MAINE GAMES POLICIES Every Maine Games staff member, intern, athlete, coach, official, organizer, commissioner, volunteer, and spectator shall conduct themselves responsibly and with well mannered behavior throughout all Maine Games related events and activities. Honesty, respect for others, sportsmanship, fairness and good conduct are expected at all times.   In order to ensure an atmosphere of healthy competition, the following regulations will be in effect for all Maine Games events and activities. Violations of these standards shall be grounds for dismissal from Maine Games competitions and from all Maine Games venues. Unsportsmanlike or disorderly conduct: Participation in the Maine Games as an athlete, coach, official, spectator or otherwise is a privilege which can be revoked for inappropriate behavior. The Maine Games reserves the right to eject anyone for not conducting themselves in a sportsmanlike manner.   This includes, but is not limited to, unsportsmanlike or disorderly conduct, fighting, consumption of alcohol at any Maine Games events, improper use of drugs and false representation of eligibility requirements (i.e. age, grade, residence, identity).   Coaches, officials, site directors, commissioners, Maine Games staff may recommend to the director that a participant should be dismissed from both current and/or future Maine Games events based on their unsportsmanlike conduct or behavior determined to be in violation of the Maine Games policies and philosophy. Alcohol and/or other controlled substances: The consumption of any alcoholic beverages or non-prescribed drugs by any participant, coach, official, volunteer, or staff at any Maine Games event, activity or site is strictly prohibited. Violators shall be subject to immediate expulsion from the Maine Games and may also be subject to prosecution if in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. Civil and Criminal Law Acts which are violations of civil or criminal law shall be reason for expulsion from the Maine Games or any other Maine Games activity or event and shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with the law. Among acts which are strictly prohibited, and will also result in expulsion are: gambling, theft, possession, sale or use of narcotic drugs and without appropriate prescriptions, possession of dangerous weapons, disorderly conduct, assault and battery and infringement on the rights of others. Awards may be forfeited All uniforms provided by the Maine Games, medals, and other awards are the property of the Maine Games. Until all finals competitions are complete and disciplinary/eligibility matters have been resolved by the Maine Games office, individuals/teams, may forfeit uniform shirts, and/or awards if the Maine Games rules are not followed. MAINE GAMES ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION Maine Games athletes will need to be aware of certain potential eligibility issues with regards to their participation in their own state games. High School athletes:   The Interscholastic Division of the Maine Principal's Association has established standards for your participation. A small portion of the MPA's policy is provided here. It is strongly recommended that you consult the MPA for any clarification of their policies. “MPA member schools are required to limit all participation, play, or practice in a sport by all teams and individuals to the season to which the sport is assigned. This policy applies to all team and individual interscholastic competition grades 9 through 12 during the school year only and does not apply during the summer recess (all bold type added).    In order to provide a window of personal time similar to the time available prior to the winter and spring sports seasons, summer recess is defined as the time period between the last day of the spring sport season to August 1 or fourteen (14) days prior to the beginning of the fall sport season, whichever occurs later. This does not exclude individual students from attending camps during this two-week period of personal time as long as all other Sport Season Policy requirements are met. Individuals choosing to attend camps during this two-week period may use school protective gear or track and field implements.  The MPA urges athletes, coaches, etc. who have questions about the summer policy to ask for clarification from their local principal or athletic administrator.   For complete text of these policies contact the Maine Principal's Association or log on to their website: http://www.mpa.cc/hpmenu.html. College Athletes:   The following is text taken from a letter to National Congress of State Games Executive Director, Tom Osborne, from Kristen L. Davis, Membership Services Representative of the NCAA, written February 19, 2001 (and on file at the Maine Games office): “This is in response to your January 24 (2001) letter requesting a blanket waiver for the National Congress of State Games events and competitions.   “Please be advised that during the 1997 NCAA Convention, the membership voted to eliminate the requirement that the NCAA Council approve specified national and international competitions. Effective August 1, 1997, institutions are permitted to approve student-athletes' participation in selected outside competitions. “To advise the institutions of acceptable state games per Bylaw 14.7.5-(e), the list of the National Congress of State Games events shall appear in the NCAA News.” For further clarification, the Maine Games suggests you contact your school's NCAA compliance officer, or athletic director. The Maine Games is open to all Maine Residents who have lived in the state for at least 30 days prior to their participation in their event. Proof of residency, if challenged, rests on the person whose eligibility is being challenged. All challenges must be submitted in writing or by email to the Maine Games office within 24 hours of the conclusion of the event. Exceptions to this rule: Students who live in Maine but who attend school outside of the state. Students who attend school in Maine, but who live outside the state Persons who live in another are eligible for certain events. These events are listed within the contents of this booklet. Persons who live in another state and who are participating in a Maine Games event cannot compete for a Maine Games medal. They can only participate. Their records or scores will not be kept or recorded. We expect that all Maine Games participants will honor this requirement and will take part in our games in the spirit in which they are intended. ATHLETE INFORMATION Association rules: The Maine Games cooperates with the United States Olympic Committee, N.C.A.A., N.J.C.A.A., N.A.I.A., Maine Principal's Association, National Governing Bodies (NGBs), and other sports groups. Athletes must abide by the rules of their association/sports groups, which may include restrictions on the number of athletes from the same school or team that can participate in the Maine Games. Athletes are responsible for checking with their association/sports group for rules regarding their participation in the Maine Games. Eligibility: All Maine Games athletes must meet at least one of the following requirements: A full-time resident of the state of Maine. A full-time student attending a recognized academic institution in Maine. A full-time student who is a resident of Maine attending a school out side of the state of Maine. An athlete who is participating in one of a select few events and cannot compete for a Maine Games medal or prize. No scoring or records of these individuals will be kept, and their participation is at the discretion of the event commissioner. Participation in the Maine Games, unless otherwise noted, is for Maine amateur athletes only. Amateur status is determined by the sport's NGB. Medical Insurance: Every participant must provide their own personal medical insurance. Athletes unable to provide proof of insurance will not be allowed to participate. Competing in more than one sport: Athletes may participate in more than one sport as long as the events are not held at conflicting times. It is the athlete's responsibility to make sure that there are no schedule conflicts in the sport(s) entered. Registration Deadlines: Some sports have specific entry limits or registration deadlines. Others may allow on-site registration, solely at the discretion of the Maine Games. Please check the sport specific information in this booklet for registration deadlines. Refund Policy: No refunds will be given if events are cancelled due to inclement weather or because an individual/team (or opponent/opposing team) does not show up. Events cancelled for a reason outside the control of the Maine Games will also not offer refunds. When an event(s) are cancelled by weather, acts of God, national, state, or local emergencies, the Maine Games will not offer a refund, but will provide a voucher for the same amount for a future Maine Games event. Returned Checks: If a check is returned by our bank, the $25 bank charge will be the responsibility of the applicant. The applicant will not be eligible to participate until the entry fee and bank charges have been paid by MONEY ORDER to the Maine Games. Inclement weather: Sports utilizing outdoor sites are subject to inclement weather. Competitions will be conducted unless the Maine Games officials or the venue owner/operator declare conditions potentially dangerous or a threat to bodily harm (for example, lightning). There are no rain dates and events will not be rescheduled. They will be cancelled. There will be no refunds if an event is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. Acceptance of Rules and Regulations: By paying their fee and registering, whether on-line, or by mail, or on-site, participants agree to accept and abide by the sports specific and general rules and regulations outlined here. Registration Information: Online registrations: If you have access to the internet and feel comfortable registering online with a credit card, please go to www.mainegames.org, then click on your sport. You will find a link to our online registration partner (Active.com). If registering online, athletes must agree to the waiver information on the site to continue the registration process. If your team registers online, then you must print off the waiver form on the Maine Games website and have your team/or their parents if under 18 sign the waiver form.    All athletes under the age of 18 must have their parents, or legal adult guardian sign the waiver form before they can participate in the Maine Games. No exceptions. Participation will not be allowed by anyone who does not submit a signed waiver with the registration form.   There is a small convenience fee for registering online. Through our partnership with Active.com, we are able to assure participants that their online registration will be accepted and they will receive a confirmation email verifying they have registered for their event. They will also be able to verify that their registration has been accepted (in some cases we must limit the number of participants in any event. Registrations by mail will not be verified or acknowledged by mail or email. We simply receive too many registrations to verify each one personally. To check your registration, you may inquire by email only, to: info@mainegames.org. Type “verify registration” in the subject line. You must also give us your name, address, phone number, and sport you have entered. If the registration is for a child under 18, please include that name as well. Registration by mail:  Completely fill in the mail-in entry form found in this booklet, or downloaded from the Maine Games website (www.mainegames.org), and return it with full payment in the form of check or money order (we cannot accept credit card registrations by mail, phone or fax). DO NOT SEND CASH.   Make certain you answer all of the questions asked of you on the registration form.   You must be sure to sign the waiver portion of the registration form. This is on a separate sheet, or on a second page (if downloaded from the internet). Registrations without a waiver signature WILL NOT BE PROCESSED, and your check will not be cashed or returned. Team Registrations/Rosters/Waivers:   You must supply us with the names of your team members with your registration. In many cases the registration fee is based on the total number of people registered on your team. You DO NOT have to turn in your waiver signatures on your roster form until athlete check-in at your event/venue. You may turn in your entire roster with signatures with your check for complete registration in advance.  No person(s) will be allowed to participate without a corresponding signature on the waiver portion of the roster, however. No refunds will be given to those who cannot participate because of noncompliance of this regulation. No substitutions may be made on your roster once submitted unless noted on the sports specific page. The Maine Games is not responsible for the actions of its participants. The Maine Games is not responsible for lost or stolen items. The Maine Games is not responsible for participant's insurance and requires all participants to have their own health, medical, dental, and other insurance. By registration or their presence at a Maine Games event, all spectators assume all risk and liability for injury or accident while attending a Maine Games event.