ESWATINI TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS SPORTS

ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

BALL GAMES TOURNAMENT 2024/2025
RULES AND REGULATIONS
I) PREAMBLE
1. This tournament shall be played by affiliates of the Eswatini Tertiary Institutions Sports
Association (ETISA).

2. The ball games shall be managed and administered by the Eswatini Tertiary Institutions
Sports Association (ETISA) through the working committee.

3. The ball games shall be managed under the rules and regulations contained herein made
by the working committee.

4. The subscription and joining fees shall be E1000.00 per season.

II) ORGANISATION OF THE TOURNAMENT

1. The tournament shall consist of four sections, which are the preliminary, quarterfinals,
semi-finals and the finals section. This may vary according to the number of participating
institutions.

2. If the participating institutions per discipline are less than eight (8), the games shall be
played in a one-leg round-robin system and the team on top of the log shall be declared
the winner.

a) The Preliminary Section

i) The system of play shall be a one-leg round-robin system. Institutions shall be

randomly divided into four groups.

ii) The winner and runner-up from each group shall qualify for the quarterfinal
section.

iii) In the case of a one-day knockout tournament, the duration of each match shall be
reduced and communicated to all institutions during the technical meetings.

b) The Quarterfinal Section

i) The quarterfinals shall be played on a knockout system.

ii) In case of a draw, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.

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 iii) The winners in the quarterfinals shall qualify for the semi-finals.

c) The Semi-Finals Section

i) The semi-finals shall be played on a knockout system.

ii) In case of a draw, rule 2 (b) above shall apply.

iii) The winners in the semi-finals shall qualify for the finals while the losers shall
qualify for the third-place playoff.

d) The Final Section

i) The final shall be played on a knockout system.

ii) In case of a draw, rule 2 (b) above shall apply.

III) COMMITTEES AND BOARDS

1. The ETISA Technical Committee

a) Shall be responsible for the management and administration of the ball games.

b) Shall ensure that all playing pitches are in good condition and order is maintained.

c) Shall make preparatory work; draw programs, fixing dates, the time of kick-off and
venues for matches.

2. The Protest and Disciplinary Committee (PDC)

a) The ETISA Executive shall appoint a Protest and Disciplinary Committee consisting
of three members. The three members shall co-opt an ex-officio member.

b) The PDC shall have power to caution, censure, fine, suspend, or disqualify players,
referees or umpires and officials, i.e. Sports masters and Coaches.

c) Decisions of the committee shall be valid with a quorum of a simple majority

including the chairman.

d) Decisions of the committee shall be based on written reports of the referee or umpire
and/or the official match commissioner. The committee may call a personal hearing
and decide upon the procedure to be followed.

e) The decision of the committee shall be final and subject to appeal if they condemn the
caution, censure, fine, disqualification of players, referees, or umpires or officials in
connection with the match incidents reported by the referee/umpire or the official
match commissioner.

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 f) A member of the Disciplinary Committee shall not take part in a meeting in which
his/her institution is involved.

3. The Board of Appeal

a) The Board of Appeal shall be composed of the members of the ETISA Executive.

b) A committee of Appeal may seek advice from a competent person of the committee
on matters concerning the interpretations of the rules and regulations.

c) A member of the Board may not take part in any meeting in which his/her college or
team is involved.

d) On request, the parties involved may be granted a hearing.

e) The decision(s) of the Board of Appeal shall be final and not subject to appeal.

IV) TECHNICAL RULES FOR THE GAMES

1. Players Registration

a) Each player participating in the games shall be a full-time registered student, not
older than 28 years.

b) Each team must produce an identity card or any document from the head of the
institution for each player in the team with an official institution stamp.

c) Each identity card must contain the following information:

i) Name of player
ii) Name of institution
iii) A passport-size photo
iv) Name of the course
v) Date of expiry

d) The document from the head of the institution must also meet the above requirements,
(c).

e) No player shall be allowed into the field of play without an identity card or document
from the head of the institution.

2. Starting Time

a) Each college shall arrive at the venue of the match at least 30 minutes before the
scheduled start of the match and shall take the field of play 10 minutes before the
scheduled start of the match.

b) A team that takes the field of play after fifteen minutes or more without a valid reason
shall be liable to a fine of not more than E50.00.

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 NB: Fine is payable before the start of the match.

c) If a team arrives forty-five minutes after the scheduled start of the match or more
without a reason, the defaulting team shall be liable to a fine not exceeding E200.00
and the match is called off. The team may be liable to further sanctions at the
discretion of the Technical Committee.

d) A team which, without having received permission from the Technical Committee,
fails to honour a match without a valid reason shall forfeit the match. The points shall
be awarded to the opposing team on a league basis, using the rules governing that
particular sporting code, and disqualification on a knockout basis.

e) If a team fails to honour a match with a valid reason, and a replay is ordered, the
match shall be played at a venue determined by the opposing team with the Technical
Committee.

3. The Referees and Umpires

a) The Technical Committee shall appoint referees or umpires, which they shall feel
competent to handle the match.

b) Before the commencement of the match, the referee or umpire together with the two
captains shall check the identity cards of each team.

c) Immediately after the end of the match, the referee, umpire and match commissioner
shall provide as many details as possible of all occurrences before, during and
immediately after the match. This report must be submitted to the Technical
Committee.

d) Red-carded players will be automatically suspended from participating in any one

match following his/her being sent off and may further be liable to disciplinary action.

e) Identity cards of players red-carded and alleged defaulters shall be retained by the
referees or umpires and handed over to the Technical Committee.

f) Any team found to have fielded a suspended player shall summarily be penalised by
forfeiting the match to their opponents and may be subject to further sanctions at the
discretion of the technical committee.

4. Laws of the Games

a) All matches must be played according to the laws of the game decided upon by the
International Bodies or Federations for each sporting code.

b) In case of differences in interpretations of the laws of the game, the English text shall
be authoritative.

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5. Dress Code

a) Each team shall wear the colours of its college.

b) Each team shall have a spare outfit available other than their official colours.

c) If similarity of the colours is only noticed shortly before the beginning of the match,
the match commissioner present or in his absence, the referee or umpire shall toss a
coin in the presence of one representative of each team to determine which team shall
change its equipment.

6. Match Abandonment and Misconduct

a) If a match has to be suspended as a result of incidents (disorder, spectators invading

the playing field, throwing of any kind of missiles, etc.), the match should be
considered lost for the team which is responsible for the incident and the opponents
shall be declared the winner.

b) A team that causes the abandonment of the match shall further be liable to a fine not
exceeding E200.

c) A team that withdraws from the tournament after the fixture has been distributed shall
be charged and summarily fined a sum not exceeding E500.

d) Every team shall ensure that none of its members, players, officials or supporters
engage in any form of unsporting behaviour or misconduct such as assaulting the
referee or umpire, member of the opposition team, officials etc. during the course of
the play and after play. A team that contravenes, this rule shall be subject to
disciplinary action and liable to a payment of a fine not exceeding E200.

7. Protests, Appeals and Fees

a) In the event of a protest arising during the course of play, the captain of the protesting
team shall note the protest with the referee or umpire at the time when the alleged
infringement, wrong, or irregularity occurs, and in the presence of the captain of the
opposing team. A full report of the protest, together with the receipt for the protest
fee, shall be submitted to the Protest and Disciplinary Committee within 48 hours
after the match. (Excluding Sundays and Public holidays).
b) Parties to a protest or a complaint shall be afforded an opportunity to present their
case when the protest is being heard and shall always receive at least one day’s notice
of the meeting together with a copy of the protest.

c) A team which is not satisfied with the decision of the Protest and Disciplinary
Committee shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Appeal, whose decision shall
be final and binding to all parties.

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 d) The protest fee shall be E200 and the appeal fee shall be E400 and this appeal fee
must be paid within two days of the Protest and Disciplinary Committee’s decision.

8. Press, Television, Broadcasting, Film, Ground Advertising and Merchandising

a) The rights for television, broadcasting, official film, ground advertising and
merchandising belong to the sponsor of the Tournament.

b) The Working Committee shall be responsible for the technical facilities to guarantee
television coverage nationwide, to provide the signal of the matches, and to offer the
possibility for a live broadcast.

9. Miscellaneous

a) Colleges taking part in the tournaments under the auspices of ETISA undertake to
fully observe and comply with the regulations and decisions of the Technical
Committee, Protest and Disciplinary Committee and the Board of Appeal.

b) The Technical Committee, in consultation with the ETISA executive, shall issue any
necessary instruction that shall form an integral part of these regulations.

10. Matters Not Provided For

The ETISA executive shall take final decisions on all matters not provided for in these
regulations.

11. Gate Takings and Distribution

a) ETISA shall be entitled to 100% of the gate takings.

b) Payment of the referees and umpires shall be the responsibility of ETISA.

V) ADOPTION
These regulations were adopted by ETISA in consultations with the sponsor and come into
force immediately.

ETISA – SECRETARY :

DATE :