Administration

1. The Higher Education Committee (HEC). This Committee is responsible for the day to day running of All -Ireland Competitions and queries regarding such. The HEC will also deal with all queries about player eligibility and appeals.
2. The HEC will consist of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar and where possible a PRO, to be elected at College Congress.
3. The HEC are not obliged to meet. Decisions agreed by the majority of the HEC by telephone/ email shall stand. The Chairperson will have casting vote.
4. Members of the HEC shall endeavour to attend Central council meetings and attend National Congress, to present the annual report on behalf of the colleges.
5. The Colleges Congress will be held on a date to be decided by the HEC on an annual basis. The congress will consist of one voting delegate from each affiliated college and the members of the HEC. The venue will be decided by the HEC.
6. All breaches of the bye laws will be subject to a 100 euro fine (except where otherwise specified.
7. Colleges will be fined 50 Euro for all trophies, which are returned to the HEC without having been engraved from the previous season.

Procedure for Appeals

All appeals must be made in accordance with the rules set out in the ‘Objections and Appeals’ section of the official guide.

8. All competitions – queries regarding the running of the competitions and other matters shall be made to the secretary of the HEC, who with the HEC will make a decision which may be appealed to central council

9. Player Registration – Queries regarding the eligibility should be made to the HEC Registrar in writing by email or post. The query must give reasonable grounds explaining why the player’s eligibility is being questioned. On receipt of such a query the registrar shall in writing request a letter, signed by the registrar of the institution in question outlining the players current status, including the course code and it’s requirements, to be returned within 7 days.

The College Club Secretary will be notified that a query has been made and that the investigation has commenced. Should a letter not be forth coming, or fail to meet the appropriate rule, then the player will be deemed not eligible to participate in competition and any game which she had participated in will be awarded to the opposition as per rule book. A decision may be appealed to central council, but evidence that was not presented to the HEC when requested may not form part of the appeal.

Registrations

10. To participate in the All -Ireland leagues or All Ireland Championships the college must be affiliated and their students registered by 1^st of November annually.

11. Additional student registrations may be made after this date up until a final deadline of 3 days before the All Ireland Championship weekend. All registrations must be made on the official college registration form. The registration of additional students on an official registration form must be received by the registrar 3 days before a match is played. The fee for the additional player(s) must be received within 1 week of original post.

12. The Current Affiliation fee is 250 euro. The current registration fee is 4 euro per player.

13. In order for a player to qualify to compete in the third level colleges competitions she must be in full time education. For the Garda College: students of the April and July intakes qualify for two seasons only while students of the January and October intakes qualify for three seasons.

Sabbatical Officers and Student Officers These girls may play provided their College considers them to be full time students. A maximum of two such officers may compete in the same season.

Colleges Unable to Field a Team If a college is unable to field a team then players in that college may apply to the HEC in writing for permission to play another college.

Fresher’s 7-A-Side Blitz. For the purposes of this competition Freshers are defined as students who are entering Third Level Education for the first time. Students who have been registered on other colleges and then transfer to year 1 of a course in a new college are not regarded as Freshers. (Third Level Education includes Universities, IT’s and PLC Colleges). Entry fee 1s 100 euros per college and 50 euro per additional team. Panels are to consist of a maximum of 10 players. All Players must be submitted on the registration form and be present at registration.

15. Colleges with More than 1 team Colleges who intend entering two or more teams in the league and championship competitions must register each student on the A or B Panel. Students who are registered on the A Panel may not move down to the B panel at any time during the season. However students who are on the B Panel may move up and play on the A Panel. Colleges should register a minimum of 20 players for the A panel (and B Panel if you have a C team) at the start of the season and then players can move up when required or needed. If you play up at a higher grade come championship you can then no longer play at the lower grade.

Fixtures

16. Fixture Dates - The All Ireland League and Championship fixtures will be set by the HEC and each college must play the named Opposition on the date and time set, unless both colleges agree and notify the HEC secretary of change of date and time. This re-arranged fixture must be cleared by the Secretary.

In the event of the Home teams pitch being unplayable/closed the fixture will be played at the away team’s venue. In the case of both pitches being unplayable the HEC may appoint a venue. If Matches are not played and one college is clearly at fault then the offending college will be fined 100 euro and the opposing college will be awarded the match. If both colleges are clearly at fault both Colleges will be fined 100 euro and both teams will be excluded from the remainder of the competition.
17. Walkovers - Colleges giving walkovers will be fined 100 euro each time. If two Colleges finish on level points in the league stages of a competition and one of these Colleges has given a walkover throughout the campaign, advantage will be given to the other team regardless of score difference. This is to ensure fair play among all Colleges. Colleges must give at least 48hrs notice of withdrawal from Freshers 7 a side competiton or otherwise they will be fined 100 euro.

18. Colleges incurring any fines during the season must pay these with 1 week of notification. Colleges will be excluded from future competitions until such time as the fine is full paid. Any College owing outstanding Money to the HEC Fund will be excluded from future competitions until such time as this money is paid to the fund.

19. The HEC will consider regrading misplaced Colleges for the Championship competitions (either up or down). The decision will be based on the composition of the registered panel, an application from the college and their results in league and previous championship performance.

20. The Hosts for the O’Connor Cup Weekend will rotate amongst the Provinces 2011 – Munster 2012 – Connuaght 2013 – Ulster  2014 – Leinster

21. Freshers 7-A-Side Blitz can be played at a mid way venue between the North & South of the Country. It will not be confined to Dublin.
22. There will be 25 Players picked for the Colleges All Star Team from the Championship Weekend who will receive Jerseys Shorts and socks and be the colleges All Star’s for that year. The Panel to select the Colleges All Star will be selected by the HEC.
23. In Any competition where penalty shoot-outs are used goals will only count.

Championship Competitions

24. All Colleges must indicate on the relevant entry form whether they wish to participate in the championships. This must be returned at the start of the season. There is no automatic entry.

25. The Date and draws for all championship competitions will be determined by the HEC. Seeding and draw format shall be determined by the HEC.

26. The O’Connor Cup Semi finalists, Giles Cup Finalists, Lynch Cup Semi-finalists and Lynch shield finalist, compete at the Championship weekend. (12 teams) The Donaghy and Lagan Cup championships will be played on a regional blitz basis from 2011 with the all Ireland semi finals and finals to be played on the same day at a venue to be decided by the HEC.

27. Where Both teams are drawn the first named college will deemed as the home team and has home advantage unless the distance is greater than 150miles which will result in a half way venue.

28. All championships games are to be 15-a-side except for Donaghy Cup and Donaghy shield which shall be 13-a-side unless both colleges agree to play 15 a side.

29. For Each round of the championship from Round 1 to the final a result must be obtained except in group stages. There will be no replays. If the game is a draw at full time, extra time of 10 mins per half will be played. If the result is still a draw the 5 penalties per team should be taken. If this fails to separate the team the sudden death penalties must be taken to reach a result. In Group stages 3 points a win and 1 point for a draw will be awarded, if teams in groups are tied then score difference will apply then scores for and then result between the teams and finally lots may be drawn.
30. The British Inter College champions will be allowed to enter the Lynch Cup at the semi final stages if they so wish and are in a position to do so. Their entry must be confirmed before the draw is made.

League Competitions

31. The Leagues will be run by the HEC who will have control over the format, timing and structure of the Leagues.

All Matches in knockout stages of the league will be treated as championship games. There will be no replays. Same rules as in the championship.

The HEC will decide the future format of the Leagues and will consult with colleges in setting up structures.

As per the official guide of Cumann Peil Gael na mBan, the unlimited substitutions rule will apply to all league matches up to Quarter Final Stage.

Referees

33. All Referees appointed for games must be an official referee of Cumman Peil Gael Na mBan.

34. It is the duty of the home team to appoint the Referee and also to pay for his services. The rate for referee is 40 euros or equivalent in sterling. If a referee is entitled to travel expenses then it is the responsibility of the home team to pay these.

35. It is the duty of the Referee to send a report along with team sheets to the Registrar of the HEC. Gerry McGill. The Referees report will be provided by the Home College.

36. In the Case of a half way venue it is the duty of the team deemed as the home team to arrange the Referee although Colleges will split cost of Referee and his/her travel expenses if applicable.