Code of Conduct for Clubs, Officials, Players and Supporters for 2011/2012

1. OBJECTIVES

1.1       Arrest the decline in referees’ numbers willing to officiate on Sundays, by fostering better relationships between ALL parties – particularly referees, club officials and spectators.

1.2       Eradicate intimidation of referees.

1.3       Understand the difficulty of the referee, assistant referee, club linesmen’s job(s) and accept that mistakes will be made – BE MORE TOLERANT.

1.4       Eradicate foul and abusive language directed at the referee, assistant referee, club linesmen and/or anyone else involved in Sunday football.

1.5       Endeavour to make Sunday football a pleasure to play and watch, as a result of adherence to the measures outlined above.

1.6       To foster better communications the league shall liaise with the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA Referee’s Advisor to arrange a Rules Training Session with clubs, utilising visual aids followed by a question/answer session. One meeting per season to be held at a suitable venue, with participants representing each club.  Responsible delegates to be appointed by each club.

1.7       A forum, comprising a Referees’ Association representative, a County FA representative, one representative from a club from each division, and a Management Committee delegate, who shall be chairman, shall meet twice a season (August and January).

2. ACTIONS

2.1       ALL Clubs in membership of this league shall agree to abide by the rules of the competition, and this Code of Conduct, before they are allowed to continue playing in this league.  New clubs must also adhere to this before gaining admittance to the league.

2.2       Each season, Form “Z”, “Application for Membership of the League” must be signed and the form returned to the League Secretary by no later than the date of the League Annual General Meeting, otherwise a £25 fine will be imposed.

3. Sanctions

3.1       NB  Any of the following sanctions will only be put in train once the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA sanctions have been completed.

3.2       Any club that has been found guilty by the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA relating to offences of misconduct under FA Rule E20 on two separate occasions during one season, may be dismissed from the league, in accordance with league rule 17, and may be fined up to £100 for each offence, and any points gained in the match(es) may be deducted.  Clubs will receive a written warning from the league after their first offence, receipt of which they must acknowledge to the league secretary.

3.3       Any player having been found guilty by the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA of a physical or technical assault on a referee/assistant referee, or other serious misconduct of any kind, shall have his registration withdrawn for a period of five years, in accordance with rule 8(i).

3.4              Any club official having been found guilty by the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA of a physical or technical assault on a referee/assistant referee, or other serious misconduct of any kind, shall be prohibited from holding any office with any team in this league for a period of five years.

4. Disrepute

4.1              The league has the right to charge any club/player/spectators with bringing the league into disrepute with regard to FA Rule E20 and, if found guilty, to impose a fine of up to £250 (for each offence), as well as expulsion from the League.

4.2       NB  This is intended to cover any playing matters not covered by section 3, above, but also extends to any social functions organised by the League.

4.3       Where the any report received from referees (see 6, below) indicate ongoing negative or adverse behaviour by a club, its players or spectators, towards the appointed official(s) , the League Management Committee shall have the power to require explanations in writing, or in person and, as a result, offending clubs so ordered shall, if they fail to comply, be subject to further action by the League, including, ultimately, dismissal from the Competition – subject to right of appeal to the County FA.

5. Ongoing Misconduct

5.1              Players who persistently transgress will be ordered to face the League Management Committee to explain their conduct, and give written undertakings as to their future conduct within the league.

5.2       This action will only be taken after all Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA sanctions have been completed.

6. Referees

Referees/assistant referees will report ALL incidents of misconduct, initially to the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA and, in addition, they will be urged to report unfavourable conduct towards them, before, during, and after, the game.

7. Fairplay Award

A ‘Fairplay Trophy’ to be supplied by the league PLUS cash award of £250.

8. Display

            All clubs to display a copy of this Code of Conduct at their Headquarters and in their Dressing Room.

9. DISCIPLINARY RULES

FA Rule E20

“Each Affiliated Association, Competition and Club shall be responsible for ensuring:

a)      that its directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives, spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and refrain from any one or combination of the following; racist, violent, threatening abusive, obscene or provocative behaviour, conduct or language whilst attending at or taking part in a Match in which it is involved, whether on its own ground, or elsewhere; and

b)      that no supporters or unauthorised persons are permitted to encroach onto the pitch are, save for reasons of crowd safety, or to throw missiles, bottles or other potentially harmful or dangerous objects at or on to the pitch.”