Rule 18 · USPA 2026 Arena Rules
Protests and variations from the rules
How protests are handled, who may vary the arena rules, and the time limit for questioning the score or the clock.
Protests
Protests. Protests of the decisions or manner in which the Host Tournament Committee and/or Officials conduct an event shall be resolved in accordance with the Sport Protest Procedures, Part III of the Association’s Disciplinary Procedures Policy.
Variations from the rules
Variations from Rules. (See the Association’s By-Laws, Article VII, Section 3.) The Chairman of the Association or, in his absence, in order of rank (i.e., President, Secretary, then Treasurer), the other Officers of the Association, with the majority consent of the Executive Committee, shall have authority to grant variations or deviations from these Rules in special circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the Association.
Questioning the score or the clock
No team may challenge the scorekeeping or timekeeping of any portion of a game except for the final period (whether regulation or overtime) once the final whistle has blown. A team, acting only through its Captain, may question the scorekeeping in, or timekeeping of, the final period (whether regulation or overtime) until 15 minutes elapses following the final whistle.
Paragraphs a and b of Rule 18 describe issues that are dealt with either before or after the game by other than the game Officials. Paragraph c describes issues raised during the game that must be decided before the conclusion of the game. When a question of time or score is raised during the game, the Umpire is responsible for resolving the question before the game continues. At the end of the game, the Umpire must verify the final score.
During the third period, the scorekeeper notices a discrepancy between the score sheet and the scoreboard. When play next stops, the Umpire must be advised. The Umpire then acts as the “go-between” to resolve the difference. Only when agreement is reached should the game continue. Blue scores a goal in the closing seconds and the game ends before the goal is posted to the scoreboard. The Umpire is responsible for seeing that the goal is included on the official score sheet. At the start of the fourth chukker, the Blue Captain questions the score. The Umpire should check with the scorer, verify the score and notify both teams before putting the ball in play. Before each chukker begins, the Umpire should announce the score. If there is a question, it must be resolved before the ball is thrown in. At the start of the game, the Umpire announces that Red will receive 2 goals by handicap. The Blue Captain argues that the correct handicap is 1 goal. If the dispute cannot be settled on the spot, the game should be played to a conclusion under both handicaps and referred to the Committee for resolution. Following a game, the Red Captain reviews the game tape and discovers that a score was not counted. Correcting the score would affect his team’s net goals in the tournament. It is too late. The question should have been raised during the game.