These Laws must be observed at every Athletic Meeting held under the sanction of the A. A. A.

Qualification of Competitors

1. All competitions must be limited to amateurs. This Law does not interfere with the right of any Club to refuse an entry to its own Sports.

'An amateur is one who has never competed for a money prize or staked bet, or with or against a professional for any prize, or who has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises as a means of obtaining a livelihood.'

(a.) The following exceptions shall be made to this Law, viz.: - Amateur athletes shall not lose their amateur status by competing with or against professional football players in ordinary Club matches for which no prizes are given, or in Cup competitions permitted by the National Football Associations or Rugby Unions of England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, providing that such competitions or matches form no part of, nor have connection with any Athletic Meeting.

(b.) 'Competitions at arms between Volunteers and Regulars shall not be considered as coming within the scope of the A.A.A. Laws.5

(c.) 'Competitors in Officers' Races at Naval and Military Athletic Meetings (such races being for officers only, and for which money prizes are not given) shall be exempt from any of the laws of the A.A.A. disqualifying runners for competing at mixed meetings.'

(d.) That the 'Championship of the Army' Race at the Alder-shot Sports be exempt from the effect of this Law.

(e.) No person must be allowed to compete while under a sentence of suspension passed by the A.A.A., National Cyclists' Union, Amateur Swimming Association, Scottish A.A.A., or Irish A.A.A.

(f) No one shall be allowed to compete at any meeting held under the Laws of the A.A.A. as 'unattached' for more than one season.

(g.) The names of all persons who have been expelled from Clubs affiliated to the A.A.A. for non-payment of subscription and other liability shall be placed in a book to be kept by the Secretary of the A.A.A., and such persons shall neither be allowed to join another Club nor compete at meetings held under A.A.A. Laws until such liability be discharged and the name erased from the book.

Prizes

2. No 'value' prize (i.e., a cheque on a tradesman) must be offered.

3. No prize must be offered in a handicap of greater value than 10l. 10s.

4. Every prize of the value of 5l. or upwards must be engraved (when practicable) with the name and date of the meeting.

5. All prizes shall be of the full advertised value, that is, without discount, and must be publicly presented on the grounds on the day of the Sports.

6. In no case must a prize and money be offered as alternatives.

Betting

7. All open betting must be suppressed.

Advertisements

8. All Clubs must hold their Sports 'under the Laws of the Amateur Athletic Association,' and so advertise them on all prospectuses, entry forms, programmes, &c\, and must have printed on their entry forms 'the definition of an amateur.' (See Laws 1 and 12.)

9. All Clubs affiliated to the A.A.A., Northern Counties A.A.A., or Midland Counties A.A.A., must state that fact on their advertisements, entry forms, prospectuses, etc. (This Law 9 does not apply to Clubs or meetings merely registered as approved.)

Entries

10. Sports Committees may reserve to themselves the right to refuse any entry, without being bound to assign a reason, or to disqualify a competitor at any time, if his conversation or conduct is unbecoming, or if it is shown that his entry was made under false pretences.

11. Entries shall not be received unless accompanied by the entrance fee. Any competitor winning a first prize in an open handicap shall be penalised for all handicaps in which he may compete during the four days following such wins, Sundays not included. No person, other than the Handicapper, shall be permitted to alter the starts or to accept additional entries after the starts have been published. The penalties to apply to the scratch mark as well. Competitors must notify to the Judges before the race is run that they have incurred a penalty, otherwise they will be disqualified and render themselves liable to suspension. Handicappers to state on their handicaps up to what date they are made, which must be published on the programme.

12. Competitors in Handicap Competitions shall be required to send with their entries full and definite particulars as to their last three performances (if any). No Club shall be affiliated to the Association or registered as 'approved' unless it agrees to adopt the A.A.A. entry form.

13. All entries shall be made in the real name of the competitor, and this name shall appear on the programme.

Youths and Novices

14. Competitors in youths' races must state their age and previous performances, and, if required, must furnish certificates of birth. In Open Races for Boys and Scholars under sixteen no entry shall be accepted from a competitor residing more than three miles from the ground at which the races are held, unless the age of the competitor be certified by his schoolmaster or a clergyman. For novices' races a novice is held to be one who, at the time of competing, has never won a prize in a similar class of competition - i.e., winning a prize for walking would not disqualify for running, or vice versa; but winning a prize for running any distance would disqualify for running. (N.B. - This rule does not apply to School and Boys' races.)

Protests

15. All protests against a competitor or against a competitor's qualification to compete shall be made to the Secretary of the Club, in writing, before the prizes are distributed; and if the protest shall not be made good within one calendar month the prizes shall be awarded. Every protest must be accompanied with a deposit of five shillings, which shall be forfeited in case the same shall appear upon investigation to have been made on no reasonable ground.