Max time/move rule in tournaments

  I am in a tournament whose rules state a Max. Ave. time/move of 3hrs.

  I am under the impression that this refers to online play outside the tournament, as the tournament itself allows for 24hrs/move, and the final finishers of the first round were WAY over this time in the tournament.  Yet, I am playing someone whose Ave. time/move in thier regular online play is over six hours!?

  Is this just a suggested, and not a real requirement?  Does anyone know how this works?

Thanks for your answers, and well thoughtout fun to all!