Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers
Rules for Pipe Band Competitions

Created: October 14, 2001

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION									3
1.1 Objectives									3
1.2 Geographical area and Registering						3
1.3 Integrity of the Rules							3

2 COMPETITION RULES								3
2.1 The competition Committee, chief Steward and Chief Scorer			3
2.2 Minimum Number of Players							3
2.3 Player Overage								3
2.4 Player Shortage								4
2.5 Use of Higher Grade Members in a Novice Band				4
2.6 Acceptable Highland Dress							4
2.7 Competition Areas								4
2.8 Final Tuning Areas								5
2.9 Band Formation								5
2.10 Music Requirements								5
2.11 Order of Play								6
2.12 Band Representative Duties							6
2.13 Society Representative							7
2.14 Local Competition Rules							7
2.15 Conduct of Players								7

3 MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION							7
3.1 General Requirement								7
3.2 Registration of Bands and their Members					7
3.3 Addition of Players								8
3.4 Transfer of Players								8
3.5 Penalties									8
3.6 Visiting Bands								8

4. GRADES AND GRADING								9
4.1 Grades									9
4.2 Grading									9
4.3 Challenging Up a Grade							9
 
5. ADJUDICATORS									10
5.1 Authority									10
5.2 Selection of Adjudicators							10
5.3 Number of Adjudicators							10
5.4 Conduct of Adjudicators							10
5.5 Guidance for Adjudicators							11
5.6 Disbursement of Adjudication Sheets and Tally Sheets			11

6. METHOD OF DETERMINING WINNING POSITIONS					11
6.1 Method									11
6.2 Breaking Ties								11
6.3 Best Drum Corps								12
6.4 Prize Monies								12

7. MASSED BAND									12
7.1 Required Participation							12
7.2 Senior Drum Major								12
7.3 Music									12
7.4 Acceptable Highland Dress							12
7.5 Penalties									12

8. INTERPRETATION OF RULES AND PROTESTS						13
8.1 Interpretation of Rules							13
8.2 Protests and Grievances							13


Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers
Rules for Pipe Band Competitions

1. Introduction

1.1 Objections
1.1.1 The objectives of the Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers (the "Society") 
with respect to Pipe Bands are as follows:
(a) To devise and administer comprehensive rules governing pipe band competitions;
(b) To preserve, promote and encourage proficiency in Pipe Band Music; and
(c) To promote and encourage participation of pipe bands at Highland Games and 
Scottish Cultural events for the benefit of Competition Committees and Games 
attendees.

1.2 Geographical Area and Registration
1.2.1 The geographical area where the Society registers pipe band competitions is 
the province of Alberta. Registration is a cooperative agreement between the 
Society and the organization Sponsoring pipe band competitions (Competition 
Committee) to ensure that the competitions are run according to the Society's 
rules for pipe band competitions, are fair and respected, and are of benefit to 
the competitors, Competition Committee and the Society.

1.3 Integrity of the Rules
1.3.1 Pipe Band members of the Society and members of the Society's Approved 
Adjudicators Panel should not take part in any competition that would cause the 
Society's rules to be compromised to the significant detriment of the Society, 
the Competition Committee or the competitors. It shall be the responsibility of 
the Society's Board of Directors (the "Executive") to inform members and 
adjudicators of any such competitions.

2. Competition Rules
2.1 The Competition Committee, Chief Steward, and Chief Scorer
2.1.1 The Games Sponsor shall designate a Competition Committee that shall 
manage and run the competition activities on the Games day. The Competition 
Committee shall designate a Chief Steward and a Chief Scorer.

2.2 Minimum Number of Players
2.2.1 All pipe bands entering competitions shall consist of a minimum of six (6) 
pipers, two (2) side drummers, one (1) tenor, and a bass drummer
2.2.2 All miniature bands entering competition shall consist of six (6) pipers, 
two (2) side drummers, one (1) tenor drummer and a bass drummer.

2.3 Player Overage
2.3.1 Miniature bands entering with more members than specified in Clause 2.2 
shall be disqualified by the Chief Steward of the competition.

2.4 Player Shortage
2.4.1 Pipe bands or miniature bands entering a contest with fewer numbers than 
indicated in Clause 2.2 shall be penalized two ranking placements lower, by 
every adjudicator, for each piper or drummer that they are short. E.g. if a 
band, playing one piper short obtains the following rankings from the 
adjudicators 1, 2, 4, and 3, then their adjusted rankings shall be 3, 4, 6, 
and 5.

2.5 Use of Higher Grade Members in a Novice Band
2.5.1 Novice (Grade 4 & 5) pipe bands may add a higher grade drummer provided 
that he/she is registered as their drum instructor and the higher grade 
drummer does not play as Lead Drummer.
2.5.2 Novice (Grade 4 & 5) pipe bands may add a higher grade piper provided 
that he/she is registered as their pipe instructor and he/she does not play as 
Pipe Major.
2.5.3 Novice (Grade 4 & 5) pipe bands may not add a higher grade bass drummer as 
an instructor/player.

2.6 Acceptable Highland Dress
2.6.1 In all competitions and massed bands performances, band members and 
adjudicators shall be attired in officially recognized and properly worn 
highland dress for pipers and drummers, which at minimum includes kilt (or trewes), 
shirt, hose, shoes and accepted highland headdress.
2.6.2 Any band or adjudicator not so attired may compete or judge, provided they 
have contacted the Competition Committee prior to the competition, informed them of 
the circumstances, and secured their permission.
2.6.3 Bands not conforming to the above may be subject to disqualification by the 
Competition Committee.

2.7 Competition Areas
2.7.1 The Competition Committee shall select and mark off a Competition Area 
according to the following specifications.
(a) The pipe Band Competition Circle shall be a radius of 12 feet. The Adjudicators 
Circle shall be a radius of 21 feet. The Pipe Band Competition Circle and the 
Adjudicators Circle shall share the same centre point. The starting line for the Pipe 
Band shall be 45 feet from the centre of the Pipe Band Competition Circle.
(b) Pipe Bands shall form a circle on or within the Pipe Band Competition Circle. The 
adjudicators shall adjudicate the pipe band from inside the Adjudicators Circle. 
Crowds shall not be permitted any closer than 33 feet from the centre of the Pipe Band 
Circle.
 
2.8 Final Tuning Areas
2.8.1 The Competition Committee shall select and mark off a Final Tuning Area (FTA) 
which shall be in the close proximity to the competition area without causing 
conflict with the ongoing competition. All bands are expected to use the FTA or to be 
ready to move from the FTA when their competition time has arrived.

2.9 Band Formation
2.9.1 Bands will arrive at the Start Line properly dressed, including head dress, 
and coming to the HALT. After halting at the Start Line, no bandsman/woman will be 
allowed to withdraw. The performance will commence from the AT EASE position with 
PIPES DOWN. On a signal from an official, the band will commence it's performance 
on the appropriate and correctly-given command by the Pipe Major. Grade 4 bands 
playing the 6/8 Slow Air march, will come to the line with PIPES DOWN. From the AT 
EASE position, the Pipe Major will bring the band to ATTENTION and will QUICK MARCH 
TO TAPS to the circle position on the field. When in the circle position, the Pipe 
Major will call the band to HALT, then PIPES UP, and then begin the performance.

2.10 Music Requirements
2.10.1 The music requirements for the various grades are given in Appendix A
2.10.2 The names of all tunes comprising the sets and medleys for a band shall be 
submitted as part of the Games entry form. Any change to the list of submitted tunes 
shall be submitted to the Chief Steward at lease three (3) hours prior to the start 
of the competition.
2.10.3 For events in which more than two sets or two medleys are required, the 
choice of the set or medley shall be done by the Chief Steward, or designate, by 
draw when the band is at the starting line. The Chief Steward, or designate, with 
the Ensemble adjudicator present, shall inform the Pipe Major of which set or 
medley has been drawn and shall gain his/her understanding by confirming the 
first three tunes to be played.
2.10.4 The Chief Steward or their designate shall record the actual band performance 
times in timed events and report any failure of bands to play within the required 
time period for an event to the Chief Scorer for disqualification of the band. 
The beginning of the performance is the Pipe Major's command to commence and the 
ending is the last sound produced by the band. The decision of the Chief Steward 
in this matter is final.
 
2.11 Order of Play
2.11.1 The order of play shall be determined by the Competition Committee prior 
to the competition.
2.11.2 The posted order of play shall include the starting time for each band.
2.11.3 The relative interval starting times between consecutive competing bands 
in the same grade shall be the times shown in the following table.
Grade	Not less than __ minutes apart	Not more than __ minutes apart
5			8				10
4			8				10
3			8				10
2			9				11
1			10				12

2.11.4 When a delay causes the posted time of play to be invalid by more than 
ten (10) minutes, the Competition Committee should notify all bands remaining 
to compete as soon as possible and provide them with the new time of play. 
However, the new time of play shall not be any earlier than the original time 
of play, unless agreed to by all the bands in the grade.
2.11.5 Bands must leave the competition area immediately upon the completion 
of their performance.
2.11.6 Any band refusing, or failing to play within five (5) minutes of the 
allotted time or the completion of the previous band's performance, whichever 
is later, shall be subject to disqualification. This decision shall be made 
by the Chief Steward.

2.12 Band Representative Duties
2.12.1 Competition entry forms should include the name of a band representative, 
who shall be the person responsible for the duties described in this section. 
Bands may provide an alternate person on Games day to perform these duties 
provided that the Competition Committee is notified of this change.
2.12.2 It is the responsibility of a band's representative to:
(a) On arrival at the Games, to report the location of the band to the Chief 
Steward.
(b) Obtain the time of play for their band from the Chief Steward
(c) Be aware of the start time for the band, location of the Final Tuning 
Area (FTA) and changes to the start time.
(d) Ensure that their band arrives at the starting position at the time given 
for their band, and
(e) Inform the Competition Committee if the band withdraws from the competition.
 
2.13 Society Representative
2.13.1 A member of the Executive, or their designate, shall be in attendance as 
the Societies Representative at all registered competitions and shall be available 
to the Competition Committee for that day.
2.13.2 The Society Representative shall monitor the competitions for compliance 
and fairness, provide answers to questions on the competition rules, and provide 
advice (if requested) to the Competition Committee on complaints, disputes and 
protests relating to the competition.

2.14 Local Competition Rules
2.14.1 Local competition rules will be in accordance with rules established by 
ASPD. Local competition rules shall be published by the Competition Committee 
as part of the entry form for the competition.

2.15 Conduct of Players
2.15.1 Any member(s) of a registered band who interferes with, threatens, or 
uses abusive language towards anyone attending or participating in the games 
shall cause themselves and/or their band to be liable for suspension from 
further competitions for as long as the Society Executive deems is necessary 
in the circumstances.
2.15.2 The same penalty shall apply to situations involving abuse of private 
property at the Games site.

3. MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION
3.1 General Requirement
3.1.1 All bands, or miniature bands, residing in the Society's jurisdiction area, 
and desiring to compete in registered competitions, must be members of the Society.
3.1.2 Notwithstanding Clause 3.1.1, all bands or miniature bands which are not 
members of the Society or an officially recognized pipe band association 
affiliated with the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations (ANAPBA) 
shall pay to the Competition Committee a fee of $50 CDN in addition to the 
published entry fee, to compete in the pipe band events at that particular Games.

3.2 Registration of Bands and Their Members
3.2.1 By March 1 of a registration season, each band shall register with the 
Society and furnish a complete list of the members registered with the band.
3.2.2 The period of registration shall run from January 1 to December 31.
3.2.3 No person shall be allowed to play with a band in a competition unless 
he/she is a registered member of that band, except as provided for in Clause 2.5.
3.2.4 No person shall be allowed to play in more than one band or in more than 
one grade at a competition, except as provided for in Clause 2.5
3.2.5 No person shall be allowed to register in more than one band, except as 
provided in Clause 2.5.
3.2.6 Any band member registered as both a piper and a drummer shall be permitted 
to play either instrument in a competition.

3.3 Addition of Players
3.3.1 If a band wishes to add a players(s) to their roster, either by transfer 
or new addition, they must submit their names(s) to the Registrar of the Society 
at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the competition in which the new 
player(s) is intending to compete. During this 14 day period, the identified 
player shall not compete with any band in any registered competitions with in 
the Society's registration jurisdiction, or any registered competitions covered 
by a pipe band association affiliated with ANAPBA. Any member who does not 
observe the 14 day notice period cannot play in a leading position and is not 
considered a member for minimum player purposes.

3.4 Transfer of Players
3.4.1 A player registered with one band may, within the period of registration, 
transfer only once to another band of any grade.
3.4.2 Any registered band member, who plays in a competition with a band who 
he/she is not registered in, shall be deemed to have transferred to that band 
and shall not be allowed to play in his/her previous band for the duration of 
the period of registration, except as provided for in Clause 2.5.
3.4.3 In certain unique circumstances, a player who has previously transferred 
once to another band may request the Society to grant an exception and allow 
a second transfer of bands. The request shall be in writing and disclose the 
nature of his/her special circumstances. No transfer shall be allowed unless 
it is approved by the Executive.

3.5 Penalties
3.5.1 Any band member registering concurrently with more than one band shall 
be liable for suspension for further pipe band competitions until the conflict 
is resolved.
3.5.2 A similar penalty shall apply to any band that submits a false 
registration with the Society.
3.5.3 Any band member who plays in more than one band or in more than one grade 
except as provided for in Clause 2.5 shall cause each band to be disqualified 
from that competition.

3.6 Visiting Bands
3.6.1 Any bands from outside the Society's registering jurisdiction as defined 
in Clause 1.2 which desire to compete at a registered competition within the 
Society's registering jurisdiction shall be a member of or registered with a 
pipe band association officially recognized by and affiliated with ANAPBA>
3.6.2 Any band not a member of or not registered in a pipe band association 
officially recognized by and affiliated with ANAPBA must register with the 
Society.

4 Grades and Grading

4.1 Grades
4.1.1 The Society has set the following categories for pipe band competitions 
in descending order of ability
(a) Grade 1
(b) Grade 2
(c) Grade 3
(d) Grade 4
(e) Grade 5
4.1.2 Novice bands playing with instructors shall only be permitted to compete 
in Grade 4 or 5.
4.1.3 Each member of Piping Trios and Quartets shall be an individual member 
of the Society.
4.1.4 Each member of separate Drum Corps competitions shall be an individual 
member of the Society.

4.2 Grading
4.2.1 The Society shall have the responsibility and authority to determine the 
grading of a band under the advisement from the grading committee.
4.2.2 The Society shall have the authority to regrade, either up or down, 
any band at any time during the registration year on the advice of grading 
committee and adjudicators.
4.2.3 All new bands or bands from outside the Society's registering jurisdiction 
which apply for membership or registration with the Society shall be assigned a 
grade determined by the Society based on the band's demonstrated playing ability.
4.2.4 Any band, which is a member of, or registered with pipe band association 
officially recognized by and affiliated with ANAPBA, shall compete in the grade 
assigned by that pipe band association.
4.2.5 Any band may enter an open event regardless of grading.

4.3 Challenging Up a Grade
4.3.1 A band may play up one grade in one event for a selected competition 
provided all the following criteria are met:
(a) On the entry form, the Games Committee has indicated that challenging up 
a grade is permitted.
(b) On submitting their entry form, the band enters all the events in its 
regular grade for the competition and the event the band is challenging up.
(c) The Competition Committee determines that there is time available for the 
band to compete in the challenged up grade's event.
(d) The band meets the music requirements for the challenged up grade's event.
 4.3.2 Challenging up for adjudication only does not entitle the entrant to 
a placing or prize money.
4.3.3 True challenge up allows the entrant to place in the higher grade and 
accept prize money in the higher grade, but forfeits the lower grade prize 
and placing for that competition unless indicated by the grading committee.
4.3.3.1 Other bands in the lower grades will retain their placings as judged.

5 Adjudicators
5.1 Authority
5.1.1 Within its sanctioning jurisdiction, the Society shall have the 
responsibility and authority to determine people qualified to adjudicate 
piping, drumming and ensemble in registered pipe band competitions and to 
maintain an Approved Adjudicators List of these qualified people.
5.1.2 The Association shall provide current copies of the Approved 
Adjudicators List to Competition Committees.

5.2 Selection of Adjudicators
5.2.1	The adjudicators for registered competitions shall be drawn from:
(a)	the Approved Adjudicators List of the Society, or
(c) the Approved Adjudicators List of piping/pipe band associations officially 
recognized by and affiliated with ANAPBA.
5.2.2 Games proposing to use an adjudicator who is not on an Approved 
Adjudicators List identified in Clause 5.2.1 shall obtain approval by the 
Society prior to the engagement.

5.3 Number of Adjudicators
5.3.1 The minimum number of adjudicators engaged in any competition shall 
be as follows: two (2) Piping, one (1) Drumming and one (1) ensemble.

5.4 Conduct of Adjudicators
5.4.1 In general, no adjudicator shall be allowed to adjudicate a 
competition in which the band in which he/she is a registered player or 
instructor is competing. However, in unforeseen circumstances, when there 
is only a limited number of adjudicators available, he/she may adjudicate 
the competition upon agreement of all bands present in the affected event.
5.4.2 Adjudicators shall not converse with one another or compare notes about 
their results, until their results have been given to the Chief Steward.

 5.5 Guidance for Adjudicators
5.5.1 Each adjudicator shall be provided with adjudication sheets approved 
by the Society. The adjudication sheets shall be passed to the Chief Steward 
at the end of each event.
5.5.2 The adjudication of the bands shall commence with the Pipe Majors 
command and shall cease on the last note of the last tune of the set being 
played.
5.5.3 On the adjudication sheets, adjudicators shall provide an accurate 
assessment of the band's performance, constructive criticism, where appropriate, 
and comment on the appropriateness of the competitors grade.
5.5.4 Adjudicators shall rank the band performances from first to last on the 
adjudication sheets. No ties are permitted.
5.5.5 NO penalties for lateness, lack of numbers, or for not playing within 
the required times in a timed event competition, shall be enacted by the 
adjudicators. This responsibility lies with the Chief Steward.

5.6 Disbursement of Adjudication Sheets and Tally Sheets
5.6.1 The original adjudicator's sheets shall be given to the bands after the 
distribution of the prizes.
5.6.2 The Chief Scorer shall compile a summary of event results, and distribute 
a copy to each competing band at the same time as they distribute the original 
adjudicator's sheets. A copy of each Pipe Band Tally Sheet shall be provided to 
the Society.

6. Method of Determining Winning Positions

6.1	Method
6.1.1 Winning positions are based on the adjudicator's placing method (adjudicators' 
score ranking method) as follows:

Each adjudicator's score shall be ranked in order from highest placing to lowest 
placing with one (1) point awarded for first, two (2) points awarded for second, 
three (3) points awarded for third, etc. Adjudicators shall not tie bands. The 
lowest total of the sum of all the ranking positions wins 1st place, the second 
lowest wins 2nd place, third lowest wins 3rd place, etc.

6.1.2 For band aggregate awards, the lowest total of the sum of all the ranking 
positions for all the adjudicators in the aggregated events wins 1st place, the 
second lowest wins 2nd, third lowest wins 3rd place, etc.

6.2 Breaking Ties
6.2.1 For a particular event, ties shall be broken by the band with the lowest 
ranking position in ensemble.
6.2.2 For band aggregated awards, teis shall be broken as follows:
(a) 1st preference - lowest sum of the rankings in ensemble
(b) 2nd preference - lowest sum of the rankings in piping
(c) 3rd preference - winner of the Medley competition.

6.3 Best Drum Corps
6.3.1 For each event, the best drum corps shall be announced. The awarding of 
a prize for the Best Drum Corps is at the discretion of the Competition Committee.

6.4 Prize Monies
6.4.1 The Competition Committee shall include in their entry forms the number 
of prizes to award and the value of each prize.
6.4.2 The number and value of prizes that are awarded for an event shall be as 
published in the entry form, regardless of the number of bands which compete in 
the event.

7 Massed Band

7.1 Required participation
7.1.1 All bands by entering competitins must take part in all massed band 
performance(s), the timing of which shall be defined by the Competition Committee.

7.2 Senior Drum Major
7.2.1 The senior Drum Major of the massed band shall be appointed by the 
Competition Committee.
7.2.2 The formation of the massed band shall be at the discretion of the senior 
Drum Major.

7.3 Music
7.3.1 The tunes for massed bands shall be selected from the following list.
Tune                                Music Source
Scotland the Brave	            Queens Own Collection, Volume 1
Highland Laddie (2 parts)           Scots Guards, Volume 1
The Green Hills of Tyrol            Scots Guards, Volume 1
When the Battle is Over             Scots Guards, Volume 1
Bonnie Dundee                       Scots Guards, Volume 1
Amazing Grace                       Scots Guards, Volume 1

7.4 Acceptable Highland Dress
7.4.1 Band members participating in a massed band's performance shall be attired 
in acceptable highland dress as defined in Clause 6.1

7.5 Penalties
7.5.1 Band members not in the acceptable highland dress shall be barred from 
the massed band by the Competition Committee as defined in Clause 2.6.1.
7.5.2 In the event minimum representation in a massed band is a requirement for 
payment of any fee or award, as deterimined by the Competition Committee, band 
representation shall be determined after exclusion of band members not in 
acceptable highland dress.
7.5.3 If a band or any member of a band acts in any manner that disrupts a massed 
band, or is in violation of the Criminal Code, the Competition Committee may, at 
their discression, withhold any prize monies and travel monies.

8.	Interpretation of Rules and Protests

8.1 Interpretation of Rules
8.1.1 In the event of any misunderstanding or ambiguity in these rules, the 
Executive reserves the right to supply its own interpretation which shall be 
final and binding.
8.1.2 The executive shall ensure what written records are maintained on every 
decision resulting from a protest or interpretation of the rules to create a 
list of precidents that can be available to asist in thefuture interpretation 
of the rules.
8.1.3 No member of the Executive or their designate shall be allowed to rule 
on a protest in which his/her band is involved.

8.2 Protests and Grievances
8.2.1 Any protest shall be made in writing accompanied by a $50 deposit and 
lodged with the Competition Committee with a copy to the Secretary of the 
Society. This deposit will be refunded if the grievance is determined to be valid.
8.2.2 A complaint lodged on the grounds of substituted personnel, or other 
registration irregularity, shall be dealt with by the Competition Committee, whose 
decision shall be binding on all parties concerned. Where relevant, the complainant 
shall submit the original adjudication and tally sheets, which will be verified 
by the adjudicators involved and the Chief Scorer as authentic.
8.2.3 Should the aggrieved party disagree with the findings of the Competition 
Committee, they shall have the right to appeal to the Society. Pending the result 
of the appeal, the findings of the Competition Committee shall be accepted by 
all the parties concerned.
8.2.4 The Competition Committee on the day of the competition, and before the 
distribution of prizes, being satisfied that a band has willfully violated or 
is willfully violating any of the rules, shall have the power to de-bar such 
band from the prize list, suspend the decision of the adjudicators for that band 
and award the prizes to the respective bands next in order of merit.
8.2.5 The Executive shall have the right to act similarly after the competition, 
if satisfied that a willful violation of the rules took place.
8.2.6 In the event of a prize being awarded to the wrong band because of an error, 
such as totaling points, failure to deduct penalty points, or for any other reason, 
it shall be the responsibility of the Competition to re-award such prizes to the 
deserving band as soon as possible after such a discovery is made.