Summary -PAC Spring 2008

1. Following are the Games committee's rule changes for your information.

The following Extraordinary Games rule changes for 2008 were approved as presented below:

These will be in force at USPC Championships 2008.

Reckless Endangerment Rule. Riding too fast, or with disregard for circumstances which could result in harm to any person or pony, may be penalized for each occurrence up to the point value for a first-place finish in a game. This penalty shall be deducted from the final adjusted
score for the day in question. The Ground Jury shall assess the penalty after investigation of the occurrence. Should the circumstances so warrant, the Ground Jury (in lieu of assessing penalty points) may disqualify a competitor and/or team from the entire competition.

Abolition of Final Heats - Based on the results of last years Championships test and comparing results and benefits for the ponies and riders, this will continue for USPC Championships.

Equipment Change Based on the issue of shattering and safety, the dowel lengths for balloon, fishing, flag, and litter have been reduced from 4' back to the original USPC 3' lengths .

Games Rule Changes to take effect in 2009

Championships Competition Divisions and Qualifications (This is to be set up as a 3-year trial period)

JUNIOR TEAM: All members of a junior team must be 12 years of age or less as of January 1 of the year in which they participate in any official Games Competition (and for Championships, at least 10 years of age and a D-2 rating).

SENIOR TEAM: All members of a senior team must be between 12 and 15 years of age or less as of January 1 of the year in which they participate in any official Games Competition. Senior Team members must have at least a D-3 rating, unless they are 15 years of age, in which case they must have a C-1 rating. For Championships, all members  of a Senior team must be between 12 and 15 years of age.

ADVANCED TEAM: All members of an advanced team must be between 15 and 18 years of age as of January 1 of the year in which they participate in any official Games Competition. (For Championships, all members of an Advanced Team must have at least a C-2 rating.)

AGE LIMITATION: If any member of a team exceeds the age limitation as specified in these rules, or if a Junior team member is not a minimum of 10 years of age, or if any team members of any division are in any other way ineligible for competition, the team will be disqualified.

Games Pinnies:

Regions will provide pinnies to be approved by the Games Chair. The pinnies shall have no more than two solid colors, with each player's number in a color that clearly contrasts with the background color. Dark color backgrounds should use white numbers; light-colored backgrounds should use dark numbers. The pinnies shall also have one to four letters which delineate the region, as specified by the Games Chair. It shall be each region's responsibility to have their pinnie colors approved by the USPC Games Chair, and it shall further be the region's responsibility to maintain
these pinnies from year to year.

For Regional Competitions, each Club will provide its own pinnies in accordance with the specifications contained in Appendix B. It is the responsibility of the Regional Supervisor, or the local Organizer if the Regional Supervisor so delegates, to insure that the pinnies from the different Clubs are clearly distinguishable from each other so as to avoid confusion in the judging of the competition.

PAC & BoG suggest that the regional Pinnies be used for Prince Philip Cup 2009 and Presidents Cup starting 2008 if possible.