The Club is responsible for dealing with any act of indiscipline on or off the field of play by players, supporters and spectators, or any Club member who uses threatening or abusive language or inappropriate behaviour towards any other member or visitor to the Club or in any way brings the Club or the game into disrepute. Any member, whether player/supporter/spectator will have a right to the Club appeals procedure following any penalty imposed.

1. DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE

The following outlines the procedure to be followed where an act of indiscipline has taken place:

1.1 Player sent off by the referee (Society or Club)

The Captain or Team Manager (both has the responsibility) concerned MUST report the name of the player sent off, the match including the opposition and any relevant details to the Club Administrator or Discipline Chairman within 24 hours of the sending off.

In the case of Youth Players (a player under 18 years of age at the time of the offence) the coach or manager of the relevant team MUST report the name and age of the player concerned, the referee’s name and society (if any), the opposition and any relevant match details to the Club Administrator within 24 hours of the incident.

This is important as it is mandatory that the Club Administrator has to report the incident in writing to the Dorset & Wiltshire County Discipline Secretary within 72 hours of the incident.

Referees (Society or Club) must report all players sent off to the Discipline Secretary of the County Constituent Body of the player’s Club on the RFU Discipline Report form. For Club referees copies are available from the Club Administrator.

1.2 Player Sin Binned (Yellow Cards)

The Captain of the team (or his representative) must report the name of any player sin binned (shown a yellow card) during a game (this relates to all teams and is irrespective of there being a Society or Club referee officiating) to the Chairman of Selectors at the selection committee meeting following the sin binning. If there is no representation from that team at the next selection meeting the Captain must inform the Chairman of Selectors by telephone.
A record of players being sin binned will be kept by the Club Administrator, any player, who in the opinion of the Discipline Sub-Committee has an excessive amount of yellow cards may be asked to appear before that Sub-Committee to explain the reasons why.

1.3 Acts of Foul Play not Detected by the Referee/Match Officials

Any member/player who witnesses an act of foul play or bad behaviour by a player (of any Club team), can report the incident giving name(s) and details of the incident to: the Club Administrator within 24 hours of the incident.

Any incident of foul play involving a member of an opposition team that has or has not been dealt with by the match official(s) and is witnessed by a Trowbridge player/ member can be reported to the Club Administrator without delay so consideration and action can be taken if appropriate.

A Citing may only occur where an act of foul play was not detected by the match officials.
Only Unions, Constituent Bodies and Clubs or match officials such as the referee’s advisor may cite a player. It cannot be done by an individual player or spectator.

Any consideration for a Citing must be reported to the Club Administrator immediately as there is a very short time scale and a detailed procedure that has to be followed.

1.4 Acts of Bad Behaviour by Players, Members, Spectators, Supporters or Visitors

Any member/player who witnesses an act of bad behaviour at any time by any Club Member, or visitor to the Club, of whatever age, can report the matter to the Club Administrator so the appropriate action can be taken.

In all cases the Club Administrator will refer the matter for action by the Disciplinary Committee, for the appropriate action to be taken. In extreme cases the Disciplinary Committee may recommend action to be taken by the General Committee.

2. THE DISCIPLINE SUB-COMMITTEE

The Discipline Sub-Committee will be responsible for investigating and taking action on any sending off, or any incident of foul play or bad behaviour by a Trowbridge player not detected by the Match Officials and instances where a player has been sin binned an excessive number of times.
They will also investigate and take action on any instance of indiscipline or bad behaviour by any Trowbridge member, supporter or spectator.

They will exercise such power in a fair and open manner with the accused will have the right to attend and put his/her case after first been given reasonable notice of the hearing and to exercise its power without prejudice.

2.1 The Discipline Sub-Committee shall consist of:

Three members appointed by the General Committee, including a Chairman who shall be a member of the General Committee. . In cases involving youth players a youth section representative will also have a right to attend in an advisory capacity and in cases involving female players a ladies section representative will also have a right to attend in an advisory capacity.

The Discipline Sub-Committee will meet as soon as practicable after the alleged act of indiscipline, offence or incident and further meetings may be held if required.

The reported player, member, supporter or spectator MUST attend the discipline hearing. He/she may, if they wish, be represented by one person of his/her choice.

The Committee may also receive evidence (either verbally or in writing) from any other
person(s) who witnessed the incident or was involved in it.

2.2 Those present at a discipline hearing will be:

• The player, member, supporter or spectator.
• His/her representative.
• Witness(es) to the incident.
• Discipline Sub-Committee members.

2.3 Procedure

• The report of the incident is read to the meeting.
• The player, member, supporter or spectator is invited to make his/her statement.
• Any video evidence can be used but the presenter will be responsible for providing the technology
• Witness(es) to the incident make their statement(s).
• The character witness makes his/her statement.
• Members of the committee may question any of those present about the incident, and/or the player, member, supporter or spectator involved.
The meeting will be adjourned while the Committee decides on what action to take. The meeting is then re-convened and the results of the hearing along with any penalties are announced.

2.4 Penalties

The Club Discipline Sub-Committee will have the power to decide upon one or more of the following:
a. No further punishment additional to the punishment of sending off.
b. To take no action but to leave the matter to the County Discipline Sub-Committee.
c. That the player (or other, person if the enquiry is into incidents off the field of play) be cautioned or severely cautioned as to his/her future conduct.
d. A period of suspension from playing, or taking part in the administration of Rugby Union Football (within the Club context only), or both, be imposed on the player, member, supporter or spectator.
e. Suspend or terminate membership of the Club for such period as it thinks fit.
f. Any other penalties or suspensions as decided by the Sub-Committee.
A record of any penalty awarded against any player/supporter/spectator etc, plus the reasons how that decision was arrived at by the Club Discipline-Sub Committee will be kept on file for 3 years.
This penalty can be taken into account when deciding any future penalties at any subsequent discipline hearing relating to that member within that 3 year period.
A member/player/supporter/spectator has the right to an appeal process as outlined in section 4.3.5.

3 YOUTH DISCIPLINE

The Club also has a duty to deal with all Youth Discipline matters (Youth being a player under the age of 18 at the time of the offence).

3.1 Player sent off by the referee (Society or Club) – if the player has reached his/her 18th birthday on the date of the incident, the matter is dealt with be the Discipline Committee of the Constituent Body.

In the case of Youth Players the coach or manager of the relevant team MUST report the name and age of the player concerned, the referee’s name and society (if any), the opposition and any relevant match details to the relevant Youth Chairman and the Club Administrator within 24 hours of the incident.

This is important as it is mandatory that the Club Administrator has to report the incident in writing to the Dorset & Wiltshire County Discipline Secretary within 72 hours of the incident.

Referees (Society or Club) must report all players sent off over 18 years of age to the Discipline Secretary of the County Constituent Body of the players Club. For players under 18 years of age a copy of the report should go to the Club Administrator and Youth Chairman.

All reports should be on the RFU Discipline Report form. Copies of this form for Club referees are available from the Club Administrator.

3.2 Player Sin Binned (Yellow Card)

In the case of Youth Players the coach or manager of the relevant team should report the name of the player sin binned (shown a yellow card) to the relevant Discipline Chairman. A record of players being sin binned will be kept by the relevant Chairman. Any player who has been sin binned twice in a season may be asked to appear before the Discipline Sub-Committee.

3.3 Acts of Bad Behaviour by Players, Spectators, Supporters and Visitors

Any member/player who witnesses an act of bad behaviour at any time by any Club Member or visiting supporter/spectator, of whatever age, can report the matter to the relevant Discipline Chairman who will consult with the Club Administrator.

3.4 Youth section cases dealt with by the Discipline Sub-Committee

3.4.1 Penalties

The Discipline Sub-Committee can impose the same penalties as for a senior player, spectator, member etc as outlined in section 2.4 a, c, d, e and f of this document however, the age and seriousness of the offence must be taken into account when deciding penalties. Depending on the circumstances, Under 18 players are normally suspended for shorter periods than adults.

A list of recommended sanctions for Youth players (under 18 years of age) is outlined in Appendix 3 at the end of the Disciplinary Procedures section in the RFU Handbook.
A record of the penalty awarded against any youth player/spectator etc (if any), plus the reasons how that decision was arrived at by the Discipline-Sub Committee will be kept on file for 3 years. This penalty can be taken into account when deciding any future penalties at any subsequent discipline hearing relating to that member within that 3 year period.
3.5 Hearing
Those present at a discipline hearing will be:

• The player, member, supporter or spectator.
• His/her representative.
• Witness(es) to the incident.
• Discipline Sub-Committee members.
All Youth Section Disciplinary Hearings should have the Club Safeguarding Officer(s) present to provide support for the individual concerned.

4 APPEALS PROCEDURE

4.1 Players Reported by a Match Official

Any senior male, female or youth player (who has reached their 18th birthday) who has been reported by a match official has the right of appeal to the Club’s Discipline Sub-Committees decision. This will be at their attendance at a County Discipline Sub-Committee hearing. Members should be aware that they will be charged an administrative fee set by the Constituent Body if they are brought before its Discipline Sub-Committee.

4.2 Non Playing Members or Players not reported by a Match Official

All other members, senior or youth or any player dealt with by the Club Discipline Sub-Committee for an offence not detected by a match official have a right of appeal to the Club’s General Committee.

4.3 General Committee

This General Committee will consider any appeal against a decision of the Disciplinary Committee. It may set up a Sub Committee to take on this task but the Committee must not include any member of the Sub Committee who heard the original case. Any appeal relating to 3.5.1 and 3.5.2 must be submitted to the Club Administrator in writing giving reasons for the appeal within 7 days of the discipline hearing. The appeal will be considered by the General Committee at the meeting immediately after receipt of the appeal or the re-convene sub-committee must meet within 14 days of the Committee meeting.

The Appeal Committee may uphold the Discipline Sub-Committee judgement, it may increase or decrease the length of any period of suspension or it may annul the judgement.

Alistair Morrison
Chairman
Discipline Sub-Committee
Trowbridge RFC

Presented to General Committee
7th January 2009