SSATIS General Regulations

  1. Regulations

1.1 Each SSATIS sport has a set of sport specific regulations (see website for more details)

1.2 Only SSATIS delegates within each school should contact the SSATIS Administration Officer regarding rosters or ladders.

1.3 All SSATIS related correspondence between schools should go through the SSATIS delegates and not individual members of school communities.

  1. Grades / Rosters

2.1 Grades played include 1st, 2nd, Year 10, Year 9, Year 8 and Year 7. There may also be divisions (1&2 or A&B) if there are too many teams for one roster.

2.2 Schools must have a team in the first division before being allowed a team in the second division.

In all rosters, schools may apply for a dispensation to the Administration Officer to have a team in 2nd Grade/Division 2 without entering a team in 1st Grade/Division 1, ensuring there is still a viable 1st Grade/Division 1 competition.

If a team in 2nd grade/Division 2 competition, without a team in 1st grade/Division 1, makes a grand final then the school will be required to enter in 1st grade/Division 1 in the subsequent Year. i.e Year 7 Division 2 Soccer makes Grand Final, the school will be required to enter into Year 8 Division 1 in the following year.

2.3 School’s nomination form for team submission will be emailed to School delegates 2 – 3 weeks prior to nominations due.

2.4 Schools to return the nomination form by closing date as stated in the SSATIS Annual Sports Planner.

2.5 Extra entries are not permitted after closing date unless agreed to by the Administrative Officer. Entries can be withdrawn during a one week period after nominations close.

2.6 The Administration officer at times, may distribute a draft roster for feedback from delegates. Any requests to change a draft of roster must be notified to the SSATIS Administrative Officer immediately.

2.7 Schools may request a bye for school camps etc, however in some cases, this may not be possible.

2.8 Rosters for the full season will be emailed to schools and posted on the SATIS website 1 week prior to Round 1.

2.9 Once the roster has been posted (1 week prior to round 1) schools cannot add or withdraw any teams except in exceptional circumstances outlined by SSATIS Administrative Officer. A school that can no longer field a team after the completion of round 1 will record a forfeit for the remaining games.

2.10 Occasionally rosters will need to be changed during a season. The SATIS website should always be considered the source of the correct roster at any time. It is each school’s responsibility to check the website and ensure their own information matches it. All published rosters are to be dated.

2.11 If 8 or more teams are entered in any roster then 2 divisions/pools should be considered if it does one of the following, but not limited to;

  1. Eliminates a BYE from the roster
  2. Allows all teams to play each other an even number of matches
  3. Allows a full roster to be played during the allocated planner dates

2.12 In 2021, delegates agreed to trial the following format for 1st grade rosters

  • In a 6 team roster – play 5 rounds, followed by semi-finals and a Grand Final.
  • In a 5 team roster – play 4 rounds, followed by a qualifying final between 4th v 5th, then semi-finals: 1st v winner of qualifying final and 2nd v 3rd, concluding with a Grand Final between winners of semi-finals.
  • In a 4 team roster – play 6 rounds (play each other twice), followed by a Grand Final.
  • In a 3 team roster – discussion will be had by the delegates and SSATIS Administrative Officer

2.13 Fielding two teams in one roster or division

  1. Where a school enters 2 or more teams in any roster one team must be nominated for Division 1
  2. Where a school has two teams in a roster, players must be registered for and play with one team only. Players may not move between teams at any time without the permission of the Chair of SSATIS.
  3. The names for each team must be listed on the score sheets and if required, lodged with the Administrative Officer at the beginning of the season.
  4. A two (2) match period of grace allowing for movement in all directions may be granted by the Administrative officer if needed.

2.14 Second Grade rosters with less than 3 teams

  1. In the event that a 2nd Grade roster is deemed untenable (has less than 3 teams), by the delegates involved, schools will be eligible/allowed entry of a 9/10 team already entered in their year 9/10 roster for that sport during that particular season only. A year 9/10 team supporting a 2nd Grade roster in this manner WILL still be eligible to compete in their year 9/10 roster as well that year.  A year 9/10 team competing in a 2nd grade competition without a team entered in the 1st grade competition will be ineligible to contest the final’
  2. Alternatively if a 2nd Grade roster is deemed untenable, the 2nd Grade team can request permission to play in the Year 10 or Year 9/10 roster for that sport. 2nd Grade teams competing in a Year 10 or Year 9 / 10 roster will not be eligible for the final in that roster. The final will be contested between the highest placed two Year 10 or Year 9/10 teams. If no more than two 2nd Grade teams are entered, the School delegates involved may choose to have a 2nd Grade final.
  3. Alternatively if there are 2 teams competing in the 2nd grade roster, the competing school delegates may opt to have a best of 3 or 5 series for the 2nd Grade championship.

2.15 Schools must supply enough grounds / courts for the amount of teams entered, i.e. 1 ground for 2 teams (remembering that year groups play on the same night).  It is the responsibility of the school to book additional grounds / courts if they have entered additional teams.

2.16 If multiple rosters run on a single night and ground availability is limited, matches may be played in two time slots i.e 4:00pm and 5:00pm provided that there is no issue with light or conflicts with existing bookings.

2.17 A supervising adult over the age of 18 (not a current student) must be provided by each team and must attend the game for its entirety. Teams not accompanied by a supervising adult will forfeit the roster game. Warm-ups/Games will not commence until a supervising adult arrives.

2.18 If a school plays an ineligible player in any team the fixture shall be forfeited to the opposition.

2.19 Coaches are allowed to umpire games / matches; however, they can only provide instructional advice to educate the participants in learning the rules of the game. They may not provide coaching / strategy advice during game/ match time, with the exception of recognised breaks.

  1. Finals

3.1 A final will be played between 1st and 2nd teams on the ladder at the end of the season. This applies to all rosters. If pools/divisions, crossover finals must be played.

3.2 Where possible, umpires will be independent for all 1st Grade finals.

3.3 Qualifying Players for Finals

  1. To qualify to play in a final a player must have played at least half of the roster matches played by the team contesting the final. In the event of “qualified” players being unable to play, schools may request dispensation from the Chair of SSATIS for a replacement. Replacement players are not to be of a higher standard than the competition they are entering. 
  2. To be eligible to play in a State Final, a player must have represented their School/College in that particular sport in at least half of the roster games that season. State Finals are for 1st grade only. Exception – where there is a 2nds state wide roster (i.e Australian Rules)
  3. A player having a serious injury throughout the season or for any extraordinary circumstance, may apply to the chairperson of SATIS, prior to the final, for special consideration in terms of final eligibility

3.4 Qualifying teams for finals

  1. For 1st Grade: In the event that two teams tie on points at the completion of the roster (Match Ratio will be used to determine ladder positions), and in the event that a Final cannot be played by the rostered date, the premiership will be determined by percentage (points for and against). If still tied the premiership will be determined by points awarded in matches between the two teams and then percentage. If still tied then a play off shall be held at a mutually acceptable time and venue. If schools cannot agree, the matter will be referred to the Chair of SSATIS.
  2. For Y7-10 rosters: In the event that two teams tie on points at the completion of the roster (Match Ratio will be used to determine ladder positions), and in the event that no Final can be played by the rostered date, the premiership will be determined by percentage (points for and against). If still tied the premiership will be determined by points awarded in matches between the two teams and then percentage. If still tied the premiership is shared.
  3. For sports that do not have a regional final, the team finishing on top of the ladder will progress to the state final.

 3.5 Drawn Grand Finals

  1. For Years 7 -10 and 2nd / 3rd Grade see specific sport regulations.
  2. 1st Grade should play extra time where possible within the guidelines of a particular sport, otherwise the team on top of the ladder at the end of the roster shall be the winner. If at the end of extra time scores are still tied, the team on top of the ladder shall be the winner. In such instances where a State Final is being played, the team finishing on top of the ladder shall be the qualifying team that contests the State Final.

3.6 Washed Out Grand Final 

  1. 1st and 2nd Grade (see sport specific regulations)
  2. For Years 7-10 the final shall be shared, unless both schools agree to play on an alternative date
  3. The team higher on the ladder shall go through to the Grand Final.

NOTE: In sporting rosters conducted by SATIS in which only two teams are entered and which culminate in a State Final, a best of five match series will be played to determine the State Finalist.

3.7 Grand Final Venues

  1. The best available venue should be used for 1st Grade.
  2. At the conclusion of the roster, the higher placed team of the teams contesting a Grand Final will select the venue for Grand Final.
  1. Points Allocation

4.1 Point score

The point score for all rosters except tennis will be:

Win/Forfeit = 5
Draw = 3
Loss = 1
Washout = 3
Forfeit against = 0

Tennis points

Win = 2 Points + 1 point for each rubber won

Draw =1 Point + 1 point for each rubber won

Washout = 4 points NB – A washout equals a draw.

Loss – 1 Point

Forfeit = 8 – 0

4.2 Match Ratio will be used to determine ladder positions.
Match Ratio = points scored divided by matches played

  1. Team Sheets / Result submission

5.1 The SSATIS Administrative Officer will distribute individual results submission spreadsheets to school delegates.

5.2 Results are to be sent to the SSATIS Admin Officer weekly so results can be entered and uploaded to the website.

5.3 SSATIS score books are available for netball, soccer, basketball and tennis and are to be provided by the home team. Score Cards for Australian Rules Football are located on the SATIS website and are to be used for all SATIS matches.

5.4 Score books are to be used by the home team but with a scorer from both teams. The away team take a copy.

5.5 The team / score sheets for all teams for all sports operated by SSATIS should be signed by team officials of both teams and be available if the Administrative Officer requests a copy of them.

5.6 In the case of a score discrepancy, the SSATIS Administrative Officer will request a copy of the score sheet from both schools. In the case a score discrepancy cannot be resolved, the score from the home team will be used.

  1. Cancellations and Forfeits

6.1 Roster games shall be played on the day scheduled unless mutually satisfactory arrangements regarding an alternative date have been made prior to the scheduled date of the match. The Administrative Officer is to be notified of the alterations. Such an arrangement shall not be made because of the state of the weather.

6.2 The home team will notify the opposition school as soon as possible of any cancellations. (Contact school office and delegate). The host school must also notify the SSATIS Administration officer of any cancellations of 1st Grade matches or matches that SSATIS provides umpires.

6.3 A minimum number of players from each team is required to commence game and is specific to each sport.

6.4Matches are to commence as close as possible to rostered time.  If the required amount of players are not in position to commence matches 15 minutes after the rostered start time, the team will forfeit the match unless exceptional circumstances prevail.

6.5 WET / Extreme WEATHER

  1. It will be the responsibility of the host school to make a decision on whether a venue is suitable for play. The host school must notify the opposition school as soon as possible of any cancellations. If external venues that SSATIS hire for matches are deemed unsuitable for play, the SSATIS Administrative officer will receive notification and notify relevant school delegates.
  2. In the event of wet weather and no overall cancellation of matches, the decision to play will be left to the coaches of each team. If at least one coach considers conditions are too dangerous for play that game will be declared a washout. Each School has their own duty of care responsibilities to follow and SSATIS will support these decisions.
  3. If play has commenced and is then suspended during play and the match cannot be re-commenced, the match will be abandoned. If more than half the game has been completed at the time the game is declared abandoned the current score will stand and be the final result. Notification is to be given to SSATIS with results submission.
  4. Extreme heat policy – refer to SATIS website
  5. Cancellation or postponement of SSATIS Carnivals shall be the responsibility of the organising committee in conjunction with SSATIS Admin Officer and SSATIS Chair
  1. General playing regulations

7.1 To be eligible to take part in any competition under the rules of this Association, a bona-fide pupil must be under the age of nineteen years on January 1st of that year, unless granted an exemption by the Association.

7.2 A student is considered under the age he or she turns in a given year.

7.3 “Open” means open to any age group.

7.4 If any student takes part in any inter-school event in contravention of the regulations, the student’s school shall forfeit that event.

7.5 Any player with a bleeding injury must leave the playing area immediately and have the bleeding stopped and the wound covered before returning to play.

7.6 1sts and 2nds only

  1. A player may not play in the 2nds and 1sts competition in the same sport, in the same round without prior agreement. Permission to do so is to be sought as early as possible from the SATIS Chair.
  2. Once a player has played more than half the roster matches in the 1sts in any particular sport, he or she is ineligible to play for the 2nds in that sport without prior approval of the SATIS Chair.

7.7In all rosters;

  1. In Tennis, once a player has played more than half the roster matches in 1sts, he or she is ineligible to play for any lower graded or year level* teams that year without prior approval of the SATIS Chair.
  2. In all other sports, players in a year level roster* can play up in a higher year level roster, but once they have played three matches they cannot play down, if the rosters are run concurrently.  Players may play in a year level roster and a 1st or 2nd grade roster of the same sport.

*Year level rosters/teams = Year 7 – 10.

7.8 Criticism of umpires/referees by players will not be accepted. An umpire may eject from the court/field a player who infringes in this regard.

7.9 All players must wear the approved school sports uniform (see uniform Register)

  1. Where a clash of uniform colour occurs the home team will wear their usual uniform and in the final the higher placed team wears their usual uniform.
  2. specific for each sport i.e basketball numbers

7.10 Players, coaches and spectators are required to abide by the SATIS Code of Ethics.

  1. First Aid at Venues

8.1 Each school is responsible for supplying each team with a first aid kit and cold pack.

8.2 Concussion policy on website

  1. Trophies and Pennant

9.1 Trophies will be awarded to winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Rosters and to Division 1 in Year 7 to 10 Rosters. Pennant flags will be awarded for winners of finals in all divisions. The trophy must be returned to the SSATIS Administrative Officer prior to the following year’s final.

9.2Trophies and pennant flags will be awarded for major carnivals Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country as outlined in specific sport regulations

9.3 A record of previous winners will be located on the SATIS website.

For further guidelines, see trophy policy/guideline

  1. Carnival organisation

10.1 There will be a stated date for close of entries for swimming, rowing and athletics and no additional entries will be accepted after that date.

10.2 Results are to be emailed to schools.

10.3 Uniform – If a school is unable to outfit teams/individuals in accepted school uniform the Chair of SSATIS is to be notified prior to the event. Sub-committees will then be notified.

10.4 Program and other expenses – The costs incurred by a school organising carnivals will be met by SSATIS. Program production costs are for paper and “in-house” photocopying.

10.5 Wet weather committees – For cross country and athletics carnivals a wet weather committee shall be appointed. Should this committee consider it impossible to conduct the meeting as arranged it will recommend alternatives to the association. (see sports specific regulations)

  1. Disputes

11.1 In the event of a dispute occurring between any of the member schools of SSATIS the following procedure would be followed:

  1. The schools would contact the Administrative Officer of SSATIS and discuss the matter. If this did not resolve the dispute then;
  2. The Chair of SSATIS would be contacted through the respective Head of the Schools involved.
  3. If the Chair of SSATIS happened to be one of the schools involved in the dispute then the Chair would ask the Chair of NSATIS or SATIS to act as arbitrator. If the Chair of SATIS or NSATIS School was also involved in the dispute then the Chair of SATIS is to appoint a neutral arbitrator.

11.2 Any sporting body appointed by SATIS to conduct a meeting on its behalf shall be requested to provide a jury of appeals, decisions made by this jury in respect of the Carnival shall be final.

11.3 In the unexpected absence of the appointed referee / umpire, the two coaches / managers will negotiate the following options:

  1. To complete the match with an agreed substitute referee / umpire or to reschedule the match to an agreed date.
  2. If neither of the above can be agreed to, the match will be declared a draw.
  3. Confirmation of outcome / agreement must occur within three working days and the Administrative Officer must be notified.

11.4 Where regulations do not cover a particular situation for a sport, the SSATIS committee shall determine the rules under which such contest shall be held.

11.5 If an unforeseeable circumstance occurs that results in the umpires being forced to abandon a game; then, if more than half the game has been completed at the time the game is declared abandoned, the current score will stand and be the final result.

In the event of extraordinary circumstances arising, which are not addressed by the above regulations, application can be made through the SSATIS Administrative Officer to the Chair of SSATIS for consideration.

12.  SPORTS Moratorium

The moratorium Provisions apply to the following two periods:

  1. Christmas/New Year, the dates for which will be determined by SATIS in consultation with Rowing Tasmania and published in the RT Calendar
  2. Easter – Good Friday to Easter Monday Inclusive

The intention of the SATIS Sports Moratorium is to enable students and their families to have a three-week break from school activities.

Additionally, the spirit of the Moratorium is as important as its regulations. The spirit of the Moratorium is based on the acknowledgement of the value of family, the need for balance in one’s life and sound pedagogical practice. Actions, intentional or not, which contravene the regulations of the Moratorium or compromise the spirit of the Moratorium, may be subject to review by AHISA.

Please Note:

If a school has any doubts about how to interpret the wording or the intent of the Moratorium, they should contact the Chair of SATIS prior to the commencement date of the Moratorium.

Rowing Specific Moratorium Rules:

  1. During the moratorium students cannot use school rowing equipment.
  2. During the Moratorium students from the same school cannot train or row together in any combination greater than three, including coxswains, and/or as more than half of a Double or Pair, at the same time.
  3. During the Moratorium students cannot be coached by school coaches within the parameters in 1 and 2 above.

Interpretation of Rowing Rules:

  1. School Rowing Equipment – any equipment owned or normally used by a school and/or it’s rowing club.
  2. Combination greater than three – In a boat larger than a Double/Pair.
  3. At the same time – On the water in multiple Doubles/Pairs/Singles at the same time or in such a manner that there can be implied a coordinated approach to the training of the students within a crew throughout the day and the period of the Moratorium. This also applies to land-based training.
  4. School coaches – Those coaches who coach crews/rowers that will represent a school.