This is a series of rule change submissions that I made on January 13, 2013 to BISFed in response to their draft changes. The international boccia rules change every four years, after the Paralympic Games. You can find my other submissions here. I am presenting them on individual pages, so that you can comment on each proposal separately.
BISFed Proposed change:
5.2.1 Substitutes who bring their own balls into the Call Room must use their own balls when they are on court.
5.3.1 Substitutes who bring their own balls into the Call Room must use their own balls when they are on court.
My proposed change:
5.2.1 Athletes who bring their own balls into the Call Room must use their own identified balls on court. Balls must be identified to the referee and the opponent as belonging to a respective player.
5.3.1 Athletes who bring their own balls into the Call Room must use their own identified balls on court. Balls must be identified to the referee and the opponent as belonging to a respective player.
Justification:
The consequence for attempting to use an illegal ball should be high. At the 2005 Americas Cup, in a pairs match (Canada vs. Brazil) a Brazilian non-substitute (starting) player was found to have two illegal balls. After they were removed, he simply used the balls of the substitute. Competition balls should have been assigned to that player.
The second part of my proposed change above also helps with awarding violations for failed equipment check.
It is a common convention to identify your balls to the opposing side while checking the equipment in the call room. Some countries do not do this however, as no rule requires it. It is reasonable for everyone to identify the balls they will individually be using to the opponent and referee.
