Grievances & Appeals

Members in good standing within the Association may file a grievance or

appeal an action taken against them by the Association or it’s members. 

The procedures for filing such action are shown below and must be followed

in the order provided depending upon whether the grievance/appeal is the

result of an action taken by the member’s individual sport officials, the

All-Sports Board of Representatives or the Board of Control.

Section I 

Action Taken by the Board of Control

1.  If the member chooses to file a grievance as a result of an action taken

by the Board of Control, he/she must submit a letter to the Board of Control

in writing not later than 30-days upon notification of the Board's action.

If the letter is submitted as a result of lower board action, the same

Procedures will apply.  The letter must show reason for appeal and will

contain a specific request to appear before the board if the

member desires.  The Board of Control will review the appeal and either

accept it or will ask the member to appear before the Board for further

discussions prior to final action on the appeal.  The Board will give the

member a minimum of 10 days advance notice of appearance before the

next scheduled meeting of the Board, unless the member requests a

waiver of this 10-day requirement.  Regardless, the member will be

notified in writing of the final disposition of his/her appeal. 

2.  If the final disposition by the Board of Control results in a Suspension

of the member, the member may further appeal the decision to the NIAA

if the sport is in season.  The Secretary-Treasurer will provide appropriate

information to the member on how to appeal to the NIAA. 

For any action when the sport is not is season (such as summer basketball

tournament), the action by the Board of Control is final and no further

appeal can be made.

Section II 

Action Taken by the All -Sports Board of Representatives

If the member chooses to file an appeal as a result of the action taken

by the All-Sports Board of Representatives, he/she must file the appeal in

writing not later than 30-days upon notification of the All-Sports Board of

Representatives’ actions.  The appeal will be submitted to the  Board of

Control.  Further action by the Board of Control and/or member will proceed

as described in Section I  above.

Section III

Action Taken by the Individual Sport’s Board

If the member chooses to file an appeal as a result of action taken by the

member’s individual Sport’s Board, he/she must submit request in writing to

the All-Sports Board of Representatives not later than 30-days upon

notification of the Individual Sport’s Board action, to include request for

appearance if desired.  The Secretary-Treasurer will notify the member a

minimum of 10 days prior to the All-Sports Board of Representatives

meeting and will notify the Vice President (Chairman of the All-Sports Board

of Representatives) of impending appearance/appeal. 

Sequence of further action is as detailed above in Section II.

Section IV

Action Taken by the Individual Sport’s Assigner

If the member chooses to appeal an action taken by his/her assigner for

that sport (such as fine levied against the member or removal from certain

assignments), the member must notify that sport’s Board of his/her intent 

to appeal.  This may be done informally and if resolved by  the Sport’s Board,

no further action is required.  Should member not be satisfied with the

decision of the Sport’s Board, he/she may submit further appeal to the

All-Sports Board as shown above.

Section V

Failure to Follow Above Procedures

Should the member, in his/her appeal, fail to follow the appeal process

outlined above, the appeal will be returned to the member for resubmission

to the proper level.  This will only cause a further delay in resolution, so

member should insure he/she follows the above procedures.

Section VI

Retention of Legal Counsel to Assist Member

Should any member desire to exercise his/her right to have counsel represent

them, the appeal will go directly to the Board of Control, bypassing any

intermediate appeal levels.  (This is because Association counsel is not

provided for any actions taken below the Board of Control level.).  Any

correspondence received from member’s legal counsel will be referred to the

Association counsel for assistance in resolution. 

Once a member retains counsel, no communication will be permitted

between the member and the Board of Control regarding

the issue.  All communications will be between counsel for both parties.

Section VII

Status While Appeal is Pending

1.  If the appeal is because of a fine levied against the member, the

collection of the fine will be made as normal (taken out of members next

check).  Should the final decision result in suspension of fine, any monies

collected will be refunded on the next or subsequent check.

2.  If the appeal is because of a suspension from officiating in the sport, the

suspension will remain until overturned by decision of appropriate board. 

Member will not be scheduled for any further games/matches in that sport

until issue is resolved.  Member will remain a member in good standing and

may be scheduled to officiate contests in another sport as normally done by

that sport’s assignor.  Suspension from participating in a particular sport may

be made by that sport’s governing Board. 

3.  Suspension from the Association can only be done by the Board of Control

and lower boards must submit any recommendations to the Board of Control

fully documenting reasons for recommendation.  Until such time as the Board

of Control makes a final decision, the member will remain in good standing

in the Association.