Preventing Forfeits during capacity restrictions and social distancing guidelines

(Player(s) May Play Twice on One Night)

General Rule 20 in the Official Team Manual states “YOU MAY ONLY PLAY ONCE in a team match.”  However, to help prevent forfeits and to make it more likely matches are awarded on the table rather than by forfeit, Baton Rouge APA has chosen to adopt the Replay Rule approved by the APA National Office during these extraordinary circumstances. This rule allows up to two players (the “Replay Player”) from a team (the “Replay Team”) to play twice on the same night in the following circumstances:

The Replay Team does not have enough players present or cannot play the players it does have present without violating the 23-Rule.  

The Replay Team’s need to invoke the Replay Rule is not the result of a player being sent home and/or made unavailable.  Attempts to take advantage of the Replay Rule should be reported to the League Office.

The Replay Team notifies their opponent of the need to use / or potential need to use the Replay Rule prior to the start of the 3rd individual match.    The opposing team must allow the replay; they cannot demand the Replay Team forfeit a match.

The opposing team gets to pick which player from the other team will be the Replay Player(s).  The opposing team can pick any player present except those whose play would cause the Replay Team to violate the 23-Rule.  All players who have already played must be available as a choice for the “replay” match but must be skill level 5 or lower.

The “replay” must be played as the last match(es) of the night.  If a “replay” is used in a match other than the last match (es) of the night, the re-played match and all subsequent matches will be forfeited by both teams.

Both teams may utilize the Replay Rule on the same night if necessary.  In this situation, both teams put up their own player.  The team scheduled to put up a player in the 4/5th matches designates their Replay Player first.

Once a “replay” is used, the remaining matches must be forfeited, even if another player shows up.  If another player from the Replay Team shows up prior to the start of the “replay” match, the “replay” match is cancelled and the new player must play.

There is no limit on how often a team can use the Replay Rule during the regular session as long as the above criteria are met in each instance.  The Replay Rule is not in affect during Playoffs, Tri-Cup Tournaments or the World Qualifier.

(normally only one replay would be allowed per match, however we are amending the rule to allow two players to replay for the final weeks of the Spring  regular session to assist with the extraordinary circumstances)

Contact the league office with questions. 985-807-4829