By Caolite de Barra
The IMMAF Events Team announced a new Team Penalty Point System during a presentation at IMMAF Technical Seminar Week, with the aim of creating a fair playing field for all participants. The seminar session was primarily focused on the new policy with a brief update on the child safeguarding policy.
IMMAF is currently finalising a detailed safeguarding policy and framework structure that outlines responsibilities and procedures during event time. IMMAF is taking responsibility to develop and implement processes to ensure minimum safeguarding standards and the appropriate response to any concerns that arise during events.
IMMAF Chief Compliance Officer Ralph Cook presented the new Team Penalty Point System at the seminar.
The background to the new system being implemented is the need for accountability during competition so that rules, policies, procedures and processes can be enforced in accordance with standards of the IMMAF Code of Conduct.
Some past violations were highlighted in the seminar to help attendees understand why this system needs to be implemented. These violations ranged from individuals such as coaches and athletes not having a covered toe shoe to a corner man taking a bag of ice and throwing it at the cage. This latter incident resulted in two officials being injured, one being hit in the eye and not being able to judge for the rest of the day.
Cook explained that the scope of the system is to mirror the team points accrual system. National Teams/Federations that violate rules and policies will have points deducted from World Rankings using the IMMAF Penalty Point Severity Index.
This system is a four-tier system to assess point deductions dependent on the severity of the infraction. Each category is defined below with Category 1 being the most serious infraction.
Category 1 – Grave infraction is those that result in egregious willful intent to injure a participant, discredit the spirit and intent of the IMMAF code of conduct, violate anti-doping policy, commit fraud with athlete eligibility requirements and violate host nations laws.
National Federations will have the opportunity to appeal Category 1 penalty assessments through a process managed by the IMMAF Disciplinary Committee.
Category 2 – Severe infractions are those that result in the degradation of good order and discipline during IMMAF tournaments that affect code of conduct, sportsmanship, result in violation of safe and fair competition and/or bring discredit on the IMMAF.
Category 3 – Major Infractions are those that directly affect the rules and protocols of tournament operations at the venue, field of play, warm-up area, athlete weigh-in, team accreditation, team equipment issue, medical requirements, team uniformity and lodging venues.
Category 4 – Minor Infractions are those that can be considered disorderly conduct for failure to follow protocols on the field of play or warm-up area.
Category 2-4 infractions cannot be appealed to the IMMAF Disciplinary Commission.
To ensure all possible infractions are covered, Hybrid Infractions have been defined to capture any infractions that don’t fall under a specific category in the 4 tier system
Hybrid Infractions are those violations that have not been written and involve unprecedented violations of rules and policies. All Hybrid Infractions will be submitted to the IMMAF Disciplinary Committee to determine the classification of the PPSI.
| Penalty Point Severity Index | ||
| Severity Category | Continental Championship | World Championship |
| CAT 1 Grave | 400 | 800 |
| CAT 2 Severe | 240 | 480 |
| CAT 3 Major | 50 | 100 |
| CAT 4 Minor | 16 | 32 |
While the system is designed to hold teams responsible, individuals are still susceptible to being disqualified, ejected and/or suspended from IMMAF Tournaments dependent on the severity of the infraction.
All point deductions with the exception of Category 1 – Grave Infractions and Hybrid Infractions, will be assessed during the active phase of the tournament and documented in the IMMAF penalty Point Deduction Report.
The System will start as a pilot programme so while the system is tested, points will not be deducted in 2021 . This will allow for analysis and review of the system before it becomes fully operational in 2022.
