Disciplinary Code

Last updated   06 June 2003 12:15

DISCIPLINARY CODE OF THE WELSH HOCKEY UNION - May 2001

1.       Preamble

1.1     This code standardises the regulations for the enforcement of discipline for all forms of hockey played under the jurisdiction of the Welsh Hockey Union (WHU) at which a recognised umpire is officiating and applies to any team of a Club affiliated to the WHU regardless of which Indoor/Outdoor League they are competing.

1.2     A recognised umpire is a member of the Welsh Hockey Umpires Association (WHUA) or one who appears on any other recognised hockey umpires register.

1.3     If in a game umpired by non-recognised umpires a Red Card is issued, the club, school, college or Regional Disciplinary Committee is recommended to discipline the player concerned using this Disciplinary Code for guidance.

1.4     This code shall apply to all pupils, students, umpires and coaches of affiliated schools and colleges when they are participating in competitions or championships arranged under the auspices of the WHU.  If a penalty prescribed in these Regulations is imposed on any pupil, student, umpire or coach, the Head Teacher / Principal of the school or college concerned shall immediately be informed of the penalty and of details of the incident, which led to its imposition.  The Head Teacher / Principal will similarly be informed of any serious misconduct, which does not fall within the scope of these Regulations.

1.5     A Red Card Offence is one for which an umpire suspends a player from further participation in the game.  No Red Card need actually be shown.

1.6     The award of a Red Card results in an immediate and mandatory period of suspension from playing or umpiring ALL forms of hockey played under the jurisdiction of the WHU.  The suspensions prescribed in 3.2   below shall consist of consecutive days beginning immediately after the match in which the Red Card is awarded.  The day on which the Red Card is awarded shall count as day one (1) of the period of suspension.

1.7     Responsibility for enforcing the Disciplinary Code lies with the clubs, schools, colleges and Regional Disciplinary Committees.

2.       Scope.

2.1     These regulations cover ALL forms of hockey, both indoor and outdoor, played under the jurisdiction of the WHU and all teams affiliated to the WHU regardless of whether the League in which they are competing is under the jurisdiction of the WHU.

2.2     These regulations impose mandatory suspensions for Red Card Offences.  In each case clubs, schools, colleges and Regional Disciplinary Committees are empowered to impose additional penalties that they see fit.

2.3     For hockey not covered in 2.1 above, clubs, schools, colleges and Regional Disciplinary Committees should be guided by this Disciplinary Code when deciding what action, if any, to take.

3.       Offences.

3.1     Offences covered by these Regulations are grouped under the following headings:

          OFFENCES DURING A GAME (including the half-time interval and any penalty stroke competition).

          Red Card Offences in which violence is used or offered (3.2, 3.3).

          Red Card Offences in which violence is neither used nor offered (3.2, 3.3).

          OFFENCES OTHER THAN THOSE COMMITTED DURING A GAME

Those committed off the field of play at any time (3.5 and 3.6).

OFFENCES OTHER THAN THOSE COMMITTED BY A PLAYER ON THE PITCH BUT WHO ARE DEEMED TO BE PART OF THE TEAM e.g. substitutes, manager, coach.      

          Red Card Offences in which violence is used or offered (3.2, 3.3).

          Red Card Offences in which violence is neither used nor offered (3.2, 3.3).

3.2     The award of a Red Card results in an immediate and mandatory period of suspension from playing, umpiring, or acting, either from the sides of or on the pitch, as a team coach, from the time of being sent off.

          a)   for offences in which violence is used:

3.2.a.1  to an umpire or properly appointed League or Technical Official  - a mandatory suspension of one hundred and eighty (180) days

3.2.a.2  to a player - a mandatory suspension of sixty (60) days.

3.2.a.3  to any other person - a mandatory suspension of sixty (60) days.

          b)   for offences in which violence is offered:

3.2.b.1  to  an  umpire or properly appointed League or Technical Official  -  a  mandatory suspension of ninety (90) days

3.2.b.2  to a player - a mandatory suspension of thirty (30) days.

3.2.b.3  to any other person - a mandatory suspension of thirty (30) days.

c)            for  offences in which violence is not used or offered - a mandatory suspension of  sixteen (16) days.

d)            for  second  and subsequent Red Card Offences in any period of twelve (12) months  the  mandatory penalty imposed shall be double that for the appropriate category of offence listed above.

3.3     The affiliated club, school, college or Regional Disciplinary Committee concerned is expected to impose a substantially more severe penalty than that provided for in this Disciplinary Code in cases of premeditated violence or for violence against umpires.

3.4     It is the responsibility of each club, school and college to ensure that every one of its players is fully aware of this Disciplinary Code and the sanctions contained therein (3.2).  Ignorance of this Disciplinary Code and the sanctions imposed will not be accepted as a defence should any of its regulations be breached.  Any player continuing to take part in any form of hockey before the mandatory sanction has been completed is likely to have additional sanctions imposed.  The Club may also be liable to penalties imposed by the Regional Disciplinary Committee.

3.5     Any official of any Association, club, school or college affiliated to the WHU may report in writing to the Director of Hockey any conduct, which in his / her opinion is prejudicial to the interests of the WHU or the game of hockey.  The matter will either be referred to the Management Committee or appropriate Regional Disciplinary Committee who shall investigate and take any action, which may include suspension that it deems necessary.

3.6     Umpires are requested to report in writing to the secretary of the Regional Disciplinary Committee any conduct at matches of team substitutes, reserves or officials, which in their opinion is prejudicial to the interests of the WHU or the game of hockey. The Regional Disciplinary Committee shall investigate and take whatever action it deems necessary, using this Disciplinary Code for guidance.

3.7      For a Red Card offence committed after the last Sunday in May any penalty imposed by a club, school college or Regional Disciplinary Committee in addition to the overall mandatory suspension as defined in 3.2 shall be served by the offending player commencing the first Saturday of September following.  The overall mandatory suspension will commence immediately from the date of the offence.

4.      Reporting Procedures.

4.1    An umpire involved in awarding a Red Card will:

a)            Inform the club, school or college and player via the team captain immediately after the game as to the nature of the Red Card awarded, stating whether violence was used or offered.

b)            Complete the Disciplinary Report Form and send it to the Regional Disciplinary Committee within three (3) days.

c)            If the offence involved the use or offering of violence the umpire involved should ask his/her colleague to also submit a report to the Regional Disciplinary Committee.

4.2    The club, school or college of a player receiving a Red Card, irrespective of 4.1 above, must:

a)            Impose the sanctions contained in this Disciplinary Code immediately and ensure the player involved is fully aware of the implications.

b)            Complete a report on the incident and send it to the Regional Disciplinary Committee within seven (7) days.  The report should also state what action if any the club, school or college has taken over and above the sanctions imposed by this Disciplinary Code.

c)            Inform the player involved and implement any further sanctions that may be imposed by the Regional Disciplinary Committee.

4.3    The Regional Disciplinary Committee will:

a)            Review the report and decide whether to impose any further sanctions over and above those contained in this Disciplinary Code.

b)            Inform the club, school or college to which the player involved belongs of any further sanctions

c)            Send a copy of the decision to the Competitions Committee Chairperson who will ensure that all relevant Regional/Cup Secretaries are aware of the sanction.

d)            Place a copy of the documentation on file in the records of the WHU.  This documentation will be retained for twelve (12) months following the end of the season in which the sanction was awarded.

4.4     The involved player is solely responsible for informing any club, school or college to which he/she belongs of his/her suspension.  Any deliberate breach of the suspension will result in additional sanctions being imposed.

4.5     In any case of doubt the Regional Disciplinary Committee shall interpret the meaning of the Regulations.  The Regional disciplinary Committee within the spirit of these Regulations shall adjudicate upon any situation arising that is not specifically covered by these Regulations.

5.      Regional Disciplinary Committees

         The Regional Disciplinary Committees and their secretaries are detailed in the WHU Handbook, they are:

5.1     South Region - Men

5.2     South Region - Women

5.3     North Region - Men

5.4     North Region - Women

6.       Appeals.

6.1     After the Regional Disciplinary Committee has given the player formal notice of the sanctions imposed there is a right of appeal against any part of that sanction that is in excess of sixteen (16) days.  Whilst the individual shall make the appeal it is not expected that any appeal will be made without the support of the individual's Club.

6.2     Individuals, Clubs, Schools, Colleges or Associations seeking to appeal against any imposed penalty shall be required to lodge an appeal fee of £150.00 with the WHU.  If the appeal is unsuccessful the fee will be retained, if the appeal is allowed then the full fee will be refunded.

6.3    The Appeals Panel shall consist of three members and be independent of the Regional Disciplinary Committees.    One member must be from within the legal profession and there must be recognizance that it is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Human Rights Act.  The Panel will be selected by the Executive Officers except that if any of them have a conflict of interest then they shall not take part in the selection process.

6.4     The procedure for conducting an appeal shall be as set out in the publication Getting it Right, published by The Sports Council for Wales, 1994.

6.5     Procedural systems will be produced from the publication mentioned at 6.4 to assist in the conduct of appeal meetings and will be forwarded to the appellant when the date of the hearing is advised.

WHU Council

May 2001