Due Process for Protected Competitions Only

As stipulated in the NGB Application, the following is to be published in rules for each protected competition and forward to each participant in the Team USA National Championships in advance.

A.  Grievance and Due Process Procedures – Protected Competitions. Board authority is outlined in the USBC Bylaws Article X.

B.  Grievances Related to Opportunities to Participate.
1.   A grievance may be filed by any athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator and official regarding his/her opportunity to participate in, or attempt to qualify for selection to participate in any protected competition.
2.   A grievance must be made in writing over the signatures of the person or persons presenting the same, and must state the full name(s) and address(es) against whom the grievance is made, and must with specificity a complete statement of the acts which constitute such grievance, including the requested relief sought. The individual(s) must be prepared to substantiate the grievance at a hearing if requested.
3.   Grievances should be addressed to the USBC CEO as soon as practicable following the events that are the subject of the grievance.
4.   Upon receipt of a grievance, the elements of due process outlined in the USBC Bylaws and National Policy Manual will be followed.
5.   These grievance procedures are given to athletes, coaches, trainers, manager, administrator, or other official seeking to participate in any national or international bowling competition.

C.  Due Process. Due process will be provided any athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator or official filing a grievance regarding his/her opportunity to participate in, or attempt to qualify for selection to participate in a protected competition.
1.   Deny Opportunity to Compete. Any athlete who alleges that he/she has been denied an opportunity to compete in any national or international bowling competition shall notify the USBC CEO in writing. Upon notification, procedures will be followed according to this chapter. The rights granted under this section shall equally apply to any coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or other official seeking to participate in any national or international bowling competition.
2.   Athlete. For use in this chapter an athlete will be defined as individuals who are participating in a protected competition.
3.   Protected Competition. “Protected competition” means any amateur athletic competition between any athlete or athletes officially designated by the appropriate Olympic, Pan American or Paralympic Sports Organization member as representing the United States, either individually or as part of a team, and any athlete or athletes representing any foreign country where:
a.   The terms of such competition require that the entrants therein be teams or individuals representing the respective nations; and
b.   The athlete or group of athletes representing the United States are organized and sponsored by the appropriate Olympic, Pan American or Paralympic Sports Organization member in accordance with a defined selection or tryout procedure that is open to all and publicly announced in advance, except for domestic amateur athletic competition, which, by its terms, requires that entrants therein be expressly restricted to members of a specific class of amateur athletes such as those referred to in Article VII, Section 4 of the USOC Constitution.

The term “protected competition” shall also include any domestic amateur athletic competition or event organized and conducted by an Olympic, Pan American or Paralympic Sports Organization member in its selection procedure and publicly announced in advance as a competition or event directly qualifying each successful competitor therein as an athlete representing the United States in a protected competition as defined in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section.

D.  Due Process – Procedure. When an athlete, coach, trainer, manager or administrator is charged with a violation, which does not require an immediate decision or a decision in less than twenty (20) days, the following elements of due process will be provided:
1.   The competition will provide written notice identifying the action taken and inform the individual they have the right to appeal the decision within ten (10) days of the postmarked date. The notice will be served personally to the individual or sent certified mail, return receipt requested. If an appeal is not postmarked within the time limit outlined above, the decision stands.
2.   If an appeal is filed a hearing must be conducted within thirty (30) days of the request and the following procedures must be followed:
a.   USBC will provide written notice to the athlete(s) at their last known address of:
1)   The date, time and place of the hearing
2)   Their right to attend
3)   Their right to have counsel and to produce witnesses in their behalf
b.   The notice must be sent not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing, by certified mail (return receipt requested).
3.   The hearing will be conducted by a review committee appointed by the USBC CEO, consisting of at least three (3) people with at least 20% athlete representation.
4.   A written decision will be sent to all concerned parties, including the complainant, within ten (10) days.

E.  Due Process – Expedited Procedure. When an athlete, coach, trainer, manager or administrator is charged with a violation, which requires an immediate decision or a decision in less than twenty (20) days, the following elements of due process will be provided:
1.   The competition will provide written notice identifying the action taken and inform the individual they have the right to appeal.
2.   If an appeal is filed in writing a hearing must be conducted.
3.   USBC will provide written notification to the athlete of the date, time and place of the hearing. Notice may be verbal if time constraints prohibit written notification.
4.   A hearing will be conducted by a review committee appointed by the USBC CEO consisting of at least three (3) people, with at least 20% athlete representation. The hearing will be scheduled immediately if necessary, or with as much notice, as may be reasonable given the actual circumstances.
5.   An immediate decision will be rendered, if necessary, or within time constraints required by the actual circumstances. At a minimum, the decision will be explained verbally to all concerned parties. A written decision will be sent to all concerned parties within ten (10) days.

F.   Appeal. Written notice of the appeal procedures will be included with the written decision. Appeals must be filed within ten (10) days of the written-decision date. Appeals will be heard and decided by a USBC Appeals Committee, which has at least 20% athlete representation within thirty (30) days. An athlete has further appeal rights as outlined in the USOC Constitution.

G.  Published Procedures. Due process procedures are published for athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators and officials in the following way:
1.   Posted on official Web site, bowl.com
2.   Distributed in advance to the athletes at the national championships
3.   Included in the Code of Conduct