UDE Penalty Guidelines.

 

This document outlines infractions and penalties in official UDE tournaments.  This document is valid starting January 15, 2004 and is valid until April 01, 2004.  The most up-to-date version of this document can be found at: www.ude.com/policy

 

CONTENTS

 

1.      List of Penalties

2.      Repeat Offenses

3.      Upgrading and Downgrading Penalties

 

4.      Procedural Error Penalties

 

4.1  Procedural Error – Minor

4.2  Procedural Error – Major

4.3  Procedural Error – Severe

4.4  Procedural Error – Tardiness

4.5  Procedural Error - Playing the wrong opponent

4.6  Procedural Error – Slow Play

 

5.      Deck Error Penalties

 

5.1  Deck Error – Illegal deck list

5.2  Deck Error – Illegal side deck list

5.3  Deck Error – Illegal main deck

5.4  Deck Error – Illegal side deck

 

6.      Unsporting Conduct Penalties

 

6.1  Unsporting Conduct – Minor

6.2  Unsporting Conduct – Major

6.3  Unsporting Conduct – Severe

6.4  Unsporting Conduct - Cheating

 

7.      Drawing Cards Penalties

 

7.1  Drawing Cards - Drawing extra cards

7.2  Drawing Cards - Looking at extra cards

 

8.      Marked Cards Penalties

 

8.1  Marked Cards – Minor

8.2  Marked Cards – Major

1.  List of Penalties

 

The following is the list of penalties available in order from least to most severe.  As part of issuing a penalty, it is the responsibility of the judge to ensure that the issued penalty is logged accurately and in full detail into the Mantis tournament software. This is done either via verbal communication with the official scorekeeper or, if appropriate, via written communication on the back of the result slip.

 

With the exception of unsporting conduct penalties, all penalties assume that the player committing the infraction is doing so unintentionally. If the Head Judge determines that the player is intentionally committing infractions to gain an unfair advantage in the game, the correct penalty to use is for the Unsporting Conduct – Cheating infraction.

 

Warning

 

Warnings are an official way to track minor infractions.  The warning penalty should always follow with explanations of the infraction, potential consequences for repeat offenses and education of the player receiving the infraction.  The purpose of the warning penalty is to alert tournament officials of potential problems.  Warnings are tracked in the official UDE database.  While receiving a warning is not significant by itself, accumulating an excessive amount of warnings can result in potential investigations and suspension of the player.

 

Game Loss

 

Game loss penalty is a forced forfeit of the current game.  If a player is between games, the game loss penalty should be applied to the next game.  The game loss penalty should always follow with explanations of the infraction, potential consequences for repeat offenses and education of the player receiving the infraction.  This penalty is only appropriate in matches where multiple games are played.  In the event of a match consisting of a single game, for example at a Mall Tour event for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, the game loss penalty essentially becomes a match loss penalty.  The Head Judge may apply the game loss penalty to the next game if he or she deems it that applying the game loss penalty to the current game is not a severe enough penalty.

 

Match Loss

 

Match Loss penalty is a forced forfeit of the current match.  If a player is in between matches, the match loss penalty should be applied towards the next match.  The match loss penalty should always follow with explanations of the infraction, potential consequences for repeat offenses and education of the player receiving the infraction.  The Head Judge may apply the match loss penalty to the next match if he or she deems it that applying the match loss penalty to the current match is not a severe enough penalty.

 

Disqualification

 

Disqualification penalty is a forced removal of a player from the tournament.  The disqualification penalty has two degrees of severity – either with or without prize.  In the event of a disqualification with prize, the player may still be eligible for tournament prizes after the event is over.  In the event of a disqualification without prize, the player forfeits all prizes with the prize structure shifting down as though the player did not exist in the standings.  Only the official Head Judge may issue the disqualification penalty and as part of issuing such penalty he is required to collect statements from all parties involved, including himself, on the infraction that caused the disqualification penalty.  A disqualification for accumulation of repeat infractions is always with prize.

 

In the unlikely event that the Head Judge disqualifies a player, he must attempt to collect statements from all relevant parties that were involved in the disqualification.  As part of submitting his statement the Head Judge must include his name and UDE number, the event name, event date, event sanctioning number, player’s name and the player’s UDE number.  This correspondence may either be emailed to judge@upperdeck.com with the subject line, “Disqualification Report for Tournament Commissioner” or mailed to the following address:

 

Upper Deck Entertainment

Attn:  Tournament Commissioner

5909 Sea Otter Place

Carlsbad, CA 92008

 

 

2.  Repeat Offenses

 

If a player commits the same infraction during the course of the game or, where appropriate, during the course of the tournament the penalty should be upgraded to the next step.  It is acceptable to repeat warning penalties in the interest of learning at events with the lower C-Values.

 

Examples:

 

·        A player received a warning for procedural error in his current game.  Later in the same game the same player commits the same procedural error.  His second Procedural Error – Minor penalty should be upgraded to a game loss penalty.

·        A player receives a warning for swearing during a match, later the same player swears in his next match.  His second Unsporting Conduct – Minor penalty should be upgraded to a game loss penalty.

 

 

3.  Upgrading and Downgrading Penalties

 

This document is used as a guideline to application of penalties.  In extreme cases the Head Judge has the authority to upgrade or downgrade penalties, as he or she deems appropriate.  It is appropriate to downgrade penalties or to repeat warning penalties in the interest of learning at events with low C-Value.

 

 

4.  Procedural Error Penalties.

 

This group of penalties encompasses general procedural errors that a player may commit during the course of a game as well as some specific common penalties.

 

4.1  Procedural Error – Minor (Penalty: Warning)

 

This penalty is appropriate for a minor, unintentional and easily fixable infraction a player commits during the course of the game.  The damage to the game state is easily repaired, so the penalty is minimal in all cases.

 

Examples:

·        A player in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG forgets to place his fusion deck in the appropriate area and keeps it with his side deck. 

·        A player attacks a back row character with a character that does not have flight in the VS System TCG and immediately discovers his error.

·        After deciding not to keep his initial draw in a VS System TCG, a player shuffles his hand into the deck instead of putting it on the bottom of his library.

·        A player, playing Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, activates a trap card while Jinzo, which does not allow trap cards to be activated, is in play.

 

4.2   Procedural Error – Major (Penalty: Game Loss)

 

This penalty is appropriate for an unintentional infraction that a player commits which causes an irreversible disruption to the game state.  The game state is beyond repair, so the penalty is more severe then a minor procedural error.

 

Examples:

·        A player shuffles his hand and graveyard into his library as part of resolving the effects of Fiber Jar in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG while his opponent has Necrovalley in play, which negates Fiber Jar’s effects.

·        A player forgets to remove his side deck before starting the next round in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG. 

·        A player incorrectly resolves Cerebro and shuffles his deck in VS System TCG

 

 

 

4.3   Procedural Error – Severe (Penalty: Match Loss)

 

This penalty is appropriate for an unintentional infraction that causes a player to become unable to finish the remainder of the match.

 

Example:

·        A player spills water on a significant portion of his deck ruining the cards and making him unable to finish the remainder of the match.

 

4.4  Procedural Error – Tardiness (Penalty: Game Loss/Match Loss)

 

This penalty is appropriate when the player is not in his seat after the appropriate time has passed at start of round.  The penalty is a game loss penalty given out at 3 minutes into the match  and a match loss at 10 minutes into the match.

 

4.5  Procedural Error - Playing the wrong opponent (Penalty: Match Loss)

 

This penalty is appropriate when a player fails to correctly identify his table number in pairings causing him to play an incorrect opponent.  It is the responsibility of all players to verify that they are playing their correct opponent. This is a severe infraction and is usually discovered later in the round allowing a limited number of solutions.  The Head Judge may reduce this penalty to a Game Loss if the error is discovered less than 10 minutes into the round.

 

4.6  Procedural Error – Slow Play (Penalty: Warning)

 

This penalty is appropriate when a player unintentionally causes a minor delay of the game.

 

Examples:

·        A player is excessively slow while deciding to keep his initial hand in a VS System TCG.

·        A player takes more than 3 allowed minutes to sideboard in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.

·        A player is excessively slow while considering attacks in a VS System TCG.

 

 

5.  Deck Error Penalties.

 

This group of penalties covers infractions associated with registering incorrect contents of a deck list or playing with an illegal deck.  At events with deck registration sheets, the Head Judge should consider waiting until the start of the next round to hand out deck error penalties after completing the pre-tournament deck registration sheet checks.  If the pre-tournament deck registration sheet checks are finished before the start of round one, it is acceptable to correct the player’s deck lists without a penalty.

 

 

5.1  Deck Error – Illegal Deck List (Penalty: Warning)

 

This penalty applies to infractions that involve the use of deck registration sheets, where the contents of the player’s deck are legal.  It is appropriate to fix the deck registration sheet to match the contents of the player’s deck when this discrepancy is discovered. 

 

Example:

·        A player registers two copies of Jinzo - a limited card in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.  His actual deck contains only one copy and meets the minimum number of cards requirement.

 

5.2   Deck Error – Illegal Side Deck List (Penalty: Warning)

 

This penalty applies to infractions that involve the use of deck registration sheets.  It is appropriate to fix the deck registration sheet to match the contents of the player’s side deck when this discrepancy is discovered.

 

Example:

·        A player registers two copies of Jinzo - a limited card in his side deck in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.  His actual side deck contains Jinzo and one additional card that he did not list.

 

5.3   Deck Error – Illegal Main Deck (Penalty: Game Loss)

 

This penalty applies to infractions that involve presenting an illegal deck during a tournament.  It is usually appropriate to fix the deck to match the contents of the deck registration sheet.   If the deck registration sheet is also illegal, it is appropriate to fix the deck by making it legal first, then fix the deck registration sheet to match the deck.

 

Examples:

·        A player enters a VS System TCG tournament with 5 of the same non-army card.  The legal limit is 4 of the same non-army card.

·        A player registers two copies of Jinzo - a limited card in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.  His actual deck contains only one copy however this puts him under the legal minimum number of cards requirement.

 

5.4  Deck Error – Illegal Side Deck (Penalty: Game Loss)

 

This penalty applies to infractions that involve having an illegal side deck.  It is usually appropriate to fix the side deck to match the contents of the deck registration sheet.   If the deck registration sheet is also illegal, it is appropriate to fix the side deck by making it legal first, then fix the deck registration sheet to match the deck.

 

Example:

·        A player enters a Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournament with a 17-card side deck.

 

 

6.  Unsporting Conduct Penalties.

 

This group of penalties deals with inappropriate behavior that a player may exhibit during a tournament.  This group of penalties covers intentional infractions.

 

6.1   Unsporting Conduct – Minor (Penalty: Warning)

 

Players are expected to behave in a sporting and professional manner towards other players, spectators and tournament officials.  This penalty is appropriate for minor violations of the tournament rules.

 

Examples:

·        A player leaves scraps of paper or food on his table after the match.

·        A player swears during the tournament in the tournament area.

·        A player uses inappropriate gestures.

·        A player insults his opponent or his opponent’s play skill.

 

6.2   Unsporting Conduct – Major (Penalty: Game Loss)

 

Players are expected to behave in a sporting and professional manner towards other players, spectators and tournament officials.  This penalty is appropriate for major violations of the tournament rules.

 

Examples:

·        A player is using profanity to argue with the official Head Judge about a ruling.

• A player throws an object in the tournament area.

·        A player defaces Tournament Organizer’s property.

 

6.3  Unsporting Conduct – Severe (Penalty: DQ without prize)

 

Players are expected to behave in a sporting and professional manner towards other players, spectators and tournament officials.  This penalty is appropriate for extreme cases of violations of the tournament rules.   A statement must be sent to the address given at the beginning of this document outlining the incident leading to this penalty.

 

Examples:

·        A player physically assaults another player.

·        A player verbally threatens a judge.

·        A player steals while at a tournament site.

·        A player intentionally causes damage to the tournament site or someone else’s belongings.

 

 

 

6.4   Unsporting Conduct – Cheating (Penalty: DQ without prize)

 

Cheating is the highest display of unsporting conduct a player may exhibit during a tournament.  Cheating includes but is not limited to intentionally misrepresenting the game state, rules and policies, reporting inaccurate information to tournament officials and bribery.  A statement must be sent to the address given at the beginning of this document outlining the incident leading to this penalty.

 

Examples:

·        A player offers booster packs to his opponent to concede the final round.

·        A player intentionally reports that he won the round to a tournament official after losing the round.

• In the VS System TCG, a player intentionally marks 4 of his key Plot Twist cards so he is able to predict when he will draw them.

 

7.  Drawing Cards Penalties.

 

This group of penalties deals with procedural errors that are specific to drawing cards.

 

7.1   Drawing Cards - Looking at extra cards (Penalty: Warning)

 

The following penalty applies to infractions committed while revealing cards either accidentally or due to a game effect. 

 

Examples:

·        A player resolves Baxter Building effect in VS System TCG and flips over three cards instead of one.

·        A player resolves Cyber Jar in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG and flips over six cards instead of five.

 

7.2   Drawing Cards – Drawing Extra Cards (Penalty: Game Loss)

 

A player is considered to have drawn a card once that card is combined with the rest of his hand.  Drawing extra cards damages the game state beyond repair and as such, carries a severe penalty. 

 

Example:

·        A player draws 4 cards instead of 3 during the resolution of Graceful Charity in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.

 

8.  Marked Cards Penalties.

 

This group of penalties deals with marked cards and sleeves.  A card is considered marked if it easily distinguishable from others in the same deck.  This includes but is not limited to a bent card, a card with distinctive markings on the card back, or a sleeve with distinctive markings on the back, if the deck is in sleeves.

 

8.1  Marked Cards – Minor (Penalty: Warning)

 

The following penalty applies when a player has one or very few cards with different markings without any significant pattern.  As part of handing out this penalty, it is appropriate to ask the player to re-sleeve the cards with marks or replace cards with marks, if no sleeves are used.

Examples:

·        A player has three card sleeves with noticeable nail marks.  All three appear to be different.  It is appropriate to ask the player to re-sleeve the three marked cards.

·        A player has all of his card sleeves dirty and worn with no significant pattern.

 

8.2  Marked Cards – Major (Penalty: Match Loss)

 

The following penalty applies when a player has a significant number of cards marked and it appears that there is an unintentional pattern among those.  It is appropriate to investigate further to make sure the player did not do this intentionally.

 

Example:

·        All VS System TCG characters in a players deck have sleeves with a noticeable factory marking.