Discipline Policy
Junior Ice Hockey Academy Discipline Policy
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish clear standards of behaviour, responsibility and sportsmanship for everyone involved in the Junior Ice Hockey Academy.
The Academy is committed to providing a safe, positive, inclusive and respectful environment in which young players can develop their hockey skills, confidence, character and teamwork.
Discipline will be fair, consistent, age-appropriate and proportionate. The primary aim of discipline is education and improvement rather than punishment.
2. Expected Standards of Behaviour
All players are expected to:
Treat teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, volunteers and facility staff with respect.
Listen to and follow reasonable instructions from coaches and Academy staff.
Attend training, games and Academy activities on time and properly prepared.
Look after Academy, team and venue equipment and facilities.
Demonstrate good sportsmanship, whether winning or losing.
Control their language and behaviour on and off the ice.
Accept coaching and constructive criticism appropriately.
Take responsibility for their actions and learn from mistakes.
Never engage in bullying, harassment, discrimination, intimidation or threatening behaviour.
Follow all applicable hockey rules, safety requirements and Academy procedures.
Represent the Academy appropriately when travelling, competing or participating in public events and online.
3. Zero-Tolerance Behaviour
The following conduct will be treated particularly seriously:
Physical violence or deliberate attempts to injure another person.
Threats of violence or intimidation.
Bullying, harassment or discriminatory abuse.
Deliberate damage or theft of property.
Serious or repeated abuse of officials, coaches or Academy staff.
Possession or use of prohibited substances or items at Academy activities.
Serious misconduct on social media or other online platforms that targets or threatens Academy members.
Retaliation against anyone who reports a safeguarding or disciplinary concern.
Any behaviour that places another young person at significant risk of harm.
Serious allegations will be dealt with promptly and may result in immediate temporary removal from activities while an investigation takes place.
4. Examples of Disciplinary Offences
Minor offences
Examples include:
Repeated lateness.
Failure to bring required equipment.
Disrupting training.
Failing to follow reasonable coaching instructions.
Inappropriate language.
Poor sportsmanship.
Failure to maintain the changing-room or training environment.
Moderate offences
Examples include:
Repeated minor offences after being warned.
Deliberate disrespect towards teammates or staff.
Persistent disruptive behaviour.
Verbal abuse of opponents or officials.
Deliberate misuse or damage of equipment.
Inappropriate online behaviour connected to the Academy.
Serious offences
Examples include:
Fighting or deliberate physical aggression.
Threatening behaviour.
Bullying or discriminatory abuse.
Serious damage to property.
Theft.
Possession or use of prohibited substances.
Serious abuse of officials, coaches or other adults.
Safeguarding-related misconduct.
Any conduct that could seriously harm another person or bring the Academy into serious disrepute.
5. Graduated Disciplinary Process
Where appropriate, the Academy will use the following process:
Stage 1 – Informal reminder
For a first or minor offence, the coach or responsible member of staff will normally speak with the player, explain what behaviour was unacceptable and establish the expected standard.
Stage 2 – Formal warning
If the behaviour is repeated or more serious, the player may receive a formal warning. The player and parent/guardian may be informed, and an improvement plan may be agreed.
Stage 3 – Disciplinary meeting
For persistent or significant misconduct, the player and parent/guardian may be invited to a meeting with Academy management.
The player will have an opportunity to explain what happened and provide relevant information before a decision is made.
Possible outcomes include:
Written warning.
Behaviour agreement.
Additional coaching or educational measures.
Temporary restriction from training or matches.
Restorative action, such as an appropriate apology or repair/replacement of damaged property.
Other proportionate conditions designed to support improvement.
Stage 4 – Suspension or removal
Serious misconduct, or continued failure to meet Academy standards, may result in suspension or removal from the Academy.
The length and conditions of any suspension will depend on the circumstances and seriousness of the behaviour.
6. Immediate Suspension
The Academy may temporarily suspend a player from training, matches or other activities where this is necessary to:
Protect the safety or wellbeing of others.
Prevent further misconduct.
Allow a serious allegation to be investigated fairly.
Maintain an appropriate training or competition environment.
Temporary suspension is not, by itself, a finding that the player is guilty.
7. Safeguarding
Disciplinary procedures must never be used to conceal, minimise or improperly deal with a safeguarding concern.
Any concern involving abuse, exploitation, inappropriate adult behaviour towards a child, or a significant risk to a young person's welfare must be reported and managed under the Academy's safeguarding procedures.
Where appropriate, the Academy will involve the relevant governing body, safeguarding lead, venue, league or statutory authority.
8. Fairness and Investigation
Before significant disciplinary action is taken, the Academy will, where circumstances reasonably allow:
Establish what happened.
Speak with the player involved.
Give the player an opportunity to provide their account.
Consider relevant evidence and witness information.
Consider the player's age, experience, circumstances and previous behaviour.
Determine an appropriate and proportionate response.
Communicate the decision and any expectations for future behaviour.
For serious matters, more than one member of staff should be involved in the decision wherever practicable.
9. Factors Considered When Deciding a Sanction
The Academy may consider:
The seriousness of the incident.
Whether the behaviour was deliberate.
The player's age and level of understanding.
Whether anyone was harmed or placed at risk.
The player's previous disciplinary record.
Whether the player accepts responsibility.
Whether the behaviour is repeated.
Any relevant mitigating circumstances.
The likely impact of the proposed sanction.
The Academy will not apply automatic sanctions where doing so would be inappropriate or disproportionate.
10. Parents and Guardians
Parents and guardians are expected to support the Academy's standards and reinforce positive behaviour.
Parents/guardians must:
Treat coaches, officials, opposition players and other parents respectfully.
Avoid abusive, threatening or discriminatory behaviour.
Raise concerns through the appropriate Academy process rather than confronting young players or officials.
Support disciplinary decisions while using the appeal process if they believe a decision is unfair.
Avoid coaching from the spectator area where this interferes with the coaching staff's instructions.
A parent's or guardian's misconduct may be dealt with separately from the player's behaviour.
11. Coaches and Staff
Coaches and Academy staff are expected to model the standards required of players.
Staff must not use:
Humiliation or degrading treatment.
Threats or intimidation.
Physical punishment.
Discriminatory or abusive language.
Punishment that compromises a young person's health, safety or welfare.
Discipline must never be used as a substitute for appropriate coaching, safeguarding or behaviour-support procedures.
12. Appeals
A player or parent/guardian may appeal a formal disciplinary decision via our appeals policy.
13. Confidentiality
Disciplinary matters will be handled sensitively and shared only with those who need the information to manage the matter appropriately.
Players, parents and staff must not publicly discuss or share confidential information relating to another young person's disciplinary matter.
14. Positive Discipline
The Academy recognises that young athletes learn through mistakes.
Where appropriate, discipline should therefore include positive measures such as:
Clear expectations.
Coaching and education.
Restorative conversations.
Agreed behaviour goals.
Recognition of improvement.
Support from coaches and parents/guardians.
The objective is to help young players become responsible athletes and positive members of the hockey community.