Principles

The Disciplinary Committee will consist of the Club Welfare Officer and a minimum of two more members of the Club Committee.

A meeting will be convened within 14 days of the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct and the member will be notified in writing of the nature of their failure to maintain the standards detailed in Code. 

On the day of the incident giving rise to the breach of the Code of Conduct, the matter should be reported to the Club Secretary, or Vice Chairman in their absence, by the team coach /manager.  The incident report form must be submitted within 48 hours.  If the Club Secretary considers that a potential breach of the Code of Conduct has occurred, the matter will be passed to the Welfare Officer who will coordinate the investigation and institute the disciplinary procedure.

Members will be notified of the time, date and venue of the meeting by letter and will be required to confirm attendance no later than 24 hours prior to the date of the meeting. The member will be required to attend with their parent/guardian, if they are under 18, who may make a representation on their behalf. The member and or their representative will be given an opportunity to state their case prior to any decision being made by the Disciplinary Committee.

No disciplinary action will be taken against a member until a full investigation as to the circumstances of the incident have been conducted by the club. 

At all stages of the investigation the member will be required  to be accompanied by their parent/guardian, if they are under 18,  who may make representations on their behalf and confirm that the member fully understands the potential breach of the code, the procedure taking place and the sanction, if any, imposed by the Disciplinary Committee. All aspects of the investigation will remain confidential.

No member will be dismissed from the Club for a first breach of the Code Of Conduct except in cases where there has been a Gross Misconduct as detailed under section 4.  In those circumstances a specific procedure will be followed.

A member will have the right to appeal against any disciplinary action imposed.  An appeal should be addressed to the Club Secretary and submitted within seven days from the date that the Disciplinary Committee’s decision is communicated to the member.

Procedure

Stage 1 - Verbal Warning

If the conduct is deemed to be in breach of the standards laid down in the Code of Conduct, a member will in the first instance be given a verbal warning.  The member and their parent/guardian will be advised of the reason for the warning and notified that this is the first stage of the Disciplinary Procedure.  He or she will be notified that they have a right to appeal, the timescale upon which the appeal should be submitted to the Club Secretary for the Club’s further consideration.  A note of the verbal warning will be kept by the Club Secretary, but will be discarded after 12 months or in line with the present requirements of the Data Protection Act.  Where a follow up review is necessary, the member will be advised of this and the timescales for review. In those circumstances, an action plan will be mutually agreed with the member, or parent/guardian if under 18, and a mentor appointed by the Club.

Stage 2 - Written Warning

If the matter is more serious or there is a further breach of the Code of Conduct, then a written warning will be given to the member.  This will explain the reason for the warning, the improvement in conduct required and the timescale. Further, if there is no improvement that action detailed in Stage 3 may be considered.  The right of appeal against this decision will be advised and explained to the member.  An action plan will be mutually agreed with the member, or parent/guardian if under 18, and a mentor appointed by the Club.  A copy of the written warning will be kept by the Club Secretary, but will be discarded for disciplinary purposes after 12 months subject to satisfactory conduct

Stage 3 – Final Written Warning

If there is still a failure to improve and conduct is still unsatisfactory, or if the matter is sufficiently serious to warrant only one written warning but insufficiently serious to justify dismissal from the club, a final written warning will be given by the Committee.  This will explain the reason for the warning, the improvement required and the timescale.  An action plan will be mutually agreed with the member, or parent/guardian if under 18, and a mentor appointed by the Club. It will also warn that dismissal from the Club will result if there is no improvement and will advise the right of appeal.  The Club Secretary will hold a copy of the final written warning, but it will be disregarded for disciplinary purposes after 12 months subject to satisfactory conduct. 

Stage 4 – Dismissal From The Club

If the conduct is still unsatisfactory and the member still fails to reach the required standards, dismissal from the club will usually result.  Only the Club Committee with a quorum of at least five can take the decision to dismiss the member.  The member will be provided, as soon as practicable, a written explanation for dismissal, the date upon which membership will terminate and the right of appeal.