Contest Rules

Contest Rules

1. Contests shall be open to all amateur bands of the types defined in Registration Rule 4 that are in membership of the NIBA or in membership of another formally constituted similar organisation that operates a similar formal member registration system recognised by the NIBA or as otherwise decided by the Executive Committee. Bands that are not in membership of such a similar organisation will only be permitted to enter discreet “unaffiliated” sections, which may be included in contests at the discretion of the contest organisers, pursuant to Constitution and General Rule 22. Such bands will only be permitted to enter the NIBA Championship of Ireland Bands’ Contest a maximum of two times in any five year rolling period.

 

2. There will be no maximum limit on the number of players in any band playing in a contest held under NIBA rules. In Melody Flute sections the minimum number of flautists in any band playing shall be 10 and a piccolo is not permitted. In Melody Accordion sections the minimum number of accordionists in any band playing shall be 10.

 

3. Each player must be a registered player of the band for which he or she competes at least four calendar weeks prior to the first day of competition in any contest. A registered player will only be permitted to play for one band of each type in any contest except when holding multiple registration as defined by Registration Rules 4 and 8, playing as a deputy in accordance with Contest Rule 25 or playing as a guest in accordance with Contest Rule 28.

 

4. A professional musician will not be permitted to play in any contest held under NIBA Rules, except were the musician has been a player registered with the NIBA prior to becoming a professional. For the purposes of these rules a professional musician is defined as one who earns two thirds, or more, of his or her livelihood through playing music and as all regular bandspersons of Armed Forces and Police Forces. The Executive Committee will have the power to decide on the professional status of any player.

 

5. In NIBA Championship of Ireland Contests, bands competing in accordion sections will be permitted to use acoustic and/or electronic accordions with associated amplification, percussion instruments and a maximum of three additional non-accordion instruments.

 

6. The Executive Committee, or any sub-committee appointed by it, will have the power to appoint adjudicators and arrange for the selection of test pieces. The Executive Committee will decide contest entry fees for contests run by the NIBA and make any other arrangements as required and appropriate.

 

7. The Executive Committee will have the power to refuse entry to any contest run by the NIBA. Any band, band player, coach or conductor guilty of any breach of any Contest Rule, or of unruly conduct towards adjudicators or NIBA officials may be penalised in a manner decided by the Executive Committee.

 

8. In the event of only one entry being received for any section the entry fee may be refunded at the discretion of the contest organizers. Any band that fails to compete, after having entered a contest, will forfeit its entry fee.

 

9. With the exception of Championship, Melody, Melody Plus Flute, Grade 5/Unaffiliated Brass and School sections, any band winning any particular section for three consecutive years in succession will not be permitted to play in the same or a lower section in the following year in that contest. Any band not in the prize list of any particular contest will be permitted to compete in the next lower section at subsequent contests.   Should such a band desire to compete in any other lower section at subsequent contests it will require the express permission of the Executive Committee in order to do so.

 

10. A band will not be permitted to compete in any contest held under NIBA rules if it is in debt to the NIBA, Brass Band League, Flute Band Association of Northern Ireland the Accordion Band League or other Regional Branch for any reason whatsoever.

 

11. Band players and conductors will only be admitted to contest venues upon production of an admission ticket or payment of the requisite admission fee. Admission tickets will be issued to competing bands in line with the number of players listed on their entry forms. Bands shall return all unused tickets to the NIBA. Bands will be required to pay for unused tickets not returned. The number of unused tickets will be defined as the difference between the number of players listed on a band’s entry form and the number of players that sign at the registration verification desk.

 

12. Each band shall provide, no later than one week before the first day of competition in any contest, details of guest players – comprising their names and the bands they are registered with – that will play on the contest platform. The Membership & Registration Secretary will produce a registry report based on the submitted lists containing names, signatures and photographs that shall be signed by each player and checked and verified by the contest scrutineers prior to being given permission to compete. A list of players that competed will be retained in the Registry database.

 

13. Each competing band shall play the test piece prescribed for its section. Specially arranged test pieces will only be issued upon payment of the cost of the music etc. All bands competing in sections in which a specially arranged test piece is prescribed shall purchase the music from the NIBA, League, Association or Branch as appropriate.

 

14. Any player will be permitted to perform on more than one instrument as required by his or her band.

 

15. In the case of the NIBA Championship of Ireland Bands’ Contest, a draw for the order of play will be made at least two weeks prior to the advertised first day of competition to enable member bands to organize necessary travel arrangements and pre-contest rehearsals in advance. The timing of the draw for the order of play in all other contests will be at the discretion of the contest organizers. Any band may request to play first in any section. If more than one band requests to play first a draw will take place to determine which band plays first. The band or bands not drawn to play first will be put into the main draw for the order of play.

 

16. Each band must be ready, when called upon, to present each player for registration verification by the contest scrutineers. Exception will be made in the case of a band drawn to play first in any section. Such a band will be allowed a maximum of ten minutes after the indicated starting time of the section, after which the band drawn second will be called to registration verification. The band drawn first will be disqualified in these circumstances.

 

17. Each band will be permitted to tune up on the contest platform prior to commencing its performance. Total setting up and tuning time allowed will be 10 minutes. Timing will commence when the first player steps on to the contest platform. Bands exceeding the time limit may be penalised in a manner decided by the Executive Committee or, otherwise, the contest organisers.

 

18. The method of adjudication will be at the discretion of the contest organisers and the adjudicator’s decision will be final.

 

19. Any band that is disqualified in any particular section will not be entitled to any prizes or other awards for that section.

 

20. Where medals or certificates are awarded these will only be presented in line with the number of players that signed in at registration verification, plus the conductor, for each band achieving first place.

 

21. Awards will be handed over to bands at a time determined by the Executive Committee. Trophies shall be held by the winning bands until fourteen days prior to the next contest or, in the event of there being no similar contest in any year, they must be returned to the NIBA after the expiration of eleven months from the date of the last contest. Failure to observe this rule may result in a fine as determined by the Executive Committee.

 

22. Any bands contravening Contest Rules may be penalised in a manner decided by the Executive Committee.

 

23. If, for any reason, any band wishes to protest due to an alleged breach of contest rules it must notify the NIBA. The band making the protest shall lodge the notification, detailing the reasons for the protest by letter, sent by registered post, addressed to the NIBA General Secretary and accompanied by a deposit of £20.00, within fourteen calendar days of the date of the alleged breach. At the same time, the band making the protest shall send an exact copy of the notification, by registered post, to the Secretary of the band against which the allegation has been lodged.  The Executive Committee will decide on the matter and notify both bands of its decision in writing. The deposit will be refunded if the allegation is upheld. If such is the case, then the band against which the allegation was upheld shall pay £20.00 to the NIBA. Should a band be dissatisfied with the decision of the Executive Committee it may appeal the decision to an Appeals Committee.   The band making the appeal request shall lodge it by letter, sent by registered post, addressed to the NIBA General Secretary and accompanied by a deposit of £20.00. At the same time, the band making the appeal shall send an exact copy of the appeal request, by registered post, to the Secretary of the band against which the original allegation was lodged. The Appeals Committee will be composed of five members from the General Council and will be appointed by the Executive Committee as soon as possible after the appeal has been received. The Appeals Committee will decide on the matter and its decision will be notified to both bands in writing. The Appeals Committee’s decision will be full and final. The deposit will be refunded if the appeal is upheld.

 

24. Any member of the Executive Committee whose band is implicated in a matter of a protest will not be permitted to participate in Executive Committee meetings at times when items in relation to the matter in question are under discussion. In the event of an adjournment only the Executive Committee members who took part in the first meeting will be permitted to take part in any further meetings on the matter.

 

25. If, due to personal illness or accident, or the death or illness of or accident to an immediate relative or dependent, a player is unable to play in a contest and the officials of the competing band so affected desire a deputy, application to use a deputy may be made to the contest organisers.  A doctor’s certificate in respect of incapacity due to personal illness or accident must be presented with the application, if practicable. Self-completed certificates will not be accepted. Deputies must be registered players of the NIBA or another formally constituted similar organisation that operates a similar formal player registration system recognised by the NIBA. On the day of competition, deputies may be played from bands of any type in the same grade as, or a lower grade than, the band desiring to use them. Bands competing in Grade 4 or 5 may also play deputies from bands no more than one grade higher than that in which they are competing. For the purposes of this rule Melody Accordion, Melody Flute, and Melody Plus Flute Bands will be regarded as Grade 4. The grade of any band from which a deputy is played will be regarded as that in which it last competed in a contest held under NIBA rules. Deputies may not be requested from a band that has never competed in a contest held under NIBA rules.  Professional musicians, as defined under Contest Rule 4, will not be permitted to play as deputies.

 

26. Any band, NIBA Branch, League or Association running a contest under NIBA Rules (including solo and small ensemble contests) will be responsible for any expenses that may be incurred through any protest etc. that the NIBA may be called upon to deal with. Any other organisation desiring to hold a contest under any part or all of the NIBA rules must seek permission from the NIBA and pay a contest fee of £10.00 to the NIBA if permission is granted. They will be responsible for any other expenses that may be incurred through any protest etc. that the NIBA may be called upon to deal with.

 

27. Solo, small ensemble and other contests may be organised by any band, NIBA Branch, League or Association. The organisers of such events shall make their own arrangements to verify player registrations. Organisers shall seek permission from the NIBA to use the NIBA Registry Database in this respect.

 

28. Any band will be permitted to play a maximum of two guest players at a contest. A player may only play as a guest player with one band in any contest. Guest players must be registered players of the NIBA or another formally constituted similar organisation that operates a similar formal player registration system recognised by the NIBA. On the day of competition, guest players may be played from bands of any type in the same grade as, or a lower grade than, the band desiring to use them. Bands competing in Grade 4 or 5 may also play guest players from bands no more than one grade higher than that in which they are competing. For the purposes of this rule Melody Accordion, Melody Flute, and Melody Plus Flute Bands will be regarded as Grade 4. The grade of any band from which a guest player is played will be regarded as that in which it last competed in a contest held under NIBA rules. Guest players may not be requested from a band that has never competed in a contest held under NIBA rules.  Professional musicians, as defined under Contest Rule 4, will not be permitted to play as guest players.

 

29. Any band, NIBA Branch, League or Association running contests under NIBA Rules may, if desired, omit Contest Rules 2 and/or 12 at its discretion and shall advise competing bands accordingly.