26.1.0        EXCEPTIONS TO RULES AND REGULATIONS - All requests for exceptions to adopted sport rules or WIAA Rules and Regulations, except student eligibility, must be directed to the WIAA Executive Board for approval.

26.2.0        EXPERIMENTS

                   26.2.1                 Should a league or member school desire to deviate from a) applicable playing rule of a game/contest, b) WIAA Handbook regulations, or c) The WIAA Executive Board adopted policies related to activities, the league or school shall submit a written proposal to the WIAA Executive Board no later than 90 days prior to the start of the specific activity season.

                   26.2.2                 Such a proposal shall have complete and detailed rationale for the request and documented support from the respective WIAA District.

                   26.2.3                 League concurrence of the experiment is required for requests made by member schools. 

                   26.2.4                 An experiment (if approved) shall be granted one year only, but may be renewed for a second year.  There will be no renewal until an amendment is submitted to and acted on by the Representative Assembly.  Should there be a need for additional data, a written, detailed assessment and evaluation of the experiment with any recommendations shall be sent to the WIAA office no later than thirty (30) school business days following the completion of the activity season in which the experiment was conducted.

                   26.2.5                 The WIAA Executive Staff shall review the evaluation and recommendations and present its findings to the WIAA Executive Board for their review and action.

26.3.0        CONTEST PROTESTS - Protests of an official's judgment will not be heard.  Game protests must meet the following requirements to be heard:

             A.             When a coach feels that there has been a misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule, the coach shall notify the game officials following the incident in question and prior to the resumption of action that the remainder of the contest is being played under protest.

                                B.            Following the contest the school principal or superintendent shall officially lodge the protest, in writing, with the game management The written protest shall contain the facts, including the specific rule in question.

                   26.3.1                 Protests involving schools from the same WIAA League - Disputes and game protests involving schools that are members of the same WIAA League shall be referred to their League board for a resolution. 

                   26.3.2                 Protests involving schools from the same WIAA District - Disputes and game protests involving schools that are members of the same WIAA District shall be referred to their District board for a resolution.  Districts may delegate this authority to the appropriate league/leagues.

                   26.3.3                 Protests involving schools from two (2) WIAA Districts - Disputes and game protests involving schools that are members of different WIAA Districts shall be referred to the WIAA Executive Board.

                   26.3.4                 PROTEST HEARING PROCEDURES

                                A.             The written protest shall be sent to the appropriate board as required by 26.3.1, 26.3.2, or 26.3.3 within twenty-four (24) hours or no later than the next school business day following the event or incident. 

                                B.            Protests shall contain a digest of all the facts pertinent to the case, delivered or postmarked within the timelines above, signed by the principal or superintendent.  The hearing shall be conducted in compliance with School Due Process Procedures.  The petitioner(s) shall be afforded the opportunity to:

                             1.             Present rationale and justification in writing or personally including specific rule(s) in question, action school authorities have taken, purpose and desired outcome of request.

                             2.             Select and present supporters of request.

                             3.             The hearing board may meet in closed or executive session.

                                                4.             Reconsideration- Request for reconsideration of the decision by the hearing board may be submitted in writing based on new information not previously or reasonably available at the time of the hearing/decision.

26.4.0        APPEALS - Appeals of decisions rendered by a league shall be heard by the WIAA District Board in which the league is located.  The WIAA Executive Board shall hear appeals of decisions rendered by a WIAA District.  Appeals of decisions rendered by the WIAA Executive Board or an interpretation by the WIAA Executive Board relative to the provisions of the WIAA Rules and Regulations may be appealed to the WIAA Executive Board.  Such appeals shall be conducted in accordance with WIAA Due Process Procedures.

26.5.0        DUE PROCESS PROCEDURES - The following Due Process Procedures, adopted by the WIAA Executive Board, shall apply to each appeal submitted to the League, District or the WIAA Executive Board:

                   26.5.1                 Aggrieved May Appeal Decision: If a member school administrator is dissatisfied with a decision of the League, District, or WIAA Executive Board relative to WIAA rules and regulations and such school is an aggrieved and affected party, such party may within ten (10) school business days of receipt of the decision submit to the WIAA Executive Director, in writing, a notice of appeal of the decision and a request for a formal hearing.  The notice of appeal shall be in writing, stating all reasons, rationale and supportive documentation pertinent to the appeal.

                   26.5.2                 Fact Finding:  The League/District Secretary or staff, or such representative of the WIAA designated by the appropriate league or board, may actively fact find all matters upon which the appeal is based.  Such fact finding shall be performed so as to bring matters to the hearing, unless for cause otherwise shown, and presented no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the League or board.

                   26.5.3                 Notice: The League/District Secretary shall notify the appealing party by phone or mail of the time and place set for a hearing on the appeal.  Notice shall be given at least three (3) school business days prior to the hearing date.  The hearing shall be conducted in conjunction with a regularly scheduled meeting of the league or board, or the matter may be heard at a special meeting of the league or board.

                   26.5.4                 Attendance at Hearing: Member school administrators and their designees of appealing parties are entitled to attend hearings.  Any person entitled to be in attendance may represent themselves.  Such persons are also entitled to be represented by counsel provided they notify all other parties in the appeal of the name, address and telephone number of such counsel at least three (3) school business days in advance of the hearing.

                                                All such hearings of the appropriate hearing body shall be open to public attendance unless appealing parties request a closed session hearing.  The decision to designate a closed session, prior to or during the hearing, shall be that of the designated hearing officer.

                   26.5.5                 Appeal Hearings:  The League/District/WIAA Executive Board shall hear all appeals brought under the provisions of these rules.  The president of the League/District/WIAA Executive Board may appoint a hearing officer to preside over the hearing or may act as the hearing officer.  The hearing officer may, at the beginning of the hearing, ask for statements clarifying the issues involved or upon which factual matters the appealing party will stipulate and agree to.  The fact-finder shall make available written copies of any fact finding and may give testimony relative thereto.  The appealing party shall present its defense and proofs.  The parties may offer such evidence, including testimony of witnesses, as they desire and which is relative to the proceedings.  Each party shall have the right to question, for clarification, witnesses of the adverse party.  All parties shall be afforded the opportunity to examine all documents introduced.

                                                During the hearing, the rights of the hearing body shall be, but shall not be limited to: Limit testimony to the appeal or reconsideration topic, question witnesses and/or testimony for clarity and understanding, hear from witnesses of their choosing, and instruct witnesses of their rights.

                                                Witnesses shall have the right, but shall not be limited to: Elect to present testimony free from interruption and/or questioning during prepared testimony, respond to rebuttal of their testimony, and present written statements as testimony.

                   26.5.6                 Hearing in Absence of Member: The hearing may proceed in the absence of any party who, after it is shown has received due notice thereof, fails to be present or fails to request an adjournment.  Adjournment may be considered by the hearing officer upon the request of a party or upon the initiative of the hearing officer.  However, a decision shall not be made solely upon the default of a party, but shall be based upon the evidence in the matter before the hearing body.

                   26.5.7                 Closing of Hearing: The Hearing officer shall specifically inquire of all parties whether they have further evidence.  Upon receiving negative replies, the hearing officer shall declare the hearing closed.

                   26.5.8                 Decision of the Hearing Body: The decision of the hearing body shall be deliberated during closed sessions and shall be made within seven (7) school business days of the closing of the hearing.  The decision shall be in writing, signed by the hearing officer and shall state the findings and conclusions.  It shall be mailed to the appealing party by certified mail, return receipt requested.  All decisions of the hearing body shall be final and non-appealable except as provided by these rules.

                   26.5.9                 Reconsideration: Notice of a request for reconsideration of a decision by the League/District/WIAA Executive Board shall be submitted in writing to the League/District/WIAA Executive Board within ten (10) school business days of receipt of the decision provided such request is based upon new information not previously or reasonably available at the time of the hearing/decision and/or misapplication of the School Due Process Procedures.  Upon receipt of notice, the League/District/WIAA Executive Board shall within thirty (30) school business days respond to the request and/or schedule a reconsideration hearing.

26.6.0        DUE PROCESS PROCEDURES – STATE EVENTS – When a coach feels there has been a misinterpertation or misapplication of a rule, the coach shall notify the game officials following the incident in question and prior to the resumption of action (where applicable) that the remainder of the contest is being played under protest.

                   26.6.1                 Following the contest, the coach shall officially lodge the protest, in writing, with the game management.  The written protest shall be submitted to game management within twenty-four (24) hours or no later than the next school business day.

                   26.6.2                 The above process can be modified so that the tournament games committee can render a decision in a timely manner, so that the tournament can proceed as scheduled.