Discipline and Appeals

DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE MEETS EVERY SECOND TUESDAY DURING THE OUTDOOR SEASON AT 9 PM COMMENCING TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2008

Coaches, parents, players - be sure you are familiar with the discipline process prior to the season.

For Frequently Asked Questions, please check here . . .

The Discipline Panel will meet on dates to be published at the Club office - 11 Stanley Court, Unit 7, Whitby. Discipline by review will take place on the first scheduled date following the incident. Please contact the Club Discipline Chair by e-mail to discipline@whitbysoccer.com, should you require further information regarding any discipline matter in which you may be involved. Every player, coach, and administrator should ensure they are familiar with the penalties for offences and the procedure for administering the discipline process.

DISCIPLINE HEARINGS

Discipline cases are heard Wednesdays (as required) at 9 pm at the WISC Club office, 11 Stanley Court, Unit 7, Whitby..

Lynn Sutton
Discipline Chair
discipline@whitbysoccer.com

DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE

DISCIPLINE : How does WISC handle misconduct?

WISC has adopted Ontario Soccer Association policies with regard to discipline. These policies govern Discipline Hearing Panels at every level of soccer sanctioned by the OSA. Discipline issues are handled by a discipline committee primarily formed by the Board of Directors. The committee does not necessarily consist of the same people for each matter being reviewed.

Discipline by Review (DBR) / Discipline by Hearing (DBH)

There are two systems used to deal with discipline matters at WISC. Guidelines set out by the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) are followed in determining if a case is to be handled by DBH or DBR. Discipline hearings (DBH) or reviews (DBR) are conducted on a regular basis, as required, with dates posted on the web site. When Hearing Dates are not posted on the website, persons required to attend a DBH are advised in writing in advance of the hearing date.

DISCIPLINE BY REVIEW (DBR): Certain types of misconduct are routinely handled using the Discipline By Review system. Under DBR, the Discipline Committee reviews the information provided (e.g. Referee’s Report) and imposes the appropriate and mandated penalty. If, after reviewing the case, the Discipline Review Panel determines that a more serious charge is warranted, the matter will be referred to Discipline By Hearing. Under the DBR system, the parties involved are not required to attend. An individual who is subject to the DBR system has the right to a hearing. A request for a hearing must be received at the Club office in writing by receipted post, receipted e-mail, fax, or receipted hand delivery within three days of receiving the dismissal. The request must be received before the date of the next scheduled DBR meeting, as indicated on the website. NOTE: THERE ARE NO APPEALS OF DBR DECISIONS.
DISCIPLINE BY HEARING (DBH): Some discipline matters must be conducted under the Discipline By Hearing (DBH) method. A DBH requires the attendance of the parties involved. The involved parties are provided with at least 15 days’ notice. The accused may choose to be accompanied by another adult who may act as an adviser. An accused less than 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult, who shall act as an adviser, failing which the hearing will not proceed and the accused shall be suspended until the hearing is held. If the accused does not appear, the hearing will not proceed, the accused will be fined in accordance with the “Schedule of Fees, Fines, Bonds and Penalties” as published by The Ontario Soccer Association and available on the Club website, and the accused will be suspended from all soccer related activities until he/she requests and attends a hearing. Any party required to attend a hearing may request one (1) postponement of a hearing. The party must submit such request to the Club office in writing by receipted post, receipted e-mail, fax, or receipted hand delivery no later than four days prior to the date of the hearing, stating the reason for requesting the postponement. DBH DECISIONS CAN BE APPEALED TO THE NEXT HIGHEST LEVEL.
Discipline hearings or reviews are also held for matters of misconduct involving persons other than players, such as coaching staff, parents, spectators or any other person reported for misconduct.

Penalties:

OSA guidelines are followed in determining what punishment, if any, is to be applied. Any issues being handled by the club, as dictated by the OSA guidelines, require the club to impose penalties that are no less severe than those specified by OSA. If the discipline committee concludes that such action is appropriate, the club has the option to impose penalties that are more severe than the minimums specified by OSA.

IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FROM ALL SOCCER RELATED ACTIVITIES results from the following offences:

Game Official assault
Physical or attempted physical assault of a youth player by a team official or administrator (reported by the Game Official)
Offences of Moral Turpitude

PROBATION OR SUSPENDED SENTENCES ARE NOT PERMITTED.

NOTIFICATION OF PENALTY:

Decisions of the Discipline Review Committee for all matters will be communicated in writing by e-mail, hand-delivery or Canada Post delivery and are effective immediately. Conveners and coaches will be notified by telephone.

Additional information may be posted on this website.

Lynn Sutton
Discipline Chair
discipline@whitbysoccer.com

OSA Suspension Terms Summary

Below is a condensed version of the full OSA Policy regarding Suspension Terms
The terms below were current at time of posting.

Misconduct by a Player	OSA Minimum Term (first offence)
2 Cautions	1 game suspension - automatic
Dismissed for "Receiving a second caution in the same game" for which neither of the cautions was directed at the game official(s).	1 game suspension - automatic
Dismissed for "Receiving a second caution in the same game" for which at least one of the cautions was directed at the game official(s).	2 game suspension - automatic
Dismissed for "Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures" directed at anyone other than the game official(s).	1 game suspension - automatic
Dismissed for "Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures" directed at the game official(s).	3 game suspension - minimum
Persisted in “using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures” directed at a game official(s) after having been dismissed for such action that is directly in the area(s) of the soccer field.	6 - 8 games - minimum
Dismissed for violent conduct/serious foul play including spitting at an opponent or any other person	3 game suspension - minimum
Dismissed for "Denying an opponent a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball".	1 game suspension
Dismissed for "Denying an opponent a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or penalty kick".	2 game suspension
Dismissed for "Serious Foul Play".	2 game suspension
Dismissed for "Serious Foul Play" where in the opinion of the Discipline Hearing Panel there was an obvious "attempt to injure" or "a complete disregard for the safety of an opponent"	4 - 8 game suspension
Dismissed for "Spitting at an opponent or any other person", other than a game official. NOTE: Spitting at a game official is Misconduct Type 1.52.	4 game suspension
Dismissed for "Violent Conduct".	3 game suspension
Dismissed for "Violent Conduct" where in the opinion of the Discipline Hearing Panel there was an obvious attempt to seriously injure an opponent	6 - 10 game suspension
Received a third dismissal in a season.	a discipline hearing shall be conducted and the appropriate discipline shall be rendered
Knowingly played as an ineligible player.	4 game suspension
Misconduct by a Coach or Administrator	OSA Minimum Term (first offence)
Persisted in misconduct "after receiving a warning 'for misconduct' from the game official" for which neither of the offences was directed at the game official(s).	1 week suspension
Persisted in misconduct "after receiving a warning 'for misconduct' from the game official" for which at least one of the offences was directed at the game official(s)..	1 week suspension
Used "Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures" directed at anyone other than the game official(s).	2 week suspension

As our Club is governed by The Ontario Soccer Association, it is imperative that any suspension term imposed by the WISC Discipline Panel must comply with The OSA Mandatory Minimum length of suspension. While the Club may determine that a longer term is appropriate, the Panel has no jurisdiction to reduce the term to less than that set out in The OSA Policies.

Additional Information

OSA Suspension Terms
Full details regarding OSA mandatory minimum terms.