General Competition Rules

The Team Pabalhas Competition Rules are intended to:

1. Create an atmosphere of sportsmanship, equality, and fair play
2. Provide safety and protection
3. Emphasize ingenuity and skill without unduly limiting the athlete’s freedom of action
4. Penalize athletes who gain an unfair advantage

General Conduct:

1. Sporting events involve many athletes. Race tactics are part of the interaction between athletes.
2. Athletes will practice good sportsmanship at all times.
3. Athletes will be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.
4. Know, understand and follow the Competition Rules.
5. Obey traffic regulations and instructions from race officials.
6. Treat other athletes, officials, volunteers, and spectators with respect and courtesy.
7. Avoid the use of abusive language.
8. Inform a Race Official after withdrawing from the race.
9. Compete without receiving assistance other than from event personnel and officials.

Health:

1. Sporting events are strenuous. To be able to compete, athletes should be in excellent physical condition. Their health and welfare is of paramount importance. By starting in a race, the athletes declare they are in good health and are in appropriate physical condition to complete the race;
2. Athletes are encouraged to perform periodic health evaluation (PHE) and to undergo a pre-participation evaluation (PPE) prior to engaging in competitive sport.

Eligibility:

1. An athlete’s age is determined by their age on December 31st in the year of competition.
2. Athletes aged 18 and above are eligible to compete in the Elite or Age Group categories.
3. An athlete who competes in a category different from his/her age, in a distance in which is not allowed will be disqualified from the events he/she took part in. Any awards and prizes will be removed.

Insurance:

Each athlete must have personal insurance coverage. This insurance will cover any accident occurring during the competition.

Safety Guidelines:

The responsibility of remaining on the course rests with the athlete. Any athlete, who appears to Technical or Medical Officials as presenting a danger to themselves or others, may be removed from the competition.

PROTESTS:

General:

A protest is against the conduct of an athlete, Race Official, or the conditions of the competition. An athlete may file a protest with the Race Official provided the protest has not been previously observed by the Technical Officials and ruled upon by the Referee.

Protests Concerning Eligibility:

Protests concerning the eligibility of an athlete shall be made to the race official before the start of the race.

Protests Concerning the Course:

Protests concerning the safety of the course or its variance to the regulations must be made to the Referee no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the start of the race.

Protests Concerning the Race:

An athlete, who protests against another athlete or official, must do so to the Referee within fifteen (15) minutes of his/her finish time. However, the intention to write a protest has to be announced to the Referee within five (5) minutes of his/her finish time. After this deadline, only protests following this process will be admitted.

Protests Concerning Equipment:

Protests concerning an athlete’s equipment must be delivered to the Referee fifteen (15) minutes after his/her finish time. However, the intention to write a protest has to be announced to the Referee within five (5) minutes of his/her finish time. After this deadline, only protests following this process will be admitted.

Protests Concerning Timing and Results:

Protests concerning mistakes in timing and results (time errors, athletes’ ranking) may be delivered in writing by the athlete to the Race Organizer within thirty (30) days after the competition.

Contents of a Protest:

The protest must be accompanied by a deposit of Php 2,000 and will be refunded if the protest is successful. If the protest is denied, there will be no refund and the money will be retained by Race Organizer.

Information to be included:

1. The alleged rule violated
2. The location and approximate time of the alleged violation
3. Persons involved in the alleged violation
4. A statement, including a diagram of the alleged violation, if possible
5. The names of witnesses who observed the alleged violation