The USPL sent out their 2009 Rulebook to the Referee’s this afternoon, so we managed to get our hands on it. All of their updated changes from the NPPL are bold in red, so keep your eye out for them.

Some of the changes include:

• Flag stations may not be used as a bunker at any time.
• If any non disposable equipment touches the side lines or goes out of bounds, the player that the equipment belongs to is considered out of bounds and will be eliminated.
• Non Disposable Equipment. Equipment that a player may not leave more than 5 feet from his position. (Anything other than squeegees, the game flag, rags, or full or empty pods).
• Photographers will follow directions of the NPPL Referees.
• Players may wear only one layer of underclothing consisting of, at maximum, one pair of under-shorts and one short or long sleeve t-shirt, provided that it contains no padding and does not hang lower than the inseam crotch area
• Players wearing metal or ceramic cleats or cleats that may injure other players or damage the playing field (e.g., puncture a bunker), must grind down the cleats where they will not cause any bodily injury or damage to the field.
• Players may wear bandanas as long as the bandana is rolled up and does not pass the collar bone.
• Stickers on markers and barrels are limited to two 2” by 4” sticker on each side of marker.
• Stickers on loaders or other feed devices are prohibited, except for two 2” by 4” sticker on each side of the loader or other feeding devices in any color, except the Protected Color.
• Clear and yellow loaders  are not permitted.
• Paintballs used at any NPPL tournament must be purchased onsite from the League or a sponsor paintball manufacturer
• Disputing Referee Calls. If there is a dispute on a field regarding a call that a referee made during game play, then the player involved must communicate with the Team Captain or Team Owner. The referee involved must communicate with the Head Referee. Both, the Head Referee and the Captain only will resolve the dispute in a timely manner. If the Head Referee feels necessary, the dispute will be taken off the field where the Assistant Head Referee will carry on the duties of the Head Referee until the Head Referee returns. Off the field, the Head Referee and the Team Captain or the Team Owner will resolve the dispute. If necessary, the Ultimate Referee will be called only to clarify the call made on the field.
• Players must also start in front or the side of, but not behind the break out board with Makers touching or breaking the plane of the Flag Station.
• Players will place their markers on the ground in front of them to mark the spot where they were when the game was stopped.
• No Flag at Flag Station. In the event where a player is at the opponents flag station and there is no flag due to referee error or an “Act of God”, then the player will notify a referee that there is no flag then touch the flag station and then touch his flag station as if he has a flag in possession signaling a flag hang. The referee will follow the player and communicate with the flag referee where the hang is to take place and inform the flag referee of the situation.
• Pods with Non Valid Hits. A Player may use disposed pods that have been marked with paint, but still contain paintballs as long as the player notifies the nearest referee that the pod has a non-valid hit. If player doe not notify a referee, the player may use the pods at his/her own risk of being eliminated.
• Players may not push themselves through 2 bunkers that are touching to gain access to the other side.
• Players that leave early and does not shoot, may return and touch the flag station, without penalty.
• Elimination of Last Player. Assessments of the 1, 2 or 3-for-1 penalties where there are not enough live players left on the field, will result in the opposing team being awarded the pull and the hang. In addition, for every player that can not be pulled out the opposing team will receive a live player back on the score sheet, up-to a maximum of 7 live players.
• Illegal Marker. Offending player is ejected from the event and the following event, offending team will receive 0 points for the game, and a minus 100 points and serve a 6 game suspension. The team will retain seed points. Opposing team will receive 95 points or better, depending on the out come of the game or their average points from the current round.
• All games in the quarter- finals will be best two out of three. Win, Lose or Draw ( No Points).
• Once the next round of play has begun, the score sheet cannot be changed even if a mathematical error is found.

Be sure you to go over the rulebook to see if anything was snuck in there, and remember You Saw it Here First!