REG 14.1 Postponed matches
REG 14.1.1 Postponed matches are matches called off up to and including the day of the match, due to:
- Bad weather
- Ground conditions
- Bad light
- Unforeseeable facility issues
- Force majeure
- Any national, regional, or local Public Health guidance in place at the time which advises against a team’s involvement in the fixture.
REG 14.1.1.1 For fixtures where match officials are required, if, when both teams and any match official(s) (appropriate for the match as per REG 10) are present at a fixture, there is disagreement between the teams as to whether a match should proceed on the grounds of safety, the match official(s) shall (taking into account the advice of any grounds/facility staff as appropriate) determine whether the match should proceed or should be postponed. Where it is determined that a match should proceed, if a team declines to participate, their opposition shall be entitled to claim a walkover. If a walkover is claimed, the institution/Playing Entity conceding the walkover shall have the opportunity to request that it is deemed involuntary using the process detailed in REG 13.7.3.
REG 14.1.2 It would be expected that if the first named (home) institution/Playing Entity have any concerns that a match may be postponed (for example where there has been bad weather affecting a pitch, there is further bad weather forecast, and so there are concerns that the pitch may be pronounced unfit for play) that they would inform the opposition (away) institution/Playing Entity as early as possible. However, if the opposition (away) institution/Playing Entity have concerns that a match may be postponed (for example heavy rain is forecast) and have not been contacted by the first named (home) institution/Playing Entity, they should ask that a decision be made about whether the match will take place before their team’s intended departure time (note REG 9.5).
REG 14.1.3 Where a postponement is required, the first named (home) institution/Playing Entity must notify, in writing, the main Athletic Union (or equivalent) contact of the opposition (away) institution/Playing Entity. It would be expected, especially in cases of a late postponement (within 48 hours, outside of weekends and bank holidays, of the fixture start time), that the first named (home) institution/Playing Entity would also make efforts to contact the opposition (away) institution/Playing Entity via telephone to confirm that notification of the postponement has been received. The first named (home) institution/Playing Entity shall also be responsible for notifying the match official(s).
REG 14.1.4 Should a match have to be postponed, this match shall be rearranged at the venue of the first named (home) team, except in cases where the notification of postponement has not been sent until after the opposition (away) team's intended departure time - subject to this having been communicated as per REG 9.5. In such cases the fixture shall be replayed at the venue of the opposition (away) institution/Playing Entity.
REG 14.2 Abandoned matches
REG 14.2.1 Abandoned matches are matches called off, for whatever reason, by the match official(s) once play has begun.
REG 14.2.2 When a match has been abandoned, the fixture shall be replayed at the venue of the opposition (away) institution/Playing Entity unless covered under REG 9.3.4.2.
REG 14.2.3 Notwithstanding REG 14.2.2, if it is reported to the BUCS Executive that a match has been abandoned due to alleged misconduct of anyone covered under REG 5.1, of either or both institutions/Playing Entities, a charge of misconduct may be raised under REG 5 and a BUCS Judiciary Panel hearing such a charge shall be entitled to award the match as a walkover or declare it a void fixture should they deem this appropriate based.
REG 14.3 Rearrangement of postponed and abandoned league matches
REG 14.3.1 When rearranging a postponed, late postponed or abandoned league match, the host institution/Playing Entity (as determined by REG 14.1/REG 14.2) must offer at least two dates in writing for the match to take place, in accordance with the relevant league deadline date as identified in Appendix 2 (‘BUCS Leagues and Knockouts – Dates and Deadlines’), no later than 48 hours (allowing for weekends and Bank Holidays) after the scheduled start time of the match. One of these dates must be a weekend date and one a weekday date and they must avoid other prescheduled BUCS fixtures for both teams. If the opposition institution/Playing Entity can show that their team have another prescheduled BUCS fixture on BUCS Play on any of the dates offered, an alternative date must be provided by the host institution/Playing Entity for each instance before progressing to REG 14.3.2. Where the host institution/Playing Entity has failed to adhere to this regulation, they will be deemed to have conceded the match, and the opposition institution/Playing Entity will be awarded a walkover.
REG 14.3.2 If the opposition institution/Playing Entity’s team cannot fulfil any of the dates offered by the host institution/Playing Entity under REG 14.3.1, they must offer two alternative dates no later than 48 hours (allowing for weekends and Bank Holidays) following receipt of the dates from the host institution/Playing Entity. One of these dates must be a weekend date and one a weekday date and must avoid other prescheduled BUCS fixtures for both teams. If the host institution/Playing Entity can show that their team have another prescheduled BUCS fixture on BUCS Play on either of the dates offered, an alternative date must be provided by the opposition institution/Playing Entity for each instance before progressing to REG 14.3.3. Where the opposition institution/Playing Entity has failed to adhere to this regulation, they will be deemed to have conceded the match, and the host institution/Playing Entity will be awarded a walkover.
REG 14.3.3 The host institution/Playing Entity must either accept one of the dates offered under REG 14.3.2, or decline them if their team cannot fulfil them, no later than 48 hours (allowing for weekends and Bank Holidays) following receipt of the dates from the opposition institution/Playing Entity.
REG 14.3.4 If neither institution/Playing Entity can fulfil the dates offered as per REG 14.3.1 – REG 14.3.2 then they must notify the BUCS Executive and independently submit their one preferred date (not previously offered and avoiding other BUCS fixtures as per REG 14.3.1 – REG 14.3.2) via e-mail to [email protected], at which point the BUCS Executive will toss a coin to determine which of the submitted preferred dates the fixture shall take place on. If neither institution/Playing Entity can fulfil the chosen date, both shall concede a walkover. If one institution/Playing Entity can fulfil the chosen date, they shall be awarded a walkover.
REG 14.3.5 Should the institutions/Playing Entities agree there are substantiated reasons why no rearrangement of a fixture can be made (such as no free dates remain in calendar), they may apply to the BUCS Executive to have the match declared a void fixture. Consideration will be on a case-by-case basis.
REG 14.3.6 Once a date has been chosen the host institution/Playing Entity must update this on BUCS Play.
REG 14.3.7 Reasonable efforts must be made by both institutions/Playing Entities to agree on a rearrangement date by following the process outlined in REG 14.3. Institutions/Playing Entities found to be purposefully avoiding rearrangements (for example in the hope of a fixture being declared void) will face disciplinary action.
REG 14.4 Rearrangement of postponed and abandoned knockout competition matches (except for finals)
REG 14.4.1 When rearranging a postponed, late postponed or abandoned knockout competition match, the host institution/Playing Entity (as determined by REG 14.1/REG 14.2) must offer at least two dates in writing for the match to take place, in accordance with REG 9.2.2.1, no later than 36 hours (allowing for weekends and Bank Holidays) after the scheduled start time of the match. One of these dates must be a weekend date and one a weekday date and they must avoid other prescheduled BUCS fixtures for both teams. If the opposition institution/Playing Entity can show that their team have another prescheduled BUCS fixture on BUCS Play on any of the dates offered, an alternative date must be provided by the host institution/Playing Entity for each instance before progressing to REG 14.4.2. Where the host institution/Playing Entity has failed to adhere to this regulation, they will be deemed to have conceded the match and the opposition institution/Playing Entity will be awarded a walkover.
REG 14.4.2 If the opposition institution/Playing Entity’s team cannot fulfil any of the dates offered by the host institution/Playing Entity under REG 14.4.1, they must offer two alternative dates no later than 36 hours (allowing for weekends and Bank Holidays) following receipt of the dates from the host institution/Playing Entity. One of these dates must be a weekend date and one a weekday date and must avoid other prescheduled BUCS fixtures for both teams. If the host institution/Playing Entity can show that their team have another prescheduled BUCS fixture on BUCS Play on either of the dates offered, an alternative date must be provided by the opposition institution/Playing Entity for each instance before progressing to REG 14.4.3. Where the opposition institution/Playing Entity has failed to adhere to this regulation, they will be deemed to have conceded the match and the host institution/Playing Entity will be awarded a walkover.
REG 14.4.3 The host institution/Playing Entity must either accept one of the dates offered under REG 14.4.2, or decline them if their team cannot fulfil them, no later than 24 hours (allowing for weekends and Bank Holidays) following receipt of the dates from the opposition institution/Playing Entity.
REG 14.4.4 If neither institution/Playing Entity can fulfil the dates offered as per REG 14.4.1 – REG 14.4.2 then they must notify the BUCS Executive and independently submit their one preferred date (not previously offered and avoiding other BUCS fixtures as per REG 14.4.1 – REG 14.4.2) via e-mail to [email protected], at which point the BUCS Executive will toss a coin to determine which of the submitted preferred dates the fixture shall take place on. If neither institution/Playing Entity can fulfil the chosen date, both shall concede a walkover. If one institution/Playing Entity can fulfil the chosen date, they shall be awarded a walkover.
REG 14.4.5 In the event of a fixture not being played before the Monday (or the Wednesday in the case of knockout competitions scheduled on weekends) prior to the following knockout round (or any later date agreed under REG 9.2.2.1.1.1), the BUCS Executive will toss a coin to decide the outcome of a fixture.
REG 14.4.6 Once a date has been chosen the host institution/Playing Entity must update this on BUCS Play.
REG 14.4.7 In exceptional circumstances the BUCS Executive may instruct institutions/Playing Entities of the replay date and venue.
REG 14.4.8 Reasonable efforts must be made by both institutions/Playing Entities to agree on a rearrangement date by following the process outlined in REG 14.4. Institutions/Playing Entities found to be purposefully avoiding rearrangements (for example in the hope of a fixture being decided via coin toss) will face disciplinary action.
REG 14.5 Rearrangement of postponed and abandoned knockout competition finals
REG 14.5.1 Should a National Championship/Vase/Trophy final be postponed or abandoned it shall be replayed on a date and at a venue organised by the BUCS Executive.
REG 14.5.2 Should a Conference Cup/Trophy/Shield final be postponed or abandoned it shall be replayed by the final playoff deadline for the sport as stated in Appendix 2 (‘BUCS Leagues and Knockouts – Dates and Deadlines’) by following the procedure of REG 14.4 with the host determined by REG 14.1 – REG 14.2.
REG 14.5.2.1 Should a Conference Cup/Trophy/Shield final, scheduled to have been held at a central venue (note REG 8.4.5.4.6.1) be postponed or abandoned it shall be hosted by the first named (home) institution/Playing Entity.
