Rules &Regulations

• GOV GAMES was established with the aim of promoting healthy living and fitness as well as unity and teamwork among the community.
• It is essential that GOV GAMES is run in a manner that promotes fairness, respect, and good sportsmanship, which are the values that will guide the Rules and Regulations set out for the games.
• The Rules and Regulations will be the main reference point for all athletes and officials for GOV GAMES and will be abided by all relevant parties throughout the event.

Government Teams

• Participants shall be a minimum of 18 years old and must be employed for a minimum of 3 months by the government organization, which they are representing.
• If it is found that a participant is not employed by the organisation, the organisation’s team will be automatically disqualified.
• All participants must be physically and mentally fit to take on such a strenuous and demanding obstacle course.
• All participants must be confident in the water and be able to swim.
• All participants should sign the waiver and must have gone through the necessary registration process to be eligible to participate.
• Each player can only compete in one category. If they are registered in both categories, Government Entities and Community Category, the teams they belong to will therefore be disqualified.
   

Community Teams

• Participants shall be a minimum of 18 years old.
• Must be a legal resident of the United Arab Emirates.
• Must have qualified at Gov Games pre-qualification event.
• A total of 27 community teams will qualify to Gov Games main event. 
• Must be in good health and capable of participating in strenuous athletic activities.
• Must be able to cope with extreme conditions.
• Free of any existing or recurring injuries.
• The teams can be mixed, male or female gender.
• Team name can represent a company or an organisation, provided they are current employees and present NOC from the company.
• 5 main team members, and 2 substitute. At the pre-qualification event 5 team members will compete, if the team is qualified to participate in Gov Games main event, they must add 2 substitutes and register as 7 members. 
• All participants should sign the waiver and must have gone through the necessary registration process to be eligible to participate.
• Each player can only compete in one category. If they are registered in both categories, Government Entities and Community Category, the teams they belong to will therefore be disqualified.

International Teams

• All walks of life coming together to represent their city.
• Each city will assemble a team of 6 members. 3 of the 6 members should be citizens of this city the remaining 3 can be either residents or citizens.
• Each team should present an official document confirming their representation of the city issued by government entity to participate in GOV GAMES.
• Everyone is welcome to participate, starting from the public to government employees. *Passport or identification card should be valid and issued by the represented country.

Junior Teams

• Participants must be between the ages of 9 - 13 (born
  between March 2, 2010, and March 1, 2015).

• Teams must consist of 5 main team members and 2 substitutes,excluding the coach.

• Participants must be in good health and free of any existing, recurring injuries (e.g. asthma, or heart complications). Should be capable of participating in strenuous athletic activities for
  extended period of time.

• Participants are required to register with a team led by a coach who is 21 years of age or older.

• Teams can be of mixed age and gender.

• All participants, including the coach, must have be a valid Emirates ID.

• Participants can only compete for one team.

• Participants need conset from a legal parent or guardian to participate. The legal parent or guardian need to submit a valid Emirates ID.

• Each coach can oversee only one team.

• Registration is available exclusively through www.govgame.ae

• All teams will start on a pre-allocated lane and obstacle and rotate around in an anticlockwise direction, until they have completed all obstacles. A team’s heat, obstacle and lane will be allocated during the official draw event.
• Each obstacle will have 4 lanes, with a capacity to take a maximum of 4 teams at any one time.
• Each lane will be coloured, and the teams will be allocated a single lane for the duration of their heat, so as they move from one obstacle to the next, they will remain in that specific lane. The lanes will be coloured differently to make it easier to recognize.
• There shall be a 10-minute time limit for each obstacle to be completed.
• Teams will have to complete as much as they can of the obstacle, they are on within the allotted time. If they are unable to complete the obstacle within the 10-minute time limit, they must stop where they are, and the appropriate points will be tallied up.
• After the 10 minutes is complete, there will be an 8-minute rest and rotation period. During this period, teams will be escorted to the next obstacle for briefing and preparation.
• Before the start of each obstacle, the team will be given a brief overview of the objectives of the obstacle. The briefing shall take place during the 8-minute rest period. It will be clear and allow for a few questions. No team will be allowed to start an obstacle unless they attend the obstacle briefing with all participating team members.
• After each obstacle briefing, the teams will have the opportunity to align on their strategies but must be positioned and ready at the start line when given the signal by the referee.
• Each obstacle will have referees whose primary role is to ensure the teams complete the obstacle in a fair manner and by not gaining any unfair advantage over the other teams.

• Teams must attempt all obstacles. The rule is designed to guarantee that the teams intend to complete the entire event.
• Failure of a team to present 5 able participants before the start of the obstacle briefing will be considered as a forfeit from that obstacle for which they will be awarded zero points.
• Each team shall have a Team Manager, who will be made known to the Event Officials during registration. The Team Manager shall always represent the teams and will be responsible for advising the relevant officials of any substitutions, appeals or further information and responsibilities (but not limited to) regarding their team. The Team Manager cannot be a participating team member.
• Each team shall appoint one of their members as the team’s Captain who will be made known to the Event Officials during registration. The Team Captain will be a participating team member and will be responsible for team behaviour and morale during the event.
• Teams must always wear the kit allocated to them.
• Participants will be allocated wristbands, which they will have to always wear during the event. The wristbands are used as an information storage device allowing quick access to participant details.
• If for any reason a team wishes to forfeit an obstacle (or competition) the Team Manager must advise the lane referee of the intention to forfeit and must confirm whether they are forfeiting the obstacle and/or the entire competition. The Referees and/or Obstacle Staff will direct them to the participants table where they will remain until the completion of that obstacles’ time limit. If they are forfeiting the competition, an event official will escort them out of the field of play. By forfeiting the competition, the team will lose all points accumulated and will not be included in the results.
• Intentionally disturbing or impeding other teams during any obstacle may lead to a penalty or disqualification.
• If in the opinion of the Obstacle Referee, an athlete and team would have completed a stage and obstacle had it not been for an incident of foul play by the opposing team or unintentional impediment caused by another team or mechanical failure the referee can at their discretion award the points to the impeded or affected team or schedule a redo of that specific obstacle for the team at the completion of the round.
• The decision to allow a team to have a second attempt at the obstacle will be taken by the Obstacle and Head Referee and will be because of any medical incident, mechanical failure, or any form of impediment by another team which has prevented the team from being able to complete an obstacle. This may only be applied once to a team and should the circumstances described in those sections impede or prevent a team from completing the obstacle during a second attempt, the team would not be permitted to make a 3rd attempt and its score would be equal to the average score of all teams over that specific obstacle.
• If an participant suffers an injury, the Lane Referee must be notified immediately so that a dynamic assessment may be conducted to assess the athlete’s ability to continue the race and whether the participant must be withdrawn from the obstacle or competition. The Referees always, at their own discretion, have the right to withdraw an athlete from the competition for medical and/or safety reasons
• Injured participants may only be substituted as per the substitution rules.
• When attempting to complete an obstacle, team members must only push 1 of the 5 completion buttons each, any attempt to push multiple buttons will cause the team to be awarded a penalty.
• The Referees may award a penalty if the team breaks any of the event rules during the competition. A penalty will result in the deduction of 5 points from the team’s total score and teams may receive an unlimited number of penalties throughout the event.
• There will be up to 4 teams competing at each obstacle at any given time, unless one team has been disqualified or is unable to progress to the next obstacle.
• To progress to the next obstacle, the team must have at least 5 able bodied team members at the obstacle briefing.
• Teams must always follow instructions given by event referees and officials.
• Teams must report to each obstacle start line, for a briefing, 5 minutes before the round has been scheduled to begin. If a team or any team member is not in position for the briefing that team will not be able to participate in that obstacle and will forfeit the associated points.
• Teams will have a 10-minute break between each obstacle. Obstacle briefings and movement from obstacle to obstacle shall take place during the rest period.
• Teams may be penalized or disqualified for:
  • Sabotaging other participants or the course to prevent the opposing team from progressing.
  • Verbally and/or physically assaulting event officials and other teams or using offensive or derogatory language.
  • Receiving assistance (including receiving nutrition or equipment) from a person who is not a registered teammate. This does not include verbal instruction or support from coaches or supporters or for any medical emergencies, which may require outside help.
  • Modifying course markings.
  • Intentionally stepping or trespassing into the other team’s lane.
  • Violation over the identity of a competitor or change of a team member during the race
  • Disobeying obstacle referees or obstacle staff at any stage during the operations of the course.
  • Intentionally cheating in any manner whatsoever.
  • Un-sportsman like conduct.
  • Disqualifications may only be issued by the Obstacle Referee or Head Referee and will not be open for appeal.

• Teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions from participants in their registered team, throughout the duration of the qualifying heats and in accordance with the event rules.
• Substitutions can only be made in the 8-minute rest period and must be completed before the briefing starts for the next obstacle.
• Teams will be supplied with 2 Substitutions Bibs at the beginning of their heat. Participants not participating in the upcoming obstacle must be always wearing the Substitution Bib.
• A substitution is deemed to be complete once the participant being substituted out has put on the Substitute Bib and has stepped into the team area which has been provided for that obstacle.
• Substitutes must remain inside the team area, or substitutes area always, stepping outside this area may result in a penalty and possible deduction of points.

• Gov Games is intended to be run in a manner that promotes fairness, respect, and good sportsmanship. The following is a code of conduct that the athletes are expected to follow:
  • Be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.
  • Know, understand, and follow the competition rules.
  • Obey all instructions from event officials.
  • Treat other competitors, organisers, officials, volunteers, and spectators with respect and courtesy.
  • Avoid the use of abusive language.
  • Inform an event official or referee of any withdrawal, medical or injury incidents.
  • Compete without receiving assistance other than from fellow team members.
  • Do not dispose of rubbish or equipment around the course except at clearly identified places, such as kit drop- zones or rubbish disposal points.
  • Follow the prescribed course of each obstacle.
  • Do not use any device that will distract other athletes from paying full attention to their surroundings.
  • All participants must abide by anti-doping rules and regulations and the organisers reserve the right to test any athlete for prohibited substances. It is each Athlete’s personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body and that no use is made of a prohibited method. Athletes are responsible for any prohibits substance, its metabolites or markers found to be present in their sample, or evidence of use of a prohibited substance.

• Each obstacle will be worth a maximum of 21 points. There will be three obstacles on the course that will have a bonus button, which will each gain 5 bonus points if successfully pressed.
• A team’s result is based upon how many points they accumulate over the entire course.
• Each obstacle is broken up into 3 stages, with each stage worth a total of 5 points. All 5 team members must complete the stage for the 5 points to be awarded.
• At the obstacle finish line there will be 5 buttons per team known as the ‘completion buttons'. After completing the first two stages each team member who successfully presses a ‘completion button’ will be awarded one point towards the team score.
• The obstacle is not considered entirely complete until all 5 ‘completion buttons’ are pressed.
• Teams will not be allowed to move on to the next section of a challenge until their entire team (all 5 members) has completed the previous stage.
• There will be 3 locations on the course that will have a ‘Bonus Point Challenge’ that team members can choose if they would like to attempt. Completing one of these challenges will award the team 5 ‘Bonus Points’. A ‘Bonus Point’ challenge can only be completed once per team on each obstacle where the Bonus Point Challenge is available.
  • Teams will be rewarded Time Bonus Points depending on how quickly the obstacle was completed. To receive a time bonus, the team must have completed the 2 preceding stages and pressed all 5 ‘completion buttons’ according to the rules. Every second below 10 minutes will be awarded 0.01-time bonus points. Teams who fail to complete an obstacle before allocated time ends, will have their completion time set at 10 minutes which will equate to zero-time bonus point
  • Example:

Example 1 calculation:

• 10mins - 3mins = 7mins
• 7 x 60 seconds = 420 seconds (amount of time left before the completion of the 10 minute time limit)
• 420 x 0.01 points = 4.2 (time bonus points to be awarded)

Example 2 calculation:

• 10 mins - 4 mins 23 seconds = 5 mins 37 seconds
• 5 mins x 60 seconds = 300 seconds
• 300 seconds + 37 seconds = 337 seconds (amount of time left before the completion of the 10 minute time limit)
• 337 x 0.01 points = 3.37 (time bonus points to be awarded)

Example 3 calculation:

• 10 mins - 5 mins 01 seconds = 4mins 59 seconds
• 4 mins x 60 seconds = 240 seconds
• 240 seconds + 59 seconds = 299 seconds (amount of time left before the completion of the 10 minute time limit)
• 299 x 0.01 points = 2.99 (time bonus points to be awarded)

Head Referee

• On the day of the event, the head referee’s role is to enforce the rules and regulations of the event and to ensure all field referees are performing their roles correctly.
• The head referee will ensure the obstacle referees are in the positions allocated to them and that they are performing the duties.
• Oversee and monitors the penalties awarded during the event and the issuance of Red Cards/disqualifies teams when necessary.
• Head referee will work directly with the adjudication referee for all decisions relating to infringements or penalties that require jury committee input.

Assistant Head Referee

• On the day of the event, the assistant head referee’s role is to enforce the rules and regulations of the event and to ensure all field referees are performing their roles correctly.
• Assistant head referee will support the head referee in the assurance and support of the obstacle and lane referees
• Oversee and monitors the penalties awarded during the event and the issuance of Red Cards/disqualifies teams when necessary.

Obstacle Referee

• Obstacle referees shall be assigned one obstacle and shall oversee the lane referees who have been assigned to them.
• The Obstacle Referees will:
  • Ensure all lane referees uphold strictest standards and that teams abide by the rules and regulations.
  • Ensure lane referees are in the positions allocated to them and that they are performing their duties.
  • Handle the initial processing of appeals until the appeals referee is present to take over.
  • Deliver the obstacle brief in English before the start of each round.
  • Assist the head referee and appeals referees with any appeals made.
  • Maintain professional international standards throughout the event.
  • Report any issues to the head referee.

Lane Referee

• There will be one lane referee assigned per active lane on each active obstacle.
• The Lane Referees will:
  • Monitor each team’s progress on the obstacle and the lane they have been assigned.
  • Enforce the adjudication system as set out for that obstacle.
  • Assist with controlling and guiding participants into the correct use of each obstacle.
  • One Arabic speaking lane referee on each obstacle will deliver the obstacle brief in Arabic before the start of each round.
  • Keep track and report their allocated team scores to the obstacle referee.
  • Maintain professional international standards throughout the event.
  • Penalise teams when and where necessary.

Technical Referee

• There will be one technical referee for the event who will be situated in the adjudication room.
• The Technical Referee will:
  • Be responsible for all technology and scoring team to ensure accurate readings.
  • Be responsible for CCTV team and technology.
  • Assist with technology aspects for appeals and penalties.
  • Responsible for tracking and filing all adjudication paperwork.
  • Responsible for supplying official event rules to the committee upon request.

Adjudication Referee

• There will be one adjudication referee for the event who will be situated in the adjudication room.
• The Adjudication Referee will:
  • Be responsible for entire adjudication team within the adjudication room.
  • Be responsible for making final decisions on rules and regulations during operations.
  • Conduct all jury committee proceedings throughout operations.

Appeals Referee

• There will be one appeals referee for the event who will be situated on the field of play during the event.
• The appeals referee will be:
  • Responsible for handling appeals from team managers on penalties or decisions that have been made.
  • Responsible for communicating directly with the adjudication referee to lodge appeals.

• There will be up to 4 teams competing at each obstacle at any given time unless one team has been disqualified or is unable to progress to the next obstacle.
• To progress to the next obstacle, the team must have at least 5 able-bodied team members at the obstacle briefing.
• Teams must always follow instructions given by event referees and officials.
• Teams must report to each obstacle start line, for a briefing, 5 minutes before the round has been scheduled to begin.
• Teams will have a 10 minute break between each obstacle. Obstacle briefings and movement from obstacle to obstacle shall take place during the rest period.
• Teams may be penalized or disqualified for:
  • Sabotaging other competitors or the course to prevent the opposing team from progressing.
  • Verbally and/or physically assaulting event officials and other teams or using offensive or derogatory language.
  • Receiving assistance (including receiving nutrition or equipment) from a person who is not a registered teammate. This does not include verbal instruction or support from coaches or supporters or for any medical emergencies, which may require outside help.
  • Modifying course markings.
  • Intentionally stepping or trespassing into the other team’s lane.
  • Violation over the identity of a competitor or change of a team member during the race
  • Disobeying obstacle referees or obstacle staff at any stage during the operations of the course.
  • Intentionally cheating in any manner whatsoever.
  • Un-sportsman like conduct.
  • Disqualifications may only be issued by the obstacle referee or head referee and will not be open for appeal.

• In the event of a Penalty being issued, during the qualifying Heats, Teams will have the opportunity to appeal against the decision at the end of the 10-minute activity period, by the Team Manager submitting an Appeal Card to the Obstacle Referee
• Each Team will have 2 Appeal Cards, and these may only be submitted within the first 5-minutes of the rest period between obstacles. An Appeal Card can only be submitted for the obstacle a team has most recently completed.
• Appeal Cards may only be submitted by the Team Manager directly to the Obstacle Referee and the decision of the appeal will be announced to him or her by the Appeals Referee after the Jury Committee have gained all evidence to make a final decision
• Each appeal will cost the team 10 points, which will be refunded if the appeal is deemed correct.
• When an Appeal Card has been submitted, the team will be allowed to continue to the start of next obstacle.
• The Jury Committee will be responsible for reviewing all appeals against penalties issued by the Lane Referees, Obstacle Referees or Head Referee.
• During the appeal process, it is important to note that results are deemed accurate unless proven otherwise by evidence.
• The final determination of the results will be solely the Jury Committee’s decision.
• The Jury Committee will comprise of:
  • The Adjudication Referee
  • The Technical Referee
  • Two representatives of the Dubai Sports Council.
• A decision will be made by way of committee vote, with a majority vote required. In the instance there is a tied vote, the Adjudications Referee’s vote will be the deciding vote.
• Where necessary due to the nature of the investigation, the Jury Committee may add additional members or call upon witnesses. During proceedings the committee may call upon any member of the Referees team to gather all required information to ensure the correct decision is made.
• The roles of the Jury Committee will be:
  • Adjudication Referee - The Adjudication Referee shall be the Chairperson of the Committee and shall rule on all decisions and other matters presented during the investigation, which is taking place. Once the Adjudication Referee has been notified of the appeal, he or she shall be responsible for calling to order the Jury Committee.
  • Technical Referee - The Technical Referee shall be responsible for providing all relevant data relating to the appeal and ensuring its legitimacy.
  • If the penalty was issued by the Lane Referee, the Obstacle Referee, or the Head Referee, he or she may play an active role in providing detailed information on the circumstance. 
• The following flow matrix is a summary of the appeal process
  • Obstacle Referee receives Appeal card from Team Manager
  • Obstacle Referee submits Appeal to the Appeals Ref
  • Appeals Ref informs Race Control of the Appeal
  • Jury Committee takes final decision which shall be reflected in the Team Scores and results
• During the finals of the event, the Referees may award a time penalty which will be enacted using the ‘Stop and Go’ system, in which the penalized team will be held in place for a pre-determined period, after which they may continue with the race.
• Teams will not be provided with any appeals cards for the finals, all Referees decisions made will be considered final.