Disciplinary Code

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  1. The main objectives of the disciplinary code (hereafter ‘the code) are as follows:
    1. To give guidelines to all users of the Sport for All Centres (hereafter ‘SFAC’), as to their responsibilities towards other users, and the sports they are involved with, generally by imposing penalties for undesirable conduct.
    2. To achieve a degree of consistency in punishing similar offences by setting down a list of standard penalties.
    3. To lay down a procedure for reporting breaches of the code, administering and enforcing punishments and appealing against punishments imposed.
  2. The primary responsibility for administering and implementing the code shall be vested in the programme manager, this being the person appointed to that post by SFAC management.
  3. Individuals and teams shall be entitled to appeal against punishments or refer disciplinary matters for decision to the disciplinary panel (hereafter ‘the panel’) as detailed in section 3 of the code.
  4. The list of possible offences set out in sections 4 and 5 of the code is not intended to be exhaustive and the programme manager or the panel shall be entitled to consider any other disciplinary matter or complaint as they shall deem appropriate.
  5. Whilst it is intended that the code shall have application to all users of the SFAC, the programme manager of panel shall be entitled to decline jurisdiction in relation to disciplinary incidents occurring during games, competitions or training sessions not directly controlled by the SFAC.
  6. The programme manager or the panel shall be entitled to refer details of any disciplinary complaint or punishment to the appropriate governing body, area association or league committee; or such other body or organisation as they shall think fit.

 

  1. A complaint of an alleged breach of the code may be made by any user of the SFAC (including spectators and SFAC staff) in respect of any other SFAC user.
  2. A complaint may relate to conduct either before, during, or after a game and may even be unrelated to a game provided the conduct arises inside or in the immediate vicinity of the SFAC.
  3. A complaint shall be made in writing and lodged at reception or by post as per the SFAC complaints procedure.
  4. As soon as possible thereafter (and generally within seven (7) days of the lodging of a complaint) the programme manager will investigate the complaint in such a manner as they think fit and endorse his/her decision.
  5. The programme manager shall retain the original complaint in a disciplinary file and as soon as practicable supply copies to the person lodging the complaint and the individual or team who are the subject of the complaint.
  6. The programme manager shall be entitled to make one of the following decisions:
    1. Dismiss the complaint,
    2. Impose the standard penalty,
    3. Impose a lesser penalty (for example a warning as to future conduct)
    4. Refer the matter to the panel either because the programme manager is unable to reach a decision or considers the standard penalty to be insufficient.

Any individual or team penalised by the programme manager is under the provisions of clause 2.6 and shall be entitled to appeal against the penalty in writing either at the SFAC reception or by post within 24 hours of being notified of the penalty.

  1. The panel shall comprise of the following persons:
    1. SFAC programme manager,
    2. A representative from the SFAC referees / umpires,
    3. Two (2) representatives chosen by the SFAC recognised clubs, and
    4. Any other person co-opted by the panel
  2. The panel shall not exceed a membership of seven and the quorum shall be three persons.
  3. The panel shall deal with the referrals from the programme manager and appeals from individuals or teams as provided for in clause 2.6 and 2.7 of the code.
  4. The programme manager shall organise a meeting of the panel as soon as practicable after a referral or appeal has been lodged, and unless otherwise agree, the programme manager shall chair the meeting.
  5. The panel shall determine the procedure for hearing a referral or appeal, but generally the programme manager and the individual or team subject to a complaint or lodging an appeal shall be limited to calling one witness in support of their respective cases.
  6. Any person appearing before the panel shall be entitled to object to any member of the panel hearing his/her case, and if the panel consider the objections to be well founded, the member of the panel shall withdraw and take no further part in the proceedings.
  7. The panel shall be entitled to impose such penalty as it shall think fit and/or uphold, remove or vary any penalty previously imposed by the programme manager.
  8. The programme manager shall endorse the decision of the penal on the appropriate form and retain the original form in the disciplinary file. A copy shall be supplied to the person lodging the complaint and the individual or team who are subject to the complaint.
  1. Walkover:
    As per league handbook
  2. Walk off:
    Automatic loss plus deduction of two (2) league points
  3. Fielding a player under a false name:
    Automatic loss plus deduction of 2 league points
  4. Supplying false registration information:
    Disqualification from the competition as determined by the programme manager or the panel
  5. Unsportsmanlike conduct or bringing the game into disrepute:
    Suspension or disqualification or league penalty as determined by the programme manager of the panel
  1. Playing under a false name:
    Three (3) games ban
  2. Physical violence against another player:
    Four (4) to sixteen (16) games ban
  3. Physical violence against a referee/umpire, table official or other official:
    Twelve (12) games ban minimum to a lifetime ban
  4. Verbal abuse against another player:
    Three (3) games ban
  5. Verbal abuse against a referee/umpire, table official or other official:
    Four (4) to twelve (12) games ban
  6. Intentionally or recklessly damaging equipment or other SFAC property:
    Four (4) games ban plus any cost of damage
  7. Unsportsmanlike conduct or bringing the game into disrepute:
    Suspension or disqualification or league penalty as determined by the programme manager or panel
  8. Poaching members from other teams in the league:
    Warning letter, escalating to a ban on transfers to associated teams for three (3) months up to twelve (12) months
  9. Possessing, taking or supplying banned substances:
    Lifetime ban
  1. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, themselves and team spectators and should ensure that all are aware of the content of the SFAC codes of conduct.
  2. Any individual or team suspended or banned from SFAC competitions will not be permitted to attend the premises of any SFAC during their suspension or ban period.