OPERATING POLICY - December 2007
DISCIPLINE POLICY
INTRODUCTION
The LNSS is committed to providing not only a safe and fun filled playing environment
but also a sport environment that promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discriminatory
practices. To ensure this atmosphere of safety, respect, equity and fun, the LNSS has
created a Code of Conduct that sets out overall expectations for all participants, whatever
their capacity, in our game.
CODE OF CONDUCT
This code of conduct identifies the standard of behavior, which is expected of all individuals
affiliated with the Lacrosse Nova Scotia Society (LNSS) and for the purpose of this code
shall include all players, guardians, parents, coaches, officials, volunteers, directors,
officers, committee members, conveners, team managers, trainers, administrators and
employees involved in the activities and events of the LNSS.
LNSS is committed to providing an environment in which all individuals are treated with
respect. Members and participants of the LNSS shall conduct themselves at all times
in a manner consistent with the values of the LNSS, which includes fairness, integrity
and mutual respect.
During the course of all LNSS activities and events, members shall avoid behavior, which
brings the LNSS or the sport of lacrosse into disrepute, including but not limited to abusive
use of alcohol, use of non-medical drugs and use of alcohol by minors.
LNSS members and participants shall at all times adhere to the LNSS’s Memorandum of
Association, By-Laws, Operating Policies, Operating Rules and Regulations that govern their
events and activities, and to rules and regulations governing any competitions in which the
member participates on behalf of the LNSS.
Members and participants of LNSS shall not engage in any activity or behavior which interferes
with a competition or with any player or team’s preparation for a competition, or which
endangers the safety of others.
Members of the LNSS shall refrain from comments or behaviors, which are disrespectful,
offensive, abusive, racist or sexist. In particular, behavior, which constitutes harassment or
abuse, will not be tolerated and will be dealt with under the Harassment Operating Policy
of the LNSS.
GOVERNANCE OF DISCIPLINE
The discipline associated with game situations is for all intents and purposes administered
by either the Appropriate Affiliated Body’s Suspension Coordinator and/or Discipline
Committee or the Appropriate Tournament Host Committee, in accordance with their
own documented rules, regulations and procedures.
Therefore, please note that the General Policy and the Discipline Review Procedures
that follow are only applicable for matters that fall under the jurisdiction of the LNSS.
GENERAL POLICY
1. Members and Affiliated Bodies of the LNSS are expected to fulfil their obligations
as outlined in the Memorandum of Association, By-Laws, Operating Policies and
Operating Rules and Regulations of the LNSS.
as outlined in the Memorandum of Association, By-Laws, Operating Policies and
Operating Rules and Regulations of the LNSS.
2. All individuals affiliated with the LNSS are expected to adhere to the Official Rules
of Lacrosse and the By-Laws, Operating Policies, Operating Rules and Regulations
and Code of Conduct of the LNSS.
3. The LNSS has jurisdiction over matters, at the provincial level, where Member
obligations have been breached and/or when the Code of Conduct has been violated
and/or when a Member escalates a discipline issue and/or when a Member does not
yet have the appropriate discipline policies and procedures in place.
4. When a breach and/or a violation are judged to have occurred, the LNSS may
suspend or limit the Privileges of Membership and/or levy a fine.
5. The LNSS encourages its Members to establish the appropriate policies and
procedures for discipline matters within their jurisdiction.
6. Members of the LNSS agree to honour and enforce disciplinary action taken by
the LNSS.
7. The LNSS and its Members agree to honour and enforce disciplinary action taken
by a Member.
8. The LNSS endorses the principles of natural justice and due process, which allows
any individual to be heard and to appeal (for details refer to the Appeal Policy) any
action that affects their rights.
DISCIPLINE REVIEW PROCEDURESof Lacrosse and the By-Laws, Operating Policies, Operating Rules and Regulations
and Code of Conduct of the LNSS.
3. The LNSS has jurisdiction over matters, at the provincial level, where Member
obligations have been breached and/or when the Code of Conduct has been violated
and/or when a Member escalates a discipline issue and/or when a Member does not
yet have the appropriate discipline policies and procedures in place.
4. When a breach and/or a violation are judged to have occurred, the LNSS may
suspend or limit the Privileges of Membership and/or levy a fine.
5. The LNSS encourages its Members to establish the appropriate policies and
procedures for discipline matters within their jurisdiction.
6. Members of the LNSS agree to honour and enforce disciplinary action taken by
the LNSS.
7. The LNSS and its Members agree to honour and enforce disciplinary action taken
by a Member.
8. The LNSS endorses the principles of natural justice and due process, which allows
any individual to be heard and to appeal (for details refer to the Appeal Policy) any
action that affects their rights.
9. Any report alleging the action(s) of an individual(s) constitutes a breach of Member
obligations and/or violation of the By-Laws, Operating Policies, Operating Rules and
Regulations, and Code of Conduct of the LNSS must be submitted in writing to the
LNSS President within 10 days of the event/occurrence.
10. Any formal notice (including the appropriate support documentation) from a
Member or Affiliated Body that they are escalating a game related discipline issue
or referring a discipline issue to the LNSS for resolution must be submitted to the
LNSS President at the earliest possible date following the event/occurrence.
11. On receipt of the written report or formal notice the LNSS President shall first,
address any jurisdictional concerns that may apply and then, make a determination
of the merit of the complaint and whether any action is necessary.
12. If no action is required the LNSS President shall, as soon possible, notify the
complainant or Member of his/her decision, in writing, stating his/her reasons for
the conclusion reached.
13. If action is required the LNSS President shall, within 10 days of receiving the
written report or formal notice, appoint a Facilitator (optional) and three persons to
constitute the Discipline Committee, in accordance with the following:
obligations and/or violation of the By-Laws, Operating Policies, Operating Rules and
Regulations, and Code of Conduct of the LNSS must be submitted in writing to the
LNSS President within 10 days of the event/occurrence.
10. Any formal notice (including the appropriate support documentation) from a
Member or Affiliated Body that they are escalating a game related discipline issue
or referring a discipline issue to the LNSS for resolution must be submitted to the
LNSS President at the earliest possible date following the event/occurrence.
11. On receipt of the written report or formal notice the LNSS President shall first,
address any jurisdictional concerns that may apply and then, make a determination
of the merit of the complaint and whether any action is necessary.
12. If no action is required the LNSS President shall, as soon possible, notify the
complainant or Member of his/her decision, in writing, stating his/her reasons for
the conclusion reached.
13. If action is required the LNSS President shall, within 10 days of receiving the
written report or formal notice, appoint a Facilitator (optional) and three persons to
constitute the Discipline Committee, in accordance with the following:
♦ The Committee shall be comprised of members in good standing who
shall have no significant relationship with the accused, shall have had no
involvement with the event/occurrence in question, and shall be free from
actual or perceived bias or conflict.
♦ In appointing the Committee, consideration shall be given to the geographic
location of the alleged offending party, complainant and committee members,
in order to minimize the inconvenience and expense to all parties.
shall have no significant relationship with the accused, shall have had no
involvement with the event/occurrence in question, and shall be free from
actual or perceived bias or conflict.
♦ In appointing the Committee, consideration shall be given to the geographic
location of the alleged offending party, complainant and committee members,
in order to minimize the inconvenience and expense to all parties.
14. The Discipline Committee shall govern the Hearing by such procedures as
it deems appropriate in the circumstances, provided that:
it deems appropriate in the circumstances, provided that:
♦ The Hearing shall be held within 21 days of the Committee’s appointment.
♦ All know interested parties shall be given 10 days written notice of the day,
time and place of the Hearing.
♦ If the LNSS President did not appoint a facilitator, the committee members
shall select from among themselves a chairperson and a recording secretary.
♦ A quorum shall be all three of the committee members.
♦ Decisions shall be by majority vote.
♦ The Hearing shall be held in private.
♦ Copies of any pertinent information that the Committee deemed necessary
and demanded shall be provided to all parties at least 2 days in advance of the
Hearing.
♦ A representative or adviser may accompany any or all of the interested parties.
However, for any of the representatives or advisers to be legal counsel the LNSS
President must have granted his/her permission at least 7 days in advance of
the hearing date.
♦ The Committee may request that other individual(s) participate and give
evidence at the Hearing.
♦ The Committee, if it is hearing an escalated game related situation, shall
administer no fixed suspension(s), unless the official(s) and the alleged offending
party or parties are present at the hearing. However, if after being duly notified the
alleged offending party or parties chooses not to attend, the committee shall then
rule on the suspension with only the official(s) present.
♦ All know interested parties shall be given 10 days written notice of the day,
time and place of the Hearing.
♦ If the LNSS President did not appoint a facilitator, the committee members
shall select from among themselves a chairperson and a recording secretary.
♦ A quorum shall be all three of the committee members.
♦ Decisions shall be by majority vote.
♦ The Hearing shall be held in private.
♦ Copies of any pertinent information that the Committee deemed necessary
and demanded shall be provided to all parties at least 2 days in advance of the
Hearing.
♦ A representative or adviser may accompany any or all of the interested parties.
However, for any of the representatives or advisers to be legal counsel the LNSS
President must have granted his/her permission at least 7 days in advance of
the hearing date.
♦ The Committee may request that other individual(s) participate and give
evidence at the Hearing.
♦ The Committee, if it is hearing an escalated game related situation, shall
administer no fixed suspension(s), unless the official(s) and the alleged offending
party or parties are present at the hearing. However, if after being duly notified the
alleged offending party or parties chooses not to attend, the committee shall then
rule on the suspension with only the official(s) present.
♦ The Committee may grant adjournment of a hearing on such terms as are
reasonable.
reasonable.
15. Only in extenuating circumstances (such as to keep personal costs at the minimal
level possible) the Discipline Committee may, with the prior approval of the LNSS
President, conduct the Hearing by means of a conference call.
16. Within 3 days of concluding the Hearing, the Discipline Committee shall issue its
written findings and its decision to all the known interested parties and the LNSS
Executive Committee. In turn the Executive Committee shall ensure that the appropriate
disciplinary action and/or remedial measures are implemented.
17. If the circumstances of the Hearing are such that this policy will not allow a timely
resolution, the LNSS President may direct that these timelines be shortened. Should
this be the case, all the interested parties and members of the Discipline Committee
will make every reasonable effort to comply with the revised timelines.
18. If the circumstances of the Hearing are such that a resolution cannot be reached
within the timelines of this policy, the LNSS President may seek agreement from all
known interested parties to extend the timelines.
level possible) the Discipline Committee may, with the prior approval of the LNSS
President, conduct the Hearing by means of a conference call.
16. Within 3 days of concluding the Hearing, the Discipline Committee shall issue its
written findings and its decision to all the known interested parties and the LNSS
Executive Committee. In turn the Executive Committee shall ensure that the appropriate
disciplinary action and/or remedial measures are implemented.
17. If the circumstances of the Hearing are such that this policy will not allow a timely
resolution, the LNSS President may direct that these timelines be shortened. Should
this be the case, all the interested parties and members of the Discipline Committee
will make every reasonable effort to comply with the revised timelines.
18. If the circumstances of the Hearing are such that a resolution cannot be reached
within the timelines of this policy, the LNSS President may seek agreement from all
known interested parties to extend the timelines.
