GAME ON

governing rules

Participant Requirements

ELIGIBILITY

The Corporate Challenge is open to any company in the metroplex. Since the goal of the Richardson Corporate Challenge is to foster company pride and team spirit, participation is for regular company employees, retirees, contractors and spouses. To be eligible to participate, individuals must be at least 18 years of age, and one of the following:

Eligible Players | Employees | Spouses | Retirees

Employee must be employed by the company before the Opening Ceremony and continue employment up to the dates of any events in which they participate. Employees must receive the minimum level of employee benefits in accordance with the employee policies of their respective company.

College interns do not qualify as regular employees

Retired Employee where a retiree is defined as a former employee receiving retirement benefits from the company, or an individual over the age of 60 who spent at least 15 years with the company. In this case, a copy of a benefit statement or letter from the human resources department may be used as company ID, along with an acceptable form of photo ID.

Contract Worker if their contract begins on or before the date of the Opening Ceremony, the contract continues up to the dates of any events in which they participate, the contract length is at least six months, and the contractor works primarily in the company’s offices and not contracted/working for other companies at the same time. The intent is to extend the participation privilege to those people who work side-by-side with regular employees for an extended period of time. Participation privileges also do not extend to outside third-party companies who contract as a whole with the participating company and whose employees regularly work at the offices of the outside company.

Spouse of an employee is defined as an adult companion that is eligible for benefits through their partner’s company. In this case, a copy of a benefit statement or letter from the human resources department may be used as company ID, along with an acceptable form of photo ID.

If there is uncertanty of the eligibility requirements it is the responsiblity of the Company Coordinator to communicate with the Games Office to confirm eligbility status 24 hours prior to the first day of the event

AMATEUR STATUS

The Richardson Corporate Challenge is an amateur event. Any player who has participated as a professional in a sport shall be ineligible to participate for three calendar years after their last day as a member of a professional team in that sport, or a similar sport. The Board of Management, or their designee, will determine the definition of a similar sport and their decision will be final.

Is my player eligible?

A professional is defined as “Any individual who may have received compensation for playing, including appearance money, or who is recognized by that sport’s governing body as a playing professional. However, in certain sports the person may accept prizes and/or money based on the individuals place finish and still is considered an amateur (i.e. 5k, Bike Race, and Texas Hold Em). If the Company Coordinator is not sure if a person is eligible to participate it will be the Company Coordinators responsibility to seek clarification from the Corporate Challenge Staff prior to the event. The Board of Management, or their designee, will determine the eligibility of a player and their decision will be final.

If you have a team member who could be considered a professional in order to avoid penalties please consult the Games Office. Professional athletes may, however, participate in events other than their own expertise. Teaching professionals will be considered eligible to participate as long as they have not received money while competing in a tournament. Any professional found entering their sport will be automatically disqualified from all events and participating company will also forfeit all games and participation points for the event.

If there is uncertanty of the Amateur Status it is the responsiblity of the Company Coordinator to communicate with the Games Office to confirm eligbility status 24 hours prior to the first day of the event.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are a MAJOR part of the City of Richardson Corporate Challenge, volunteers are essential to making this event a success. In addition, volunteerism is a great way to get more of your employees, family and friends involved in the spirit of the Corporate Challenge.

Company volunteers will help out in areas that involve interaction with participants, other volunteers, sponsor and games staff. Company volunteers will not be expected to fill highly skilled or technical roles. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age, but do not need to be employed by your company.

Volunteers are prohibited from participating and volunteering for the same event.

All participating companies will be assigned one event to supply volunteers, events will be assigned prior to the start of the challenge.

Volunteer Assignments
Company volunteers will be assigned, as a group, to one or more events. Specific volunteer assignments (event dates, times and roles) will be provided to your company coordinator. Requests to change your assigned volunteer event, date or time WILL NOT be considered.

EVENT CHECK IN

All players must check-in at the registration table prior to their initial game. Please refer to individual events for clarifications on check-in. Each participant must sign the team waiver form, and must produce approved identification.

Participation in the Richardson Corporate Challenge is restricted to company employees, retirees, contractors and spouses. In order to ensure fairness, participants will be asked to produce at least one acceptable form of ID.

Waivers
Team Captains must have their rosters completed and online by the date referenced on the individual rules. These rosters will be used by Corporate Challenge staff to print the Team Waivers that will be signed at event check-in. Players present their identification to the volunteers at the registration desk and all team members must sign the form.

Acceptable forms of ID

Acceptable forms of ID:

An employee photo ID (security) card
Driver’s license
Other photo ID

Other acceptable forms of ID:

A company benefits card
A letter signed by the company’s human resources department verifying that the participant is employed by the company.
A company pay stub, or photocopy
An official company business card
A corporate credit card

NO ID = NO PLAY, NO EXCEPTIONS
Team Captains must have the Team Roster completed and online by the deadline located on each event rule page.

Unacceptable forms of ID:

Letters from human resources with a ‘fill in the blank’ for the employee name.
Personal credit cards or other non-photo ID cards.

ELIGIBILITY PROTESTS

If a protest regarding the eligibility of a participant arises, the burden of proof as to eligibility rests on the participant and their Company Coordinator or Captain/Coaches.

All eligibility protests must be brought to the attention of the Event Coordinator on-site at the time of play. An eligibility protest fee of $50 must be presented to the event coordinator at the time of the protest. For all eligibility protests the Event Coordinator will stop play and perform a roster check immediately.

SCHEDULES | GAME DAYS

SCHEDULES | BRACKET PLACEMENT

A proposed calendar of events will be distributed at the Company Coordinator meetings and is subject to change. Once all teams have submitted their event agreement form, the Corporate Challenge is able to create and confirm the event schedules based on the number of teams competing.

Until then, we are not able to provide specific information about which division will play on which day, at what time etc. Schedules and brackets will be posted on the Corporate Challenge website. As the brackets progress, schedules will be updated on QuickScores website.

It is the responsibility of the team captain for each team to confirm game times as the brackets progresses. Brackets will be filled with a blind draw system, top finishers from previous years will be seeded.

START TIMES

All participants must be checked-in at the registration desk and ready to start their event at the designated start time. In consideration of other teams, please arrive at your event 30 minutes prior to start time. GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME. See individual event pages for more information on event schedules and start times.

The official time is kept by the event coordinator, monitor, referee, umpire or officials.

FORFEIT | WITHDRAWAL

Once the schedules are set, it is very difficult to change them to accommodate teams that must withdraw or forfeit. Your opponents are geared up for their events, facilities are booked, and officials and volunteers are waiting. Please make every attempt to be there. If your team forfeits one of the following will apply:

More Information

– In bracket play in the winners bracket when no start time is listed, if a team is late the coordinator will move to the next game with no penalty.

– If it is the last game of a round the missing team will be placed in the losers bracket.

– In bracket play in the winners bracket when a start time is listed, Game Time is Forfeit Time. Official time will be the coordinators time keeping devise.

– Teams forfeiting a winners bracket game will be placed in the losers bracket.

– In Pair Teams (multiple sub-events) each sub-event, Men’s, Women’s & Mixed will be treated individually with regard to forfeit or withdrawal. Scenarios one and two will apply accordingly.

– For pool play events forfeit & withdrawal details will be explained in the event specific rules.

– If a team concedes a match and announces so to the event coordinator said team will be considered the loser of that match.

– If a team has started and ceases to play during an event, all prior wins or losses will still stand and any points earned will still be awarded.

Withdrawals from an entire event should be made in writing to the Corporate Challenge Office at least 72 hours before the scheduled match. In doing so, said team will be declared the loser of any scheduled or remaining.

SUBSTITUTIONS

In all competition, substitutions will be allowed prior to the event for players who cannot play for one reason or another. Any eligible company representative may replace a person on the active roster for the entire event, according to the specific event rules. No substitutions are allowed after an event has begun.

Failure to continue play, whether due to injury, prior commitment, poor performance, or any other reason, will result in a concession of the match with no penalty, if announced to the event coordinator. For substitution policies in team sports, such as basketball, softball, etc. check the individual rules pages.

In the event of a rescheduling due to field and/or weather conditions; this rule may be rescinded by the Corporate Challenge Director.

BLOOD RULE

A player who is bleeding, or who has blood on his uniform, shall be prohibited from participating further until the game official (event coordinator if no official is present) approves players return. If medical care or treatment is administered in a reasonable length of time, the individual will not have to leave the game.

The length of time that is considered reasonable is left to the judgment of the game official (Event Coordinator) if no official is present. Uniform rule violations will not be enforced if a uniform change is required. The game official or Event Coordinator shall:

– Stop the game and allow treatment if the injured player would affect the continuation of the game.

– Immediately call a coach, trainer, or other authorized person to the injured player.

TIE BREAKERS

The procedure for breaking ties in the standings at the end of an event will be located in the rules for each event.

PENALTIES

FORFEITS

Forfeits (No Call, No Show)
If a team forfeits an event that they have previously signed up for they will be subject to a penalty.

1st Offense – A team will lose any and all participation points for the event in addition to 16 total points from their overall score.

2nd Offense – A team will lose any and all participation points for the event in addition to 37 total points from their overall score.

The directors of the challenge reserve the right to disqualify a team from the remainder of the challenge along with further disciplinary action deemed necessary.

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS

Any team that does not fulfill their volunteer assignments will be subject to a 37 point penalty to be taken away from your overall score.

Failures to accomodate multiple volunteer assignments may result in additional disciplinary actions per Corporate Challenge board review.

Volunteers are prohibited from participating and volunteering for the same event.

INELIGIBLE PLAYER

Any team found to have violated the eligibility rules will be forced to forfeit all games associated with that event as well as be disqualified from the same event in the subsequent years Corporate Challenge.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

The Richardson Corporate Challenge reserves the right to disqualify, suspend, or remove any participant, coach, spectator, team, or company that conducts himself or herself in an unsportsmanlike manner before, during, or after any event or game.

Remember, as a member of your corporate team, you are representing your company, and your behavior reflects on your organization. Physical aggression, taunting and/or verbal abuse toward other participants, volunteers, officials, spectators, and staff will not be tolerated.

In severe cases the Corporate Challenge Board of Management may determine additional disciplinary actions.