshal in conjunction with the Association representative, be immediately disqualified from that event and barred from performing.
2.5.4
Bands may arrive at the start line either with “pipes down” or “pipes up”, or playing. In the case of bands that have arrived with “pipes down,” the band shall perform the “pipes up” manoeuvre. In the case of bands that arrive either with pipes up or playing, the band shall perform the “pipes down” manoeuvre followed by the “pipes up” manoeuvre. Bands shall complete this full manoeuvre before the indicated start time.
2.5.5
No tuning is permitted and no player may be dropped from the band once the band has crossed the Drill, Dress and Discipline line. Any band doing so shall be automatically disqualified.
2.5.6
In the case of MSR, Medley Selection and March Selection events, the band shall commence their performance by marching into the competition area with two three-beat drum rolls, and forming up on the competition circle. At the end of the performance the band shall exit the competition arena as requested by the convenor.
2.5.7
At competitions, where bands in Grade 2 are required to submit two MSR sets, the set/selection to be performed shall be drawn “on the line” by the Pipe Major.
2.5.8
The band to play for the Drum Majors’ “line abreast” competition shall be drawn in rotation from the grade whose competition has taken place prior to the Drum Majors’ competition; the objective being that all bands share the responsibility equally.
3 ADJUDICATION
3.1 Number of Required Adjudicators
3.1.1
At all Championship contests, there shall be two (2) piping adjudicators, one (1) drumming adjudicator and one (1) ensemble adjudicator for each event.
3.1.2
At all Regional contests, one (1) piping adjudicator, one (1) drumming adjudicator and one (1) ensemble adjudicator shall suffice, but the rank scores of the piping adjudicator shall be doubled to preserve the proportions set out in 3.1.1 above.
3.1.3
All other competitions may be adjudicated as directed by the Executive Committee.
3.1.4 Bass Section events, Drill, Dress and Discipline events, and Drum Major events may require the addition of extra adjudicators as set out in rules 2.4.7, 2.4.8 and 2.4.10 above.
3.2 Scoring and Overall Placing
3.2.1
A band’s overall placing will be determined using only piping, drumming and ensemble ranked points set out in 3.2 hereunder.
3.2.2
The various disciplines shall be assessed as follows:
3.2.2.1
The various categories on the score sheet shall be ticked appropriately. Such category assessments shall not be used in the computation of the band’s overall position, but are assessed for guidance purposes only.
3.2.2.2
The Adjudicator shall rank bands from first to last in relation to the standard of the other bands competing in that event, and clearly record this rank point at the bottom of the score sheet. This rank point shall be used to compute the overall result.
3.2.3
The result for an event type (a) or (b) shall be computed as follows, using the rank points of each adjudicator :
Total rank points = Ensemble + Piping 1 + Piping 2 + Drum Corps
The band with the lowest total rank points shall be the winner of the event, and so forth. The lowest possible total rank points are therefore four (4).
3.2.4
In the case of Best Drum Corps and Best Bass Section events, the result shall be determined by adding the rank points of the drumming adjudicator for the (a) and (b) events in the former case, and adding the rank points of the bass section adjudicator for the (a) and (b) events in the latter case.
3.2.5
In the case of Overall Winner events, the result shall be computed by adding the total rank points for each of the (a) and (b) events.
3.3 Ties
3.3.1
Where there is a tie in an (a) or (b) event, the higher placing band shall be determined by reverting in the first instance to the number of ensemble rank points, failing which by reverting to the total number of piping rank points, failing which by reverting to the total number of drumming rank points, failing which the event shall be a tie.
3.3.2
Where there is a tie in a Best Drum Corps or Best Bass Section event, the higher placing band in each case shall be the band with the lowest rank point in the MSR event, failing which the event shall be tied.
3.3.3
Where there is a tie in an Overall Winner event, the higher placing band shall be determined by reverting to total ensemble, then piping, then drumming rank points as set out in 3.3.1 above, except that if the bands are still tied, then the band with the better result in the (a) event shall be placed higher, except in the Novice Juvenile or Grade 4, where the band with the better result in the (b) event shall be placed higher.
3.3.4
In cases where bands have tied, the prize shall be shared.
3.3.5
Adjudicators may not award ties in single events.
3.4 Championship and Regional Contests
3.4.1
Results from competitions that are allocated Championship (Regional) status shall count for the overall Championship (Regional) result. Points shall accumulate according to placings obtained in each of the two events (a) and (b) in each grade, as follows:
1st place : 6 points
2nd place : 5 points
3rd place : 4 points
4th place : 3 points
5th place : 2 points
6th place : 1 point
Example: If there are three Championship (Regional) competitions in the contest season, the maximum obtainable points are 2 events x 3 competitions x 6 points = 36 points.
3.4.2
In the event of a tie for the Championship (Regional) result the winner shall be determined in the first instance by reverting to the most number of first places in each event, failing which by reverting to the number of higher places in each event, failing which by reverting to the overall result from the final Championship (Regional) of the contest season.
3.5 General rules for Adjudicators
3.5.1
Adjudicators shall appear correctly dressed whilst adjudicating bands and whilst inside the adjudicators’ tent.
3.5.2
Adjudication shall commence from the start of the drum rolls, and end when the band stops playing.
3.5.3 Adjudication for the Drill, Dress and Discipline event shall commence when the first rank of pipers crosses the Drill, Dress and Discipline line on the way to the start line.
3.5.4
Adjudicators may not approach nearer to the band than the perimeter of the adjudicator’s circle.
3.5.5
Adjudicators are not permitted to converse with each other, members of the public or other competing members, regarding the performance of bands, during events and, whilst allocating rank points to the bands.
3.5.6
Adjudicators shall be provided with official score-sheets and must explain their view of the performance with suitable constructive criticism in the space provided. Immediately on completion of the event, adjudicators shall hand their score-sheets to the recorder or his/her assistant.
3.5.7
At the conclusion of the competition, a representative of a band may collect the band’s score-sheets from the recorders’ tent.
3.5.8
Any band that does not meet the full complement requirement (as set out in 2.1 above) may request the convenor, in conjunction with the Executive Committee, to permit the band to participate “for score-sheets only,” in which case the band shall not be eligible for prizes or points or rank points. However, such bands shall be liable to pay the full entry fee as well as the competition levy.
3.5.9
Adjudicators remain bound at all times by the Adjudicators’ Code of Conduct.
4 BANDS COMPETING OVERSEAS
4.1
Bands wishing to compete overseas must inform the Executive Committee of their intention, within a reasonable time, and indicate the preferred grade in which they wish to compete. The Executive Committee will confirm the suitability of this grade and make the appropriate recommendation to the relevant foreign Association.
4.2
Bands competing overseas remain bound by the rules of the foreign Association for the duration of their visit, and should ensure that they are totally familiar with those rules before they depart. The foreign Association may re-grade bands at their discretion.
4.3
Bands competing overseas must be correctly registered with the Association, and include in such the registration of any “guest-players” who will join the band solely for the purposes of the overseas competition.
4.4
Any foreign bands competing in sanctioned competitions shall be bound by these rules.
5 INTERPRETATION AND CONTRAVENTION OF RULES, AND SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
5.1
Any band that has, in the opinion of the Association representative or Executive Committee, contravened any of these rules, shall be liable to sanction by the Executive Committee which shall include but is not limited to disqualification from an event (a) or (b) or both.
5.2.1
A band may be disqualified by the Association representative on the day or by the Executive Committee at any time after the competition. Any band that is disqualified shall forfeit all points and return all prizes to the convenor.
5.2.2
A disqualified band shall be removed from the placings, and the next best band shall be the recipient of the disqualified band’s points and prizes.
5.3.1
Where the Association representative or Executive Committee is of the opinion that a band’s acts or omissions may result in an infraction of these rules, he shall inform the band of the impending infraction and give them an opportunity to remedy the situation. Any band that refuses to comply may be barred from performing.
5.4
The adjudicators’ decision is final and no correspondence shall be entered into. No person may enter into a verbal dispute with any official or adjudicator.
5.5
In the event of a dispute relating to the interpretation of these rules, the Executive Committee shall provide its own interpretation, which shall be binding on all members and have precedential authority.