Players & Parents (Discipline)

1. The Association expects team officials to exhibit qualities of leadership, which promotes in players sportsmanship and decorum, consistent with acceptable levels of propriety, towards game officials and spectators.

As such standards of behaviour should be clearly defined and maintained throughout the season, within a climate of mutual respect. It is recognized, however, that from time to time, sanctions may be necessary, from an external source, for behaviour, which transgresses acceptable standards. Such sanctions may be applied to any player, team official, team follower, parent or member, and may tale the form of:

a verbal reprimand or counseling
a written reprimand
a suspension
an expulsion
a combination of the above

2. Three different stages are possible, namely

Stage 1 - The Informal Process
Stage 2 - The Formal Process
Stage 3 – The Appeal Process

3. Incidents which may warrant disciplinary actions are as follows:

Profanity by players, team officials or team representatives
A player who receives a game misconduct, gross or match penalty
A coach who in the opinion of the President is being assessed too many penalties of a serious nature
A team member or team follower who repeatedly brings discredit to the team and the Association, through violent, abusive or gross behaviour, on or off the ice.
Use of alcohol, or other illegal substances, while representing the Association, through participation in a team activity.
Any other inappropriate incident.

4. Procedure

Stage 1 – The Informal Process

Standard Suspensions. Where the CHA Current Rule Book and NSMHC Code of Discipline dictates a suspension for a player, or team official.
Non-Standard Suspensions
1. When incidents occur which may warrant disciplinary action. The coach(s) shall report the incident to the Rep Coordinator as quickly as possible, and at least prior to the next game.
2. The Rep coordinator and the Coach(s) shall meet, investigate the incident and determine the sanction to be applied. In investigating the incident they may consult such game officials, players, parents and other observers that they deem necessary to gain relevant facts of the incident.
3. The coach(s) implement the sanctions with the player(s)
4. The Rep coordinator reports the situation and sanctions to the VP Rep Hockey.
Appeal Not withstanding the above, should a coach, player or parent feel that Stage 1 has not satisfactorily resolved the issue, it may be appealed to Stage 2. However, Stage 1 sanctions remain in effect until Stage 2 complete. Please note that any sanctions applied under CHA Rules or the NSMHC Code of Discipline must be appealed under the CHA or NSMHC process, not SMHRA.
For incidents of a very serious nature the President or the Executive may elect to suspend player(s) team officials indefinitely and proceed directly to Stage 2

Stage 2 – The Formal Process

The President, upon receiving a written request or appeal, shall request the 1st VP to convene a Discipline Committee as per Association’s By-laws.
The Discipline Committee shall establish a hearing, and invite the Rep Coordinator and other such persons as they deem necessary to provide information to the Committee.
The Disciplinary Committee shall, at a minimum, receive the offending party (ies) in person, and provide an opportunity for that party to speak in his/her own defense, or through an advocate.
The Disciplinary Committee, shall with all dispatch, render a decision to the offending party (ies). Such communication may be verbal, at the outset, but shall be confirmed in writing, copies to be logged with Associations files.
The 1st VP shall report the outcome of the hearing to the President.
Appeal – Not withstanding the above, should a coach, player or parent feel that Stage 2 has not satisfactorily resolved the issue, may appeal to Stage 3 by writing to the Secretary, and submitting a fifty-dollar ($50) Appeal Fee. Appeals regarding ruling under the CHA/NSHA/ NSMHC but be appealed through their process, not the Associations.

Stage 3 – The Appeal Process

The Association on receiving a written request for an appeal accompanied by the Appeal Fee, shall place the item on the agenda of next regular meeting of the Executive., and inform the Rep-Coordinator and the involved party (ies) of the time of meeting.
The Executive shall provide up to 30 minutes of meeting time for the persons making the appeal to state their case.
The discussion of the case shall take place by the Executive and shall render its decision by motion, and a simple majority of those members in attendance shall suffice.
The decision of the Executive shall be final and binding on all parties, except those avenues of recourse provided by NSMHC/NSHA/ the CHA.
Refunds – If the appeal to the Executive results in an endorsement of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee or an increase in penalty the fee shall be forfeited. If the appeal to the Executive results in a modification or lesser penalty than that imposed by the Disciplinary Committee, the fee shall be refunded.

In general, CMHF/NSMHC/NSHA and CHA undertake disciplinary action in the Rep Division. However, this does not prevent the Association from applying sanctions, and should it choose to do so, the greater penalty, always takes precedence.

Without restricting the foregoing, the General Guidelines apply:

First infractions by players will normally be satisfactorily concluded at Stage 1.
Second infractions by players will normally proceed directly to Stage 2
Infractions involving coaches, team followers or parents will normally proceed to Stage 2 – The Formal Process.
Suspensions when applied shall specify the following:
The number of meaningful game to which the suspension applies
If time suspension it will be the time period from the date of the infraction.
Game suspension includes no activity in the dressing room or bench areas, prior or after specified games. Only activity allowed is practice time. No exhibition games.
Time suspension includes no activity in the dressing room or bench areas, prior, no practice time or exhibition or tournament games.
Suspensions when applied to parents, coaches, team officials or team followers shall normally restrict the access to those persons to dressing rooms, bench areas, spectator areas of the rinks, or the arena itself.