INTERCITY COMPETITION 2016/17
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
OVERVIEW
The INTERCITY COMPETITION COMMITTEE (ICC) will be made up of Wellington and Hutt Valley
Softball Association Representatives. The committee will be responsible for the overall control of
draws, protests, disciplinary and other matters regarding the Intercity Competition.
The ICC recognises the importance of providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all those who
participate in softball in our region. The ICC does not tolerate abuse in any of its forms, and has
adopted this policy to clearly outline the processes and penalties to be applied.
This policy is to be read and applied, where applicable, in conjunction with the ICC and Softball New
Zealand (SNZ) Codes of Conduct, WSA and HVSA Constitutions and their Rules & By-Laws.
The penalties outlined within this document are provided as a guide and may be altered and
categories added at the discretion of the Intercity Competition Committee.
Objective
The objectives of this policy are to:

Remove personal abuse and unsportsmanlike behaviour from all aspects of the game of softball
played in the Intercity Competition.

Protect all participants from exposure to such behaviour.

Provide a consistent application of processes and penalties for breaches to the Codes of
Conduct.
Who does this policy apply to?
This policy applies to:
a.
Administrators of softball in Wellington and Hutt Valley at National, Regional Association
and Club level, be they employed or volunteer.
b.
Players in activities and events held by or under the auspices or control of the WSA and
HVSA or Affiliates
c.
Coaches of teams and players in activities and events held by or under the auspices or
control of the WSA and HVSA or Affiliates.
d.
Umpires of games in activities and events held by or under the auspices or control of the
WSA and HVSA or Affiliates.
e.
Managers of teams participating in activities and events held by or under the auspices or
control of the WSA and HVSA or Affiliates.
f.
Scorers and statisticians of games in activities and events held by or under the auspices or
control of the WSA and HVSA or Affiliates.
g.
Registered participants when involved as a spectator of games in activities and events held
by or under the auspices or control of the WSA and HVSA or Affiliates.
h.
Spectators of games in activities and events held by or under the auspices or control of the
WSA and HVSA or Affiliates.
Definitions
Week
A week is defined as officially organised softball games that are part of a
schedule, roster or draw regardless of competition grades that the player
would normally or had normally participated in.
Category
Is the Category of Violation as listed in this Policy.
Penalty
Is the punishment imposed as stated in this Policy or imposed by the
Judiciary Committee.
Official
Is any person appointed to an official position of the WSA and HVSA or
Affiliates.
Registered
Participant
Is any person appointed to an official position of the WSA and HVSA or
Affiliated organisation.
Spectator
A person observing a game of softball or its associated activities
including training, from a position in the immediate vicinity (defined as
within hearing) of those activities.
Umpire
A person controlling and adjudicating a game. This may be an accredited
SNZ or Association Umpire, a trainee or a club appointed person acting
in the capacity as an umpire.
Disciplinary Process
 Any player/coach/team member ejected will be required/mandatory to appear before the
discipline committee the Tuesday immediately following the ejection (may bring a support
person).
 If the player/coach/team member refuses to attend the discipline committee meeting they will
not be permitted to play any competition games at any level for any team until they appear
(including junior games).
 If anyone flouts this rule and participates in any game the team they play for will not receive
competition points until the said person has attended the judiciary.
 The Umpire who has ejected the player/coach/team member will be required to provide a written
report to be presented to the disclipinary committee.
 .
Policy
A registered participant in organised softball or any spectator will not indulge in any unsportsmanlike
behaviour towards other participants, spectators or officials involved in a recognised softball activity
including organised training and will adhere to the relevant Code of Conduct/Ethics and Member
Protection Policy.
Unsportsmanlike behaviour will include, but not be limited to:
a. Verbal abuse and threats
b. Physical abuse and/or assault
c. Discrimination
d. Harassment
e. Making derogatory statements or gestures
f. Cheating
g. Visible dissention of a decision of an umpire or official in an unsportsmanlike manner
h. Equipment Abuse
(NOTE: Unsportsmanlike behaviour applies to both the instigation of and response to any incident.)
Categories of Offence & Penalties
Unsportsmanlike behaviour has been broken up into a number of categories of violation to determine the most
appropriate penalty to be applied for breaches to this policy. These penalties may be amended at any time at
the discretion of the ICC. Applicable penalties (week suspensions) for each category of offence are also shown.
On diamond umpires of any kind will officiate games according to SNZ rules, except where those rules are
explicitly modified by ICC. In particular, umpires will use the discretion given to them in the rules to enforce on
diamond behaviour. This includes warning and ejecting players or coaches from the game, or ending the game
for violating certain rules.
The following table identifies penalties that will be given by the ICC when incidents are reported to the ICC.
Category
of
Violation
Penalties
Incident
1st Offence
2nd Offence
3rd Offence




Use of audible foul language
Disputing judgment or decision of an umpire
Minor equipment abuse
Frivolous complaints (first incident)
1 Week
3 Weeks
5 Weeks



Rough play, barging, pushing etc
Displays of inappropriate aggressive behaviour
Disparaging or insulting remarks and/or the use of
foul language directed toward another
player/official/umpire
Answering back an umpire
Failing to carry out a lawful direction of an umpire
1 Week
3 Week
5 Weeks






Answering back an umpire on multiple occasions
Abusing an umpire or official
Deliberately barging with force
Displays of excessive aggressive behaviour
Frivolous complaint (second and further incidents)
Major equipment abuse where there is potential to
injure participants and/or spectators
2 Weeks
Refer Judiciary
4 Weeks
Refer Judiciary
8 Weeks
Refer Judiciary
P4


Fighting after being provoked
Provoking a fight but no further involvement
3 Weeks
Refer Judiciary
6 Weeks
Refer Judiciary
12 Weeks
Refer Judiciary
P5


Provocation and involvement in fighting
Threatening an umpire, official or player
6 Weeks
Refer Judiciary
Full year
Refer Judiciary
Refer Judiciary
P6

Physically attacking an umpire
Refer Judiciary
Refer Judiciary
P7

Melee
Refer Judiciary
Refer Judiciary
P8

Other
Refer Judiciary
Refer Judiciary
P1
P2


P3
Note 1:
Note 2:
Note 3:
Note 4:
Note 5:
1 Year
Refer Judiciary
$500 fine per
club involved
and game
forfeited
Refer Judiciary
Refer Judiciary
Melee involves multiple players per team involved in the incident.
Items P3 to P6 shall invoke an automatic ejection from the match involved.
Any suspension applies to the next match/s which the offender would otherwise normally have participated in (ie.
grade registered in) regardless of level of competition including representation.
Note special provisions apply in relation to offences involving trainee and club appointed (non-accredited) umpires.
‘Audible’ means to be able to be clearly heard by spectators.