ARTICLE I - ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. Purpose

Midwest Water Polo Officials Association (MWPOA) Policies & Procedures provide detailed information as to the roles, responsibilities, and procedures to be followed by its members and officers. The Policies & Procedures operate in concert with the MWPOA BY-LAWS.

Section 2. Ratification

The Policies & Procedures are to be ratified by a two-thirds majority of active members provided a quorum is present.

Section 3. Amendment

The Policies & Procedures may be amended from time to time by the Executive Board, as it deems necessary to maintain consistency with current business practices. A majority vote by the Executive Board is required to post amendments to the Policies & Procedures. The Board is required to notify the members of all amendments within 30 days of the action.

Section 4. Officers and Duties

The officers are elected by the members to carry out the duties specified below. The officers must recognize their roles and responsibilities vested in them through the BY-LAWS and Policies & Procedures. Officers are free to act in accordance within the BY-LAWS and Policies & Procedures but must also understand the limits of their authority office.

Section 5. Authority and Accountability

The ultimate authority for the governance of MWPOA is the Executive Board. Actions of officers consistent with the BY-LAWS and Policies & Procedures will be supported by the Board. Actions of officers, appointed committees, or other persons with delegated authority, that are deemed to exceed the limits of their authority will be reviewed by the Board. The full Board has the right to be present at any review. Any determination of the Board will be communicated by the President, or in the case of actions of the President being the subject of the review, the Vice President will communicate the determination of the Board.

Should the Board determine the actions of an appointed committee member or other persons with delegated authority to not be consistent with the BY-LAWS or the Procedures & Procedures, the Board shall have the authority to remove the member from that committee or rescind their delegated authority.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATION, EVALUATION & LISTING

Section 1. Certification

All active members are required to adhere to minimum performance standards set forth by MWPOA. The standards fall into three (3) primary areas of measurement (Attendance, Rules Test, and Evaluation).

Attendance

1. Attendance will be taken at each regular meeting, annual business meeting, and each clinic session conducted by MWPOA.

2. Members are required to participate in a minimum of 6 hours of instruction per fiscal year.

3. Attendance at a Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) or United States Water Polo (USWP) clinic applies toward the minimum requirement.

1. All active members will take a rules test each fiscal year and attain a minimum score. Members may take the test as many time as is necessary to pass.

2. Probationary members must attain a minimum score of 80% correct.

3. Staff members must attain a minimum score of 90% correct.

4. Senior Staff members must attain a minimum score of 95% correct.

The guidelines for formal evaluations are as follows:

1. Senior Staff members will provide at least one written evaluation per year to each member.

2. A USWP standardized form will be used for consistency across all members.

3. A member may request additional formal evaluations. If schedule permitting, a member of Senior Staff will provide additional evaluations.

1. Probationary and Staff members will be observed periodically by Senior Staff.

2. Senior Staff will be instructed to provide immediate feedback.

3. Senior Staff will provide input to the Assignor on the capabilities of Probationary and Staff members.

4. Informal evaluations will be may be given throughout each fiscal year.

Senior Staff members will determine the capabilities and qualification of members to officiate water polo games. Evaluations are performed on both an informal and formal basis.  The Judicial Committee may require a member to undergo a formal evaluation for the purposes of determining his capabilities and qualifications. Such a formal evaluation is required prior to any remediation program. The Senior Staff Evaluator may determine appropriate training, counseling, or other instructional program to serve as an appropriate remediation program for a member. The Senior Staff Evaluator may determine a member to be unfit for assignment, and subsequently recommend that the member be referred for sanction, suspension, or expulsion.

Section 3. Member Listing

The judgment of the Senior Staff Evaluators is documented annually through the production of member lists, which identify active members as Probationary, Staff, and Senior Staff. These lists are to be used by the Assignor as a basis for determining the appropriate level of competition each member is prepared to officiate.

1. Probationary – Active members who are developing their skills as officials. Typically, these are 1^st or 2^nd year officials who are competent to officiate any mid-level high school or age group competition, when accompanied by Staff or Senior Staff.

2. Staff – Active members who have invested the time and dedication to advance their skills and who are competent to officiate any level of high school or age group competition.

3. Senior Staff – Active members who have demonstrated superior skill and judgment in the performance of their duties, and who are competent to officiate at the collegiate or Open age group level.

ARTICLE III – ASSIGNMENT POLICIES

Section 1. Members

Members in good standing will be considered for assignments by the Assignor. Periodically, the Assignor will request member availability for upcoming assignments, either via paper form, by e-mail, or by telephone communication. It is the responsibility of the member to clearly indicate their availability to the Assignor. Members should communicate via email, telephone communication, or in writing to the Assignor.

Section 2. Game Assignments

Once an official has accepted an assignment, it is his/her responsibility to provide officiating services to the host organization. If an official’s availability changes and he/she must turn-back an assignment, he/she should notify the Assignor 72 hours prior to the scheduled game time. If this notification is conducted via email or by voice message, it is the official’s responsibility to re-confirm receipt of the message by the Assignor. If the official is unable to confirm the turn-back directly with the Assignor, he may contact the President or Vice President.

Under no circumstances may a referee exchange or transfer assignments with another referee member unless specifically authorized by the Assignor. Emergency situations that arise should be dealt with on a reasonable basis.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICIALS FEES & PAYMENT

Section 1. Fee Schedules

Officials will be compensated for their services pursuant to the established fee schedule. Officials may elect to work on a pro-bono basis. However, a host organization may not negotiate with any official to provide services at a discounted rate. The Assignor will provide the host organization with policies regarding fee schedules and payment procedures. Fee Schedules will be posted as EXHIBITS to the BY-LAWS and Policies & Procedures.

Section 2. Payment of Officials

Officials are to be paid in full at the time services are rendered, unless other arrangements have been provided for by the host organization. In the event of:

1. Early termination of competition due to inclement weather, the official will be paid in full.

2. An official’s arriving late for competition, the official will be paid ½ of the game fee.

3. A change of competition venue or game time, without proper notification, an official who appears at the originally scheduled time/place, will be paid in full.

4. A forfeited or abandoned competition pursuant to the rules, the official will be paid in full.

5. An official’s becoming injured during the competition, the official will be paid in full.

Officials will have the authority to determine whether a competition may proceed when operating under adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain, excessive wind, or lightning.

Section 1 – Grievance Process

The President of MWPOA shall receive all grievances or complaints in writing from eligible parties. Members of MWPOA, administrators of organizations of affiliations served or head coaches of water polo teams, are considered eligible parties. Grievances or complaints must provide sufficient information to quickly evaluate the merits of the grievance/complaint, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Host organization, place and time of occurrence.

2. Aggrieved individual, name of persons involved, if applicable.

3. Narrative description for basis of grievance/complaint.

4. Specific statement of complaint, such as what was done incorrectly, what rule was misinterpreted, what Code of Conduct was violated.

5. Desired action, recommendation, suggestion for corrective response.

6. Name and contact information for person filing grievance.

7. Grievance is not to exceed one page, single-spaced, with no less than 10pt font size.

Upon receipt of a grievance against, or a complaint about a member, the documentation shall be forwarded to the Judicial Committee. The committee shall determine whether the grievance/complaint has merit and if further investigation is needed. The committee will convene in person or via conference call within five days of receiving the information.

Section 3 – Committee Decision

The committee will investigate the grounds for the grievance/complaint and, at its discretion, provide an opportunity for all affected parties to appear before the committee at a hearing and/or submit a written declaration. The hearing and declarations shall be held and due, at the discretion of the committee. The committee shall render a written decision to the President within five working days from the day of the hearing or declaration due date. The committee will determine whether remedial training (remediation), or disciplinary action, is warranted against the member. The decision will be confidential with reports made solely to the Board.

Section 4 – Remediation, Disciplinary Action and Appeal

Decisions by the Judicial Committee for remediation will be referred to the Evaluation Committee with no further action taken. The Evaluation Committee will be advised as to the nature of the original grievance and subsequently determine appropriate remedial action.

Decisions by the Judicial Committee recommending disciplinary action may range from written documentation of inappropriate action to expulsion. The Judicial Committee shall recommend the action to be taken. All recommendations for disciplinary action will be forwarded to the Executive Board. The Executive Board will determine whether to uphold or invalidate the recommendation of the Judicial Committee. The President will be responsible to communicate and carry out any disciplinary action. Should the member disagree with the disciplinary action taken, the member may appeal to the Executive Board.

Section 5 – Grievance Against Officer

Should the grievance/complaint be against a member of the Judicial Committee, the President shall appoint an alternate member, not including himself. A Board member will replace the Vice President and a non-board member will replace the appointed position member.

I. Declaration of Policy

Water polo sanctioning bodies have entrusted us to assist them in the development of their players through the proper application of the rules. The operation of such a process requires that officials be independent, impartial and responsible to the people, with whom they interact, including both the public and fellow officials. The purpose of the Midwest Water Polo Officials Association (MWPOA) Code of Ethics is to establish guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for all officials. The Code of Ethics does not exhaust the moral and ethical considerations of professional behavior and attitude. Compliance with this Code of Ethics depends primarily upon understanding and voluntary compliance, secondarily upon reinforcement by peer and public opinion, and finally, when necessary, upon enforcement through disciplinary proceedings.

II. Ethical Standards

1. Members must be free of obligation to any interest other than the impartial and fair judging of competitions. Without equivocation, game decisions that are slanted by personal bias are dishonest and unacceptable.

2. Members recognize that anything that may lead to a conflict of interest, either real or apparent, must be avoided. Gifts, favors, special treatment, privileges, employment or a personal relationship with a school or team that can compromise the perceived impartiality of officiating must be avoided.

3. Members have an obligation to treat other officials with professional dignity and courtesy and recognize that it is inappropriate to criticize other officials.

4. Members have a responsibility to continuously seek self-improvement through study of the game, rules, mechanics and the techniques of game management. They have a responsibility to accurately represent their qualifications and abilities when requesting or accepting officiating assignments.

5. Members shall protect the public (fans, administrators, coaches, players, et al) from inappropriate conduct and shall attempt to eliminate from the officiating avocation/profession all practices which bring discredit to it.

6. Sports officials shall not be party to actions designed to unfairly limit or restrain access to officiating, officiating assignments or association membership. This includes selection for positions of leadership based upon economic factors, race, creed, color, age, sex, physical handicap, country or national origin.

1. I devote time, thought, and study to maintain the highest standards of our sport. I strive to perform in as professional a manner as possible:
   1. By acting within the governing rules and mechanics of competition.

   2. By acting in a spirit of good sportsmanship.

   3. By having a protective rather than punitive attitude toward enforcement of the rules.

   4. By being impartial.

   5. By maintaining my focus on observation, not expectation, not anticipation, not preference.

   6. By insuring the conditions of a competition are fair and equitable for all participants.

2. I strive to work with fellow officials in a spirit of harmony and cooperation. I am respectful and courteous of others, cognizant that difference of opinion and interpretation may occur.

3. I resist every temptation and outside pressure to use my position as an official to benefit myself. Under all circumstances, I avoid promoting the special interests of any person or group of persons other than the athletes we serve. I recognize that it is important to honor contracts regardless of possible inconvenience or financial loss.

4. I do not use illegal or recreational drugs or alcohol immediately before or during any competition session where I am working or in attendance as an observer.

5. I have not engaged nor will I ever engage in any behavior that utilizes the influence of my position to encourage inappropriate sexual intimacy with any minor, any athlete, any coaching staff or any facility staff.

6. I agree to abide by the Code of Ethics. Failure to follow this policy may result in disciplinary action with MWPOA.

7. Further, I acknowledge that I am an independent contractor and MWPOA has no responsibility to guarantee employment as a result of my membership or training received.

8. I have read and agree with the MWPOA BY-LAWS, Policies & Procedures and supporting EXHIBITS in full.

9. I have obtained and maintain personal liability coverage, insuring me, and holding MWPOA harmless against any legal claims made by others in connection with my activity as a MWPOA official.

Signature: ___________________________________________________


Date: ______________________________


Printed Name: ________________________________________________

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