Tynemet League

Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

Adopted June 2008 - click here to download as a Word document.

Introduction

FIBA issue a set of rules by which the game of basketball is played. Games between two teams are played using these rules as a framework, and officials are appointed to ensure the framework is not exceeded.

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to provide a framework by which individuals must conduct themselves during a game. The Code is not a set of rules and regulations. It is a set of guidelines agreed by the League that set out how a game should be conducted within their authority.

If these guidelines are ignored, the League Disciplinary Committee has the authority to impose sanctions against individuals or teams.

Teams

The success of a team in sport is determined by how well a set of individuals work together. If three or more teams express concern about the conduct of another team, then the League Secretary will send that team a warning letter advising that improved conduct must occur. Failure to do so could lead to expulsion from the League.

• The coach is ultimately responsible for the conduct of the team.
• The home team should always endeavor to make their visitors welcome.
• Teams should not endeavor to intimidate visitors nor attempt to gain advantage by not providing basic facilities such as seating or a warm-up area.
• During the match, the game is played on court with support from non-playing team members. This should not include comments directed at the opposition.

Coaches

Coaches have the responsibility of motivating players to perform better than the opposition whilst at the same time conducting themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. They must:

• address Officials in the correct manner and accept the decisions they make;
• NOT encourage verbally abusive conduct or uncontrolled aggression from their players.

Players

Players (and coaches) must understand that the job of the floor officials is to interpret events within the context of a set of rules and implement penalties when they decide these rules have not been adhered to. IT IS NOT THE ROLE of the players (or coaches) to make these decisions, and IT IS NOT THEIR ROLE to become involved in the decision making process.

• Players should always conduct themselves in a manner that is not offensive to any participant.
• Verbally abusive language should not occur on the court or within the immediate area that the game is played. This includes the unacceptable shouting of offensive words not directed at another person.
• Whilst sitting on the bench, players should encourage their team without direct or indirect reference to the opposition. It must be remembered that those sitting on the bench are not spectators and should not adopt the attitude that they can say or do as they wish.
• Only the captain of a team has the right to speak to the Officials during a game, and then may only do so to seek clarification of a decision.
• If a player is disqualified, they must leave the playing area immediately. Any refusal or unsportsmanlike conduct whilst doing so may lead to an extended penalty if the Officials report it.

Appendix 1 ‘Guidance Regarding Dissent’ should be read and understood by officials, players and coaches to be an integral part of this Code.

Match Officials

The conduct of the match Officials often has a major bearing on the outcome of the game. However, before and during the game they have unquestionable authority and are the representatives of the League for that game. They should:

• always attend a game that has been allocated to them unless contact has been made with the Refereeing Coordinator, and the home team secretary
• officiate games within the framework of FIBA rules as agreed by the League
• wear the correct uniform
• write a report to the League of any incident that brings the game into disrepute. This is mandatory for disqualifications as the report is the basis of the Disciplinary Committee meeting. Any game that is abandoned must be reported immediately
• be subject to written reports to the League after a game, but not in person by anyone at the game.

Table Officials

Despite supporting or belonging to the home team, table officials should:

• be impartial and record the game accurately;
• be provided with appropriate equipment and facilities by the home team to complete the task competently;
• not enter into discourse with players during the game, other than to confirm the score or time;
• accept that the opposing team has the right to nominate an observer;

Penalties

Team Penalties (issued after receipt of a referee’s report or when discovered subsequently e.g. during checking of scoresheets):

The penalties above are automatic. In the event of doubt or dispute, the decision of the Disciplinary Secretary is final.

Individual Penalties

• Financial (the minimum penalty for an individual being £50, for a team being £100)
• Award of individual disciplinary points
• Award of team disciplinary pointsDeduction of League points (the minimum being 6 League points)
• A playing ban (the minimum penalty for an individual being 10 games – the Club Secretary will inform the Disciplinary and Fixtures Secretaries of the dates of the games to be sat out by the player)
• A lifetime playing ban – the League will be required to ratify this decision at the next appropriate AGM. If this decision is ratified by the members of the League then the League Secretary will inform neighboring Associations and England Basketball of the decision.

The penalties above are automatic. In the event of doubt or dispute, the decision of the Disciplinary Secretary is final.

No player will be permitted to take part in any games until any fines have been paid. Fines should be sent direct to the Treasurer immediately following the game to arrive within 7 days of the game.

The following events will result in a formal Disciplinary Committee meeting to consider the penalty to be applied:

Game Abandonment

The Committee will consider fully the reason for the abandonment. The Committee will have the power to impose reasonable penalties which reflect the seriousness of the offence with due consideration being given to precedent. Penalties may take any or a combination of the following forms:

When a player accumulates 15 points or a team accumulates 20 points the Disciplinary Committee will consider the penalty. Penalties that could be invoked after a Disciplinary Committee hearing:

All financial penalties so awarded must be paid in full before a player or team may participate in any games organised under the auspices of the TyneMet League after the penalty has been notified.

All playing bans must be served in full to the satisfaction of the Disciplinary Secretary. It is the responsibility of the Club Secretary to inform the Disciplinary and Fixtures Secretaries of the dates of the games to be sat out by the individual who is serving a playing ban. Playing bans will carry forward into future seasons – including if a player has “rest” seasons – until the ban is served in full.

Players subject to possible bans by the Disciplinary Committee may continue to play until they and their team secretary have been notified of the ban.

Any games they have missed before that Formal notification will NOT count as Games to be missed under the Ban

If an individual is subject to a match ban this means that the individual may not attend the stipulated games in any form, including as a spectator.

The player/coach will be notified of the Disciplinary Committee’s decision within 7 days of being informed about the transgression.

Disciplinary Procedure

The home team must have a SAE provided by the Disciplinary Committee as part of their table equipment. At the end of the game the completed scoresheet must be posted using this SAE as soon as possible to arrive at the Fixtures Secretary within seven calendar days of the date of the fixture. Failure to meet this 7-day deadline will incur the automatic penalty outlined in the Constitutional document (page 5).

The Disciplinary Committee will liaise between the Treasurer and the Fixtures Secretary regarding the payment of fines and the accumulation of points.

Players and teams will be given seven calendar days of notice of any occasion they may have to attend a Disciplinary hearing. After the hearing they have seven calendar days in which to submit an appeal to the League Committee against the decision.

TyneMet Basketball League

CODE OF CONDUCT

Appendix 1

Guidance Regarding Dissent

June 2006

The TyneMet Disciplinary Code of Conduct was adopted by our League in June 2005 and provides the framework within which players, coaches, team-followers and officials should behave towards one another. The purpose of this document is not to restate this framework, but rather to be very clear about what is and is not acceptable with regard to how referees are treated.

The first guiding principle is that all officials (floor and table) deserve respect and should be treated accordingly.

It must be stated that referees have a duty to communicate effectively with players and coaches. However, this should not interfere with the flow of the game. It should also be remembered that the only people permitted to talk with referees to seek clarification over a particular call are the coach and the court captain. In practice many referees will be more than willing to talk with other individual players with regard to a call they have made, provided it does not interfere with the flow of the game. This is good practice and often avoids players’ and coaches’ frustration that “the referees won’t talk to me”. Opportunities during time-outs, between periods of play and during free-throws may often be used to communicate effectively. It is not acceptable to question every single call the referees make. Neither is it acceptable to persistently argue over a call that has been made; once an official has explained a call that should be an end to the matter irrespective of whether a player or coach agrees with the explanation or not.

The Technical Director (Alan Richardson) of England Basketball – our Governing Body – has been very clear recently that he thinks that many referees have become too tolerant of dissent that is shown to them during games, including at the most senior level of English basketball, the BBL. He has provided a helpful mnemonic:

It is the last letter above that is the most important. Referees have always had the ability to call a technical foul for abuse, but many referees fail to use this ‘management tool’. In our local League I have often heard some referees say that they do not issue technical fouls because it costs people money. This argument is counter-productive and leads to inconsistency in officiating. Everyone who plays in TyneMet knows that there is a Disciplinary Code of Conduct, and is aware of its penalty sections. The financial penalty associated with technical fouls must not be used as a reason for withholding a deserved technical foul.

Of course, during a game emotions run high and players and coaches may well become frustrated with themselves and each other. A good referee will learn the difference between frustration and dissent; referees will not tolerate dissent, and will penalise it accordingly.

Mark Patton

Chairman

June 2006