Accreditation is the process that validates the participation of each team member registered for the event. For accreditation, some procedures are mandatory such as:

• The accreditation of all delegations will start on the 24^th June, at Info Desk, at the venue – Ground Floor;
• Team Managers must collect credentials for all their team members;
• Accreditation will be required for access to specific venue spaces exclusively reserved for Participants.

The Opening Ceremony will be held at 14h00 on the Tuesday 25^th of June at the Field of Play – FOP.

The Medal Ceremony for Individual Competition will be held on on the Saturday, 29^th of June, 30 minutes after the last match at the FOP.

The Medal & Closing Ceremony of Team and Pairs’ Competition will be held on the Monday, 1^st of July, 30 minutes after the last match in the FOP.

The 1^st Technical Meeting will be held at 20h00 on the 25^th of June, in the Paris Room, at the Hotel.

Countries are allowed two representatives at this meeting, one of whom must be the Team Manager.

• All Events of the Poznań 2024 World Boccia Challenger will run in accordance with the BISFed International Boccia Rules 2021 – 2024 (V.2.2), this Competition Guide and BISFed Code of Ethics. In case of doubt or disagreement in the interpretation of the rules, the English version shall prevail. The current BISFed Boccia Rules are available at Rules – World Boccia.
• Any case not included in this document shall be solved in accordance with the Technical Delegate.
• It is the responsibility of each World Boccia Member participating in the event to ensure that all competitors and staff are familiar with BISFed Boccia Rules as well as the BISFed Code of Ethics.

Please visit  Documents – World Boccia to download all relevant documents.

Important Notice – As informed by e-mail by World Boccia, be aware the following clarifications of the rules will be implemented in this Competition:

Rules clarification regarding being ready for the start of an end and the use of electronic devices on court.

The rules committee has noted that there have been different interpretations of the rules regarding how sides should be ready for the start of an end and which penalties should be used when a side is not ready and thus delaying the match. Further, even though the rules on the use of electronic devices on court are clear, they have not always been applied in the same way. Therefore, the committee would like to clarify the correct procedures:

 Being ready for the start of an end:

1. At the end of the one-minute break between ends, sides should be ready to start the end. This includes:

1. 1. All equipment that an athlete wants to use during an end should be in the athletes’ box (or firmly attached to the wheelchair).
   2. Coaches/coaching assistants need to be back in their designated area.
   3. The athlete who is to play the jack should be in the throwing box.
   4. The side who is not to play the jack should be out of the way.

1. If a side is for some reason not ready to start the end, they may be delaying the match. For example:

1. 1. Any member of a side (athlete, assistant, coach) is still in the playing area when ‘Time’ is called.
   2. The athlete who is to play the jack is not in the throwing box.
   3. The side who is not to play the jack is not out of the way.

The penalty for delaying the match, is a yellow card. In the situation that ‘Time’ has been called and a side has equipment outside of the box, it is up to the side how to proceed:

If the side wishes to use the equipment, this is considered not being ready, thus delaying the match and will result in a yellow card.

• If the side chooses to not use the equipment, the end may continue without the equipment being used during that end. There is no further penalty. (Referees will be advised to take that equipment from that area to avoid obstacles there during the match)

Any equipment that has not been taken out of the playing area (for instance: balls on court or in the dead ball area) when ‘Time’ has been called, may not be used during that end.

When an individual member of a side (athlete, RO, assistant, coach) is delaying the match, the yellow card is given to that individual. In the case that more than one individual from the same side is delaying the match (for instance: all team members are still in the playing area when ‘Time’ is called, the yellow card is given to the captain. Not more than one yellow card shall be given for a single violation of delaying the match, regardless of how many people from a side are involved.

1. Some examples to further clarify the process:

1. 1. A ramp operator or sports assistant is not considered equipment. They don’t need to be in the box at the start of an end (but cannot be in the playing area anymore).
   2. If equipment is left outside of the box, it is always up to the athlete to choose if it remains there or if the athlete wishes to use it (accepting a yellow card). There can be no situation where a referee decided that equipment cannot be used during an end, unless it is still in the playing area. For example: a side leaves their balls behind the throwing box when ‘Time’ has been called: the side may choose to use those balls but will receive a yellow card for delaying the match.
   3. The objective of the rules related to being ready for the next end is a smooth continuation of the game. Referees should therefore in some situations make a judgement whether a side is actually delaying the match or not. For example: when ‘Time’ is called, the coach is exiting the playing area to sit down but is with one foot still in the playing area: this doesn’t delay the match and no yellow card is needed. However, if a referee feels that a side deliberately delays the match or gains a competitive advantage (for instance by using more time between ends than is allowed to increase coaching time), a yellow card should be given.  

Use of electronic devices on court:

1. Electronic devices can only be brought onto court by athletes for communication purposes, for athletes who have no other means of communicating. These devices must be approved in the equipment check. Electronic devices cannot be brought onto court for any other purpose than communication. Using them to take notes, view calibration sheets or any other objective is not allowed.
2. Coaches and coaching assistants (their position is on the FOP but not on court), may use electronic devices to take notes with the device in airplane mode with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and any other form of communication disconnected. These devices do not need to be approved in the equipment check and don’t require a sticker to be brought to the FOP.

• Please be advised that this event is subject to anti-doping testing in accordance with the policies and procedures of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations and Polska Agencja Antydopingowa (POLADA) [Polish National Anti-Doping Agency].
• Therefore, there will be, as minimum, the following doping control tests to be carried out at the Event:
  • 02 non-Competition anti-doping tests will occur on the 25^th of June;
  • 04 Competition anti-doping tests will take place on the 29^th of June.
• The list of prohibited substances can be found on the World Boccia website (https://www.worldboccia.com/documents/#AntiDopingDoc). All doping processes will be in accordance to the procedures of the WADA and the BISFed Competitions Anti-doping Procedures.
• The World Boccia Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) forms are also available on the World Boccia website. Athletes who are using banned substances found on the WADA Prohibited List for therapeutic reasons should complete the TUE forms and return them to the World Boccia TUE Committee prior to the competition.

Important Notice: All Athletes and Ramp Operators must have completed WADA’s Athlete course at the ADEL platform (WADA Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform) less than 2 years ago to be eligible to compete.

• Upon confirmation of classification, each athlete shall be given one (1) piece of competitor number, to be used as follows:
  • The BIB must be worn at all times during the hours of competition and must be clearly visible from the front. The competitor number must be affixed on the front of the shirt or the trouser leg or it may be fixed to the wheelchair;
  • For classes BC1 and BC3, the assistant/ramp operator will have a second competitor number that must be clearly visible affixed on his/her back;
  • All other SAs must have the bib number on their chest;
  • In Teams Division, the SA may wear the bib number of any of the BC1 athletes in that match.
• If an athlete forgets, loses or chooses not to wear their competitor number, he/she will not be permitted to enter the Warm-up area, the Call Room or the Field of Play (Rule 7.3).
• A side that is not present for the start of the match forfeits the match (Rule 7.4). Exceptions may be considered by the Head Referee and/or the Technical Delegate.

Athletes (and Teams & Pairs) must have two different uniform colors to compete.

If you haven’t done it yet, please provide a list of your primary and secondary team uniform colours to the HOC at bocciapoznan@gmail.com. This information will be shared at the Technical Meeting.

Important Notice: On matches where a colour clash is identified, the lower ranked side (Athlete, Team or Pair) will have to change to an alternate uniform colour. Different coloured jackets will be allowed, provided the BIB number is visible and the correct colour shirt is worn underneath.