Disciplinary Procedures

1.      Disciplinary Action

1.1      Disciplinary matters related to misconduct by Players, Coaches, Match Officials, Team Followers and other Club Officials, occurring during or immediately prior to, or following matches in any GBWBA competition will be considered by the Disciplinary Committee.  All other matters which may result in disciplinary action are the responsibility of the Executive Committee.  In the text that follows, all references to "The Association" shall be considered to mean the Disciplinary Committee or Executive Committee, as appropriate.

1.2      Clubs, players, coaches and team followers and officials may be fined and/or suspended for any matter as decided by The Association.  Instead of, or in addition to, fines and/or suspensions, The Association may take such action in respect of the outcome of a game (e.g. order replay, deduct league points, declare void, etc.) as it sees fit.

1.3      The Association may take disciplinary action in respect of any matter that it considers to be liable to bring disrepute to the sport.  Action at the Arena before, during or after a match by any team member, including players, coaches, match officials, team followers and club officials, in National, Regional, or Area competitions, will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee under their normal powers, (see 1.1).  In the case of matters relating to match officials, the Disciplinary Committee shall inform the GBWBA's Executive Committee of its decision.  The Disciplinary Committee shall at all times determine what evidence is admissible and what is not.

1.4      Whenever a player is under suspension for national competitions, he/she is not permitted to play in any other national, regional, area or local competition.

1.5      In the event of a player, coach, substitute, or team follower being disqualified or expelled from a match, the matter will automatically be considered by The Association.  The match officials are required to submit a written report in such circumstances.  Clubs and individuals may also submit written reports if they so choose. If a person is guilty of misconduct not involving disqualification, which any of the match officials consider to be of sufficient gravity to warrant consideration by The Association, a report should be submitted by them and the club concerned notified accordingly.

1.6      A system of cumulative "penalty points" will apply, and a one game suspension automatically comes into force whenever a person's penalty points reaches (or exceeds) each of the following totals: 10, 20, 30, etc.  Disqualifications automatically invoke the following minimum penalty points:

Coach, Substitute or Team Followers

1st disqualification :           15 + (one match suspension) in a season
2nd disqualification :         15 + (three match suspension) in a season                      
3rd disqualification :          15 + (three match suspension + £100 fine) in a season

Player

1st disqualification    :        10 + (one match suspension) in a season
2nd disqualification   :        15 + (three match suspension) in a season
3rd disqualification    :        15 + (three match suspension + £50 fine) in a season

Suspensions will commence 14 days after the date of disqualification or notice of implementation of a penalty.  The suspension to be served during the next occurring match/es his/her team plays after this period.

1.7      Reports should be submitted in accordance with items 1.3 and 1.5, and the Disciplinary Committee will consider whether any additional penalty points should be added after consideration of the reports.  This will normally be the case for disqualifications of a grievous nature.  In the event of a report being submitted related to misconduct not involving disqualification, this will be dealt with in accordance with items 1.10 and 1.11, and an appropriate number of penalty points allocated to the person concerned.  Disciplinary points incurred within 6 weeks prior to the end of a season will normally be carried forward until 31st December of the following season.

1.8      Disciplinary action in respect of automatic penalty points incurred by disqualification will have immediate effect.  All other penalty points assessed by the Disciplinary Committee will come into effect in accordance with item 1.11.  Whenever a fine is imposed on an individual, he or she is suspended until the fine has been paid in full.

1.9      With the exception of disciplinary points incurred within 6 weeks of the end of a season (see 1.7), at the end of the season, all cumulative totals will revert to zero, unless the Disciplinary Committee decide otherwise.

1.10    The Disciplinary Committee will deal with all matters relating to misconduct as soon as is practical.  Written reports from both referees, club officials and individuals must be received by the League Secretary within 7 days of any event regarding misconduct taking place.  Match Officials are advised not to make any recommendations or comment, either on their report or otherwise, as to the disciplinary action that they consider to be appropriate.
Any approach or communication made by or on behalf of a club or individual, other than in writing as permitted by the regulations, to the Disciplinary Committee or its Officers related to any matter which is "Sub Judice" (except where the Disciplinary Committee may have specifically requested or invited such communication) is deemed to be misconduct, and appropriate disciplinary action may ensue.  It is not the normal practice for a personal hearing to be given by the Disciplinary Committee.  A personal hearing may, however, be requested in case of an appeal.

Appeals
Appeals on the Disciplinary Committee's decisions must be made within 7 days of notification of the decision and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee shown under C.6. (ii) of the National League Rules (returnable if upheld).
The appeal must be written and sent to the League Secretary where it will then be judged by the Executive Committee.

1.11     Disciplinary action as a result of a decision of the Disciplinary Committee will normally come into effect fourteen days after the date of that decision, or as otherwise decided by the Disciplinary Committee.  Should an appeal be lodged against a decision of the Disciplinary Committee, any disciplinary action will be suspended until such time as the appeal is heard.  In the event of misconduct during the course of an event for which a special Technical Commission is in operation, the matter will be considered by that Technical Committee as expeditiously as they deem to be appropriate.  Any ensuing disciplinary action may have immediate effect if that Technical Committee so decides.  All relevant information must be sent to the Disciplinary Committee (via the League Secretary) for their consideration and they are empowered to avail additional disciplinary penalty points if they deem appropriate (see 1.7).

1.12     Any club, player or official offering or receiving any reward or other inducement to or from another club or person to win or lose a match, or being found guilty of placing a wager on any basketball match in which they are involve, shall be deemed guilty of misconduct, and may be dealt with in accordance with 1.3.

1.13     With regard to postponed matches, The Association may require teams to provide medical certificates in cases of doubt regarding illness or injury.  (See National League Rules C.2)

1.14     Players, Coaches, Team Officials or Team Followers shall not directly or indirectly approach match officials before, during or after the game to give information or make comment which may be regarded as being intended to influence a match official's judgement or neutrality in any way.  Such action will be regarded as serious misconduct and the offender and the club he represents will be subject to severe disciplinary action (item 1.3 shall apply).

1.15     A coach or player under suspension for a match or matches may not play in the match/matches act as team coach (or assistant coach, sit on the team bench as a team follower), or communicate with the team after 20 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time of the match, until after the end of the match.  He/she may be present in the Arena as a spectator unless otherwise stated by the Disciplinary Committee.

1.16     A person under suspension from a match is also barred from participating in any other match(es) in the national competition(s) for which he/she may be eligible, that take place on the same day as the match specified for his/her suspension.

1.17     Normally, suspension will apply to matches in National competitions and all sanctioned events.

1.18     Any person for whom a positive result has been determined in respect of the use of a prohibited substance (or refusing to take test for such substances) shall automatically forthwith be suspended pending the decision of the Executive Committee.