Player Discipline Policy

PLAYER DISCIPLINE POLICY

This procedure ratified by the Committee of Management on 14^th December 2016, describes how a complaint or allegation of misbehaviour against a player or member of the Adelaide Cricket Club (ACC) is addressed.

For the purposes of this procedure “misbehaviour” may be of a physical nature - physical contact or intimidating behaviour, it may be of a verbal nature, it may be a refusal to take direction from umpires, match officials, coach or captain, or any other authorised official of the ACC, (including the Junior Coordinator). 

The alleged misbehaviour may occur on field or off field at a cricket match in which the player is participating: it may be a Cricket Australia (CA) or SACA competition, practice session or function or another competition, practice session or function in which the ACC or ACC player is participating.

The alleged misbehaviour may occur during a match, training, at club premises or grounds or at a club function.

The alleged misbehaviour may be reported by a coach, an official of any cricket club or association, a player or a spectator at the match, training or function at which the misbehaviour is alleged to have occurred.

The alleged misbehaviour may not have been brought to the attention of the ACC prior to a disciplinary penalty being imposed by CA, SACA or the governing body of another competition in which the ACC or the player participates. Where such a penalty is imposed the ACC will still investigate the alleged misbehaviour and it may impose its own penalty regardless of that already imposed by another body.

The Disciplinary Committee (DC) will request the attendance of the player concerned at any official hearing of the alleged misbehaviour. The player is allowed to present evidence in his own defence, including any other person prepared to give evidence. In the event the player is under the age of eighteen years of age (a junior) no hearing will take place without a parent or guardian present. Where a parent or guardian fails to appear at a hearing the DC may suspend a junior player from playing or being present at games and clubrooms until a parent or guardian is able to meet with the DC.

Any person called before the DC must be given sufficient notice of the hearing. Notice may be given face to face, by telephone or by email to an e mail address previously provided by the player/member. Four (4) week days’ notice is considered sufficient.

If a player or member fails to attend a DC hearing, the chair of the hearing may continue with the hearing and the DC may determine an outcome, including a penalty.

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

There will be one Disciplinary Committee that will hear and adjudicate on all disciplinary matters for the ACC.

Membership of the DC will be:

1. A minimum of one and a maximum of three members of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management. (Exception being for non-playing members.)
2. The ACC Cricket Director (CD). Where the CD is a member of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, he/she shall count as one of the three in the above point 1.
3. The Senior Coach.
4. The Assistant Senior Coach.
5. The Junior Coach.
6. The Junior Coordinator (JCo). Where the JCo is a member of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, he/she shall count as one of the three in the above point 1.
7. The Chair of the meeting shall be the CD; in the event of the CD not being present a member of the Executive Management Committee shall chair the meeting.
8. The Chair of the meeting shall report the findings of the DC in writing to the next meeting of the Committee of Management and the Secretary will record the findings in the minutes of the Committee meeting.

Before the findings of the DC and any subsequent penalty are handed down to a player or member of the club, any penalty will need to be ratified by the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, this ratification may be done by telephone during the hearing. If three members of the Executive are present at the hearing and all agree the findings and any penalty, then ratification of the fourth Executive is not necessary

Where the DC determines a player or member’s membership of the ACC should be revoked it will be necessary for that recommendation to be placed before the club membership as per Rule 5 (g) 3 of the ACC Constitution.

SITTING OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Any alleged misbehaviour by a senior player will be examined by a DC comprising:

1. A minimum of one member of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management.
2. The ACC Cricket Director (CD). Where the CD is a member of the ACC Committee of Management, he/she shall count as one of point 1 above.
3. The Senior Coach.
4. The Assistant Senior Coach.

A quorum of the DC hearing a complaint against a senior player will be at least three persons:

1.  A minimum of one member of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management.
2. The ACC Cricket Director (CD) or in his/her absence the Senior Coach.
3. One of either the Senior Coach or Assistant Senior Coach.

If a quorum is not present, the hearing shall not proceed but be adjourned to the earliest possible time. In such a case the player will not be permitted to play for the club.

The DC may call as a witness any person it considers it needs to hear.

The senior player may request to call as a witness any person he considers the DC needs to hear.

Once ratified by the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, any penalty imposed on a senior player will not be subject to review.

In the event the DC recommends the revoking of club membership the decision of the club membership as per Rule XX of the ACC Constitution will not be subject to review.

Any alleged misbehaviour by a junior player will be examined by a DC comprising:

1. A minimum of two members of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management.
2. The Junior Coordinator. Where the Junior Coordinator is a member of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management; he/she shall count as one of the above two in point 1.
3. The Junior Coach.
4. The Cricket Director.

A quorum of the DC hearing a complaint against a junior player will be at least three persons:

1. A minimum of one member of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, not being the Junior Coordinator.
2. The Junior Coordinator or in his/her absence the Cricket Director.
3. The Junior Coach.

If a quorum is not present, the hearing shall not proceed but be adjourned to the earliest possible time. In such a case the player will not be permitted to play for the club.

A junior player must have a parent or guardian present at all times during the hearing, the hearing will not be conducted if a parent or guardian is not present. In such a case the player will not be permitted to play for the club until a hearing is held.

The DC may call as a witness any person it considers it needs to hear.

The junior player may request to call as a witness any person he considers the DC needs to hear.

Once ratified by the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, any penalty imposed on a junior player will not be subject to review.

In the event the DC recommends the revoking of club membership the decision of the club membership as per Rule 5 (g) 3 of the ACC Constitution will not be subject to review.

Any alleged misbehaviour by a member of the club will be examined by a DC comprising:

1. A minimum of three and a maximum of four members of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management.

A quorum of the DC hearing a complaint against a member of the club will be a minimum of three members of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management. Where a complaint is against a member of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, the member being investigated will not be a member of the DC.

If a quorum is not present, the hearing shall not proceed but be adjourned to the earliest possible time. In such a case the member will not be permitted attend the club rooms, any club practice, club match or club function.

The DC may call as a witness any person it considers it needs to hear.

The member of the club may request to call as a witness any person he/she considers the DC needs to hear.

Once ratified by the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, any penalty imposed on a member of the club will not be subject to review.

In the event the DC recommends the revoking of club membership the decision by the club membership as per Rule 5 (g) 3 of the ACC Constitution will not be subject to review.

OTHER DISCIPLINARY MATTERS

In the event a complaint is brought against a person who is not a financial member of the club, such as a family member, friend or supporter of a player or club member, the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management shall consider that complaint and where deemed necessary may ban that person from all club premises, grounds and club functions. If that person refuses to comply with the directions of the Executive of the ACC Committee of Management, the Executive may instigate any action it deems appropriate including legal action.