Players are reminded that everyone who plays in our hockey competition is bound by our Code of Conduct. An extract is copied below. The full Code can be accessed in the 2018 Maitland Competition Rules, on the website.
Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct [the Code] should be read in conjunction with the Hockey NSW code of conduct provisions and the Regulations and the Constitution of the Association and shall apply to all players, members, Officials and Office Bearers of affiliated Clubs and organisations participating in, or in attendance at, competitions or matches conducted under the control of, or when representing, the Competition Group or Association.
Persons subject to this code shall NOT:
[a] Assault or attempt to assault, lay a hand upon, shove or strike an Umpire, an Official, another player or a spectator;
[b] Abuse, either verbally or physically, an Umpire, an Official, another player or a spectator;
[c] Dispute, as distinct from question, an Umpire’s decision;
[d] Use crude and/or abusive language, or engage in any form of conduct detrimental to the spirit of the game, or likely to bring the game into disrepute;
[e] Appear on the field of play at any time intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, or be in the possession of alcohol or drugs on the field of play;
[f] Refuse to supply their full name and registered address, if required to by an Umpire or Official for any reason;
[g] [1] Comment publicly, including social media, either verbally or in writing, with a member of the media or with a person knowing that it may be reported in the media, on any matter considered likely to bring the game into disrepute;
[2] Mobile phones/ cameras/ etc may not be used to record photos, audio, etc within the dugout or change room and then shared in any form.
[3] Photos may not be taken and shared of any Junior player without parent or guardian permission.
[h] Engage in any other conduct, either on or in the vicinity of the field of play considered prejudicial to the best interests of hockey or in contravention of the Constitution and By Laws and Regulations of this Competition Committee and Association.
[i] The Captain of a team may be held responsible for any continuing breaches of the Code by a player or coach and her/his team under one of the sub-sections above and may accordingly be reported for failure to control his/her team.
Where the behaviour of any person referred to in Section 10 is to be the subject of a report by an Umpire or Official, the Umpire or Official shall:
[j] Verbally inform that person at the ground on the day of the alleged conduct or behaviour that he/ she is to be the subject of a report to the Association;
[k] Verbally inform both the Captain or the persons acting in the capacity as Captain [where this is the Captain that is the subject of the report, then another player on her team] on the day of the alleged conduct or behaviour that the person is to be the subject of such a report;
[l] Verbally inform the Competition Committee’s President as soon as practicable after the alleged conduct or behaviour that a report is to be submitted;
[m] Submit to the Secretary of the Competition Committee within forty-eight [48] hours of the incident, a written report containing details of the alleged conduct or behaviour, including the names of the persons informed;
[n] Attend the meeting of the Judiciary Committee when required;
Where the conduct or behaviour of any person referred is the subject of a report by an Affiliated Club, the Secretary of such club shall:
[o] Verbally inform the Association as soon as practicable after the alleged conduct or behaviour that a report is to be submitted;
[p] Submit to the Secretary of the Association with forty-eight [48] hours of the incident, a written report containing details of the alleged conduct or behaviour;
[q] Attend the meeting of the Judiciary Committee when required;
Where the conduct or behaviour of any person referred to in Section 10 is to be the subject of a report by a person other than an Umpire, Official or by an Affiliated Club, the person shall submit a statement in writing to the Secretary of the Association containing details of the alleged conduct or behaviour:
[r] The Executive of MHI shall have the power to initiate Judiciary proceedings against the Club official, team or player or other person wherever it considers necessary;
[s] a Judiciary Committee shall hear Incidences of misconduct;
[t] The Competition Committee’s Secretary shall, summon the transgressor, an Official of the Club with which the transgressor is registered, the Umpire[s] [if involved] and Official[s] [if involved] to attend the next meeting of the Judiciary Committee. Such notification shall include details of the charges listed for hearing;
[u] The Judiciary Committee shall ensure that the party summoned to appear is granted a fair hearing, provided that nothing contained in the Competition Committee’s rules shall grant a right of legal representation to a party at a hearing, unless the other party is also legally represented and then only at the discretion of the Committee Chair.
[v] The Judiciary Committee shall impose a penalty considered appropriate to the circumstances and their decision shall be final, subject to an appeal being lodged in accordance with Section 18 of the Rules of Competition or the Constitution of the Association. [for off field events];
[w] The Chair of the Judiciary Committee shall confirm in writing, the Judiciary Committee’s decision to the parties involved on the night/day the Judiciary’s decision was made;
[x] The Judiciary matters involving players and/or Clubs of other Associations, the Judiciary Committee of such Associations shall meet together to hear evidence but in making their decision, each Committee shall do so regarding its own representative Association.
