ARDF RULES — Part A / 2015 — valid from January 1st, 2015

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INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO UNION — Region 1

RULES FOR CHAMPIONSHIPSIN AMATEUR RADIO DIRECTION FINDING
PART A — ORGANISATION
version 2015
Approved at the IARU Region 1 General Conference 2014
in Varna–Albena, September 26, 2014
Contents:
1. Definitions....................................................................................................................................2
2. General provisions.......................................................................................................................2
3. Event programme........................................................................................................................2
4. Event applications........................................................................................................................2
5. Participation.................................................................................................................................3
6. Costs............................................................................................................................................3
7. Entries..........................................................................................................................................3
8. Jury..............................................................................................................................................4
9. Complaints...................................................................................................................................4
10. Protests........................................................................................................................................5
11. Media service...............................................................................................................................5
12. Event reports...............................................................................................................................5ARDF RULES — Part A / 2015 — valid from January 1st, 2015

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1.

Definitions

1.1

Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) is an amateur radio sport in which competitors by means of a direction
finding receiver and a map are to find a number of transmitters hidden in the competition area in the shortest
possible time.

1.2

Competitors are individuals of either sex or a team.

1.3

Single competitors or teams are delegated by amateur radio societies being full members of a regional IARUorganisation. Competitors or teams from countries, which have no IARU member society, shall be accepted ifthey satisfy the conditions of A6.5. Otherwise they may participate unofficially (i.e. not to be ranked and not to beawarded medals).

1.4

The term event embraces all aspects of an ARDF competition, including organisational matters, e.g. start draws,
team official meetings, ceremonies etc. and the competitions, usually on the 3.5 and 144 MHz amateur radio
bands.

1.5

An ARDF World Championship is the event to award the title of World Champion in ARDF. A WorldChampionship is organised by an amateur radio society authorised by its corresponding IARU organisation.

1.6

A Regional ARDF Championship is the event to award the title of Regional Champion in ARDF. A Regional
Championship is organised by an amateur radio society authorised by its corresponding IARU organisation.

1.7

An IARU Region 1 Amateur Radio Direction Finding Working Group (hereinafter known as ARDF WG) isa permanent specialized body of the IARU Regional organisation, set up by the Regional General Conference.

2.

General provisions

2.1

These rules are valid for and shall be used in connection with IARU World and Regional Championships inAmateur Radio Direction Finding.

2.2

These rules are recommended as a basis for any international ARDF event and national championships.

2.3

These rules are binding for all persons engaged in ARDF Championships organised under these rules.

2.4

The guiding principle in the interpretation of these rules shall be fairness.

2.5

Any ARDF event shall equally challenge the technical (direction finding), orienteering and physical skills of acompetitor.

2.6

All technical (direction finding) and orienteering tasks must be solvable by means of the direction finding receiver
and an appropriate map of the competition area.

2.7

Changes to part A of these Rules are subject to approval by the IARU Regional Conference or during the period
between Conferences by the Executive Committee (EC). Such changes should, whenever possible, be discussed
and agreed with all three regional ARDF specialized bodies on beforehand.

2.8

Changes to part B of these rules are subject to approval by the ARDF WG. Decisions shall be taken by a twothirds majority of votes. For the rules to be valid also for World Championships, the other two regional ARDF
specialized bodies shall be consulted before the decision is made.

2.9

Not more than one month after any agreed change (or after approval if needed) in any part of these rules the fulltext of the updated rules must be published amongst ARDF WG members and on the Regional website by theARDF WG Chairman.

2.10

If not stated otherwise, any change in any part of these rules shall be in force from the beginning of the year
succeeding the year of the decision (or approval if needed).

2.11

The English text of these rules shall be taken as decisive in any dispute arising from a translation into any otherlanguage.

3.

Event programme

3.1

ARDF World Championships should be organised every even year and Regional Championships every odd year.
Deviations from this rythm require approval by all (three) regional ARDF specialized bodies at least two years
before such changes can become effective.

3.2

The event dates and the programme are proposed by the organiser. They require approval by the relevant ARDF
specialized body.

4.

Event preparations

4.1

Any IARU society may apply to organise an ARDF event of world or regional level.

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4.2

Applications of interested societies are to be presented to the ARDF WG on official application sheets provided
by the ARDF WG.

4.3

Application sheets are to be received by the Chairman of the ARDF WG not later than January 31st three years
prior to the year of the Championships .

4.4

ARDF WG shall propose the organising society to the EC for approval the same year. In case of two or morecandidates, the ARDF WG shall determine the organising society by voting. For ARDF World Championships, theother regional ARDF specialized bodies shall be consulted and their view shall be known before the decision istaken.

5.

Participation

5.1

Competitors shall have full passport-holding citizenship of the country of the society they represent. Other
nationals living at least for one year in the country in question may also participate for the society of said country;
the legitimacy of the residence shall be proven by an official document. Exceptions from this requires the approvalof the ARDF WG and the societies involved.

5.2

Each participating society shall appoint a team manager to act as a contact person between the team and theorganiser. It is the team manager’s duty to see that the team receives all necessary information.

5.3

Competitors participate at their own risk. Insurance against accidents shall be the responsibility of their society orthemselves, according to national regulations.

5.4

Each society may enter a team in each category and a number of team officials. The organiser shall fix themaximum number of officials per team, in accordance with the available facilities. This maximum number shall be
the same for each team and shall be at least 5.

5.5

One additional team may be entered by the organising society. This team shall participate unofficially.

5.6

Competitors from outside the relevant Region may take part in IARU ARDF Regional Championships. However,they shall be classified unofficially.

6.

Costs

6.1

The costs of organising an event are the responsibility of the organiser. To cover the costs of the competition(s),the organiser may charge an entry fee for competitors and an accreditation fee for non-competitors (teamofficials, media etc.). For an event with several competitions, as an alternative to a total fee for the whole event,the organiser must offer competitors the option of an accreditation fee plus a fee for each competition entered.
These fees shall be kept as low as possible and shall be approved by the ARDF WG.

6.2

Unless there is good standard accommodation and board at a very low price, different standards ofaccommodation and food shall be offered, allowing competitors a choice of price groups. The fees for thecompetition, the board and the accommodation must be shown as separate amounts. In any case it shall not be
obligatory to use the accommodation arranged by the organiser.

6.3

In order for IARU Region 1 Member Societies to be allowed to start as official competitors in an international
IARU ARDF championship, they must have fulfilled all their financial obligations to Region 1 by the end of themonth prior to the month in which the Championships take place. If requested, facilities will be provided to accept
outstanding fees together with payment of the championship fee and expenses.

6.4

The organising society may allow Member Societies with outstanding fees to Region 1 to take part in such aChampionships outside of competition (i.e. not to be ranked and not to be awarded medals).

6.5

The IARU Region 1 Executive Committee may allow Radio Amateur Societies in countries within Region 1, which
are not members of IARU Region 1, to officially participate as full competitors in International ARDFchampionships. Such permission will normally only be given for one year as an introduction to this IARU activity.

6.6

All entry fees have to reach the organising society not later than six weeks before the event. If approved by theARDF WG an additional fee can be charged for late payments.

6.7

Participating societies or the participants themselves shall bear the entry fees, the travelling costs to and from theplace of the Championships and the costs of accommodation and board during the event.

6.8

The organiser shall bear accommodation and board for all members of the International Jury. The relevant IARU
Regional organisation shall bear travel expenses to and from the place of the Championship for the chairman ofthe International Jury. The travel costs for the rest of the members of the International Jury shall be borne by thesocieties to which they belong or by the individuals themselves.

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7.

Entries

7.1Societies intending to participate in the Championship shall send a Letter of Intent to participate to the organiser
not later than SIX MONTHS before the event.

7.2

Entries giving the expected number of competitors of each category, the number of team officials and the teammanager’s name, address, phone/fax numbers and e-mail address shall reach the organiser not later than TWO
MONTHS before the event.

7.3

Each competitor’s name, date of birth and category and the names of the team officials shall reach the organiser
as early as possible but not later than 24 hours before the first meeting of the International Jury. Later entries orchanges may be made only with permission of both organiser and International Jury.

7.4

The organiser may exclude competitors or teams from starting if their entry fee is not paid and no agreement has
been reached about payment.

7.5

Competitors may be entered by their society only.

8.

Jury

8.1

The International Jury for IARU ARDF Championships shall consist of the following members:
 Chairman of the Jury Secretary of the Jury
 Referee at the start Referee at the finish
 Referees in the competition area
 Siting referee Technical Director

8.2

The Chairman of the Jury at an IARU World or IARU Regional Championship shall be an ARDF International
Class Referee appointed by the Regional EC after consultation with the Chairman of the ARDF WG in order toensure adequate experience. The appointment shall be announced at least nine months prior to theChampionship.

8.3

The referees in the competition area, at start and finish and the siting referee shall be International Class
Referees. The siting referee shall be provided by the organising society. The Secretary of the Jury and theTechnical Director shall both be provided by the organising society and neither need be an International ClassReferee.

8.4

The appointed Chairman of the Jury shall, in co-operation with the organising society, propose all other referees
needed for the Championships from the list of approved IARU International Class Referees after consultation with
the Chairman of the ARDF WG in order to ensure adequate experience. Referees shall be drawn from as manysocieties as possible. The names of the members of the International Jury shall be recorded and announced as
early as possible before the beginning of the event.

8.5

The members of the International Jury shall ensure that rules are followed, mistakes are avoided and that fairness
is paramount. They have the authority to require adjustments to be made if deemed necessary to satisfy therequirements of the event.

8.6

The International Jury shall meet before the competition to approve the starting sequence, which is determined by
the organiser.

8.7

At the end of each competition the International Jury shall meet to discuss and approve the results and shalldecide upon possible protests.

8.8

Any decision of the Jury will be final only if all Jury members are present. In urgent cases preliminary decisions
may be taken if a majority of the Jury members agree on the decision. These decisions are clearly to be marked”preliminary ”.

8.9

If a Jury member declares himself to be prejudiced or unable, the Chairman of the Jury shall nominate asubstitute.

8.10

In cases of dispute, a solution shall be reached by means of a vote. In case of a tie, the Chairman of the Juryshall have the casting vote and shall decide. The Secretary of the Jury and the Technical Director both have novotes.

8.11

Decisions of the Jury are final and cannot be challenged.

9.

Complaints

9.1

A complaint can be made about violation of these rules, mistakes in the results or the organiser’s directions.

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9.2

Complaints can be made by event or team officials, competitors or anybody else connected with the event.

9.3

Any complaint shall be made orally or in writing to the organiser as soon as possible. A complaint is adjudicatedby the organiser. The complainant shall be informed about the decision immediately.

9.4

There is no fee for a complaint.

10.

Protests

10.1

A protest can be entered against the organiser’s decision about a complaint or against major infringements ofthese rules.

10.2

Protests can be entered by team or event officials only and must be presented to a Jury member for further action
by the Jury.

10.3

The Jury shall decide upon the protest and present a decision as soon as possible. It is up to the Jury to make its
decision public or inform the protestant only. The decision of the Jury is final and cannot be appealed.

10.4

There is no fee for a protest.

11.

Media service

11.1

The organiser shall offer media representatives attractive working conditions to observe and report on the event.

11.2

As a minimum, the organiser shall make available to media representatives the following: hotel accommodation to be paid for by the users
 start lists, programme booklets and other information on the day prior to the competition
 opportunity to take part in the model event
 weather-protected working space for media representatives’ typewriters or computers in the finish area
 result lists and maps with courses immediately after the competition
 Internet connection, preferably in the finish area

11.3

The organiser shall make every effort to maximise media coverage as long as this does not jeopardise thefairness of the event.

11.4. The programme of the event and location of the finish areas shall be published as soon as possible before theevent at the event website, posters etc. encouraging spectators and media to visit the finish.

12.

Event reports

12.1

Not more than one month after the event, the organiser shall submit a report to the ARDF WG Chairman
containing: complete result lists
 map of each competition with course details
 composition of the International Jury comments about the event

12.2

One copy of every bulletin, the final programme including start lists and a plan of the organisation shall be sent tothe ARDF WG Chairman for the archives not more than 6 months after the event.