Atherstone Adders Hockey Club is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour, sportsmanship and respect both on and off the hockey pitch.
All players, coaches, managers, officials, volunteers, parents, spectators and other members associated with the Club are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on Atherstone Adders Hockey Club and the sport of hockey.

The Club expects all members to comply with the England Hockey Spirit of Hockey – Code of Conduct, the England Hockey Disciplinary Regulations, the Rules of Hockey and all relevant Club policies and procedures. The Spirit of Hockey – Code of Conduct applies to everyone involved in hockey, including players, coaches, officials, committee members, volunteers and spectators.

Conduct on the Field of Play
A player's conduct on the field of play is ultimately the responsibility of the individual player.
Players are expected to:

Respect teammates, opponents, coaches, officials and spectators.
Follow the Rules of Hockey and the instructions of umpires and match officials.
Demonstrate good sportsmanship and respect at all times.
Refrain from abusive, threatening, discriminatory or offensive language or behaviour.
Accept decisions made by umpires and officials without confrontation or abuse.
Represent Atherstone Adders Hockey Club in a positive and responsible manner.

Team Captains, Coaches and Managers are responsible for reinforcing these standards and addressing minor incidents of poor conduct where appropriate.
England Hockey identifies inappropriate behaviour as including, amongst other things, insulting or discriminatory language or gestures, abusing or shouting at players, coaches or officials, publicly questioning the decisions or integrity of officials, and behaviour that threatens the health and safety of anyone involved in hockey.

Conduct Off the Field
The Club's expectations extend beyond match play and training.
Members are expected to behave appropriately at:

Club training sessions and matches.
Opposition venues and Club facilities.
Club social events and functions.
Tournaments and competitions.
Team trips and tours.
Club-related meetings and activities.
Online and social media platforms where their conduct relates to the Club or hockey.

Members should be aware that inappropriate behaviour outside the immediate playing environment may still bring the Club or the sport into disrepute and may therefore be subject to disciplinary action.

England Hockey's current Code of Conduct specifically recognises that inappropriate behaviour can include conduct through social or electronic media which publicly criticises or abuses people involved in hockey or potentially brings the sport into disrepute.

Club Disciplinary Procedure
Where a concern is raised about a member's conduct, the Club will consider the circumstances and determine the appropriate course of action.
Depending on the nature and seriousness of the incident, this may include:

Informal discussion or guidance – for minor incidents where the matter can reasonably be resolved through discussion with the player or member.
Formal warning – where behaviour is unacceptable or repeated.
Club disciplinary investigation – where a more serious allegation requires investigation and the member should have an opportunity to respond.
Disciplinary hearing – where appropriate, a Club disciplinary panel may be convened to consider the evidence and representations from those involved.
Club sanctions – where an allegation is upheld, the Club may impose an appropriate sanction, including a warning, suspension from training or matches, removal from a team, or suspension or termination of Club membership.
Referral to England Hockey or the relevant governing body – where the matter falls within England Hockey's disciplinary jurisdiction or is sufficiently serious to warrant referral.

The Club will aim to deal with disciplinary matters fairly, consistently and proportionately, taking into account the seriousness of the incident, the circumstances, any previous incidents and any mitigating factors.

Red Cards and Matchday Misconduct
Any player or team official receiving a Red Card or being involved in an incident that may constitute matchday misconduct must comply with the relevant England Hockey disciplinary process.
England Hockey's current Disciplinary Regulations apply to Red Card and misconduct offences within its jurisdiction. There are specific reporting procedures and time limits which must be followed.

The Club's Disciplinary Officer, Committee or nominated Club representative will support the player or team official through the appropriate process where required.
Any England Hockey sanction is separate from any additional Club disciplinary action that may be considered appropriate.

Serious Misconduct and Disrepute
The Club reserves the right to take disciplinary action where a member's behaviour is considered sufficiently serious to damage the reputation of Atherstone Adders Hockey Club, England Hockey or the sport of hockey.
This may include, but is not limited to:

Violent, threatening or abusive behaviour.
Discriminatory or offensive behaviour.
Bullying or harassment.
Serious or repeated breaches of the England Hockey Code of Conduct.
Abuse of officials, coaches, players or volunteers.
Serious breaches of Club policies.
Inappropriate behaviour involving young people or vulnerable participants.
Deliberate damage to property or facilities.
Serious misconduct at Club or hockey-related social events.
Inappropriate use of social media.
Conduct that brings the Club or hockey into disrepute.

Where appropriate, matters may be reported to England Hockey. England Hockey provides a formal Misconduct Complaint process for alleged breaches of the Spirit of Hockey – Code of Conduct or conduct that otherwise brings hockey into disrepute.

Safeguarding
Any allegation or concern involving the safeguarding or welfare of a child or young person will be dealt with under the Club's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and the appropriate England Hockey safeguarding procedures.
Safeguarding concerns will not be dealt with solely through the normal Club disciplinary process where doing so could compromise the welfare of a child or the appropriate safeguarding response.

Appeals
Where a formal Club disciplinary sanction is imposed, the member will normally be informed of the decision and the reasons for it.
The Club may provide an opportunity to appeal a formal Club disciplinary decision where appropriate. Any appeal should be submitted in writing to the Club Committee within the timeframe specified in the disciplinary decision.
An appeal should identify the grounds for the appeal and any relevant information or evidence that the member believes should be considered.
Where a matter has been dealt with directly by England Hockey, any appeal against an England Hockey disciplinary decision must follow the appeal process and timescales specified by England Hockey.

Club Responsibility
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club will seek to ensure that disciplinary matters are handled fairly, confidentially and consistently, while recognising that information may need to be shared with appropriate Club officers, governing bodies or statutory authorities where necessary.
The Club will always seek to balance the interests of the individual member with its responsibility to protect other members, uphold safeguarding standards and maintain the reputation and integrity of Atherstone Adders Hockey Club.
England Hockey Guidance
All members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the current England Hockey Spirit of Hockey – Code of Conduct and the relevant England Hockey Disciplinary Regulations.
The current England Hockey disciplinary framework provides specific procedures for Red Cards, matchday misconduct and Misconduct Complaints.
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/rules-and-regulations/discipline-and-misconduct/spirit-of-hockey