ARTICLE D: CONDUCT

Part 1: Preamble

1.1 Anytime a student, team, coach or official represents a member school and/or participates in an SOSAA

event, he or she is under the jurisdiction of the SOSAA whether playing another SOSAA member or not. It

should be noted that the exhibition games are included.

1.2 There shall be two divisions of authority with respect to conduct:

(a) Less serious matters to be dealt with by the zone or zone Commissioner in the case of a zone

competition, or by the Valley Commissioner and the SOSAA President in the case of Valley leagues or in

the case of inter-zone play.

(b) More serious matters are to be dealt with by the SOSAA executive or the OVSAA Executive

1.3 It is expected that all Athletic Directors are aware of the following articles and their consequences.

Part 2: Defining Responsibilities

2.1 Zone and/or Commissioner matters shall include such offences as incidents between competitors, game

officials, spectators, and adults in positions of authority which occur during a competition. Incidents shall

include:

(a) Profanity and abusive language.

(b) Ejection from a game:

A player, coach or team member has been ejected from a game if the game official has removed the

individual from the field of play and banned them from remaining on the sidelines or bench area.

(c) Expressions of disrespect

2.2 SOSAA executive matters shall include, but are not exclusive of, such matters as:

(a) Second offenses under the zone and/or commission definition.

(b) Striking another person.

(c) Vandalism, creating a disturbance or similar misconduct while travelling to and from a competition or at

a competition but not during a game.

(d) Coach misconduct.

(e) Official misconduct.

(f) Encouragement of an athlete to use performance enhancing drugs.

Part 3: Procedures

3.1 In a case where an incident has occurred involving either a coach, player, team member, spectator, or official.

(a) There shall be a verbal report by the coach(s) to the Zone President and the appropriate Commissioner.

(b) Written reports shall be submitted within 72 hours by:

(i) the coach or coaches involved.

(ii) student(s) involved.

(iii) game official(s) involved.

(iv) other coaches or responsible adults if requested.

3.2 In a case where a teacher-coach is engaging in inappropriate behavior, the other coach/responsible adult

should:

(a) First approach the offending coach about modifying their behavior.

(b) If no modification is made the offending coach must be notified that a report will be filed with the SOSAA

president (This step may protect you from a BCTF ethics violation).

(c) If behavior is outrageous, Step (a) can be missed but not Step (b).

3.3 In cases where a complaint against a teacher coach is being registered by non-teacher, game officials or

other responsible adults, it is expected that other coaches would simply file reports as appropriate.

Part 4: Penalties

4.1 A minimum penalty of at least a one game suspension from the next league or playoff game shall be imposed

as a result of a player or coach being ejected from a game. If the proper reports are not filed within 72 hours

of the incident, the suspension may be a raised to a minimum of three games. More serious incidents will

result in more serious penalties.

4.2 If there has been an incident the offending coach or player has 72 hours in which to file a report. If the

appropriate report is not filed within 72 hours the coach or player is then ineligible to coach or play until the

report is filed.

4.3 Reported incidents will be filed on a database and repeat incidents shall result in more stringent penalties.

4.4 Because of the wide variety of competitive situations in the various sports, a ‘game’ suspension shall be

deemed to be suspension from one full match such as would be used in keeping standings among schools.

4.5 In cases where a season is over before the penalty is imposed the penalty shall carry over to the next

season, of the sport the infraction occurred, the player or coach participates in.

(i.) for more serious infractions, or repeat infractions, the penalty may be carried over to any other sport

season the player or coach may be involved in.

4.6 The use of ineligible players, failure to complete league commitments and similar violations may result in

a suspension of up to one year.

4.7 Upon proof of violation of the Constitution, or By-Laws of the SOSAA, the SOSAA executive may suspend

the offending player, coach, team, official or school from participation in activities of the SOSAA or its

leagues, or impose such lesser punishments as it shall decide.

4.8 If a coach is ejected from a game and no other administration approved responsible adult (who is on the

bench and on the roster) is present, then the game will be declared forfeit by the team whose coach was

ejected, and the win awarded to the non-offending team.

Part 5: Executive Procedure

5.1 Upon receipt of a complaint about conduct, the executive member receiving the complaint must make a

decision, or seek advice, on which level of executive should deal with the complaint.

5.2 In the case of student misconduct the executive shall call the Principal of the offending student and inform

the Principal that a complaint has been received and that the student has 72 hours from the time of the

incident in order to file a report. If the appropriate report is not received within 72 hours, the coach will be

suspended until such time as the report is received.

5.3 In the case of coach misconduct, the executive shall call the Principal of the offending coach and the coach

to inform them of the complaint and remind them that reports must be filed. If the appropriate report is not

received within 72 hours, the coach will be suspended until such time as the report is received.

5.3.1 In the case of officials misconduct, the executive shall call the local or provincial officials association

allocator to inform them of the complaint and remind them that reports must be filed. It the appropriate

reports are not received within 72 hours, the official will be suspended until such time as the reports are

received.

5.4 In the case of a severe infraction, the responsible executive member shall then contact the discipline

committee and set up a time for either a meeting or conference call to deal with the complaint. The

Disciplinary Committee shall consist of the Administrative Representative (or designate) and two of the

following:

1. SOSAA President

2. Sport Commissioner

3. SOSAA 1st Vice-President

5.5 The responsible executive member shall then give written or electronic notice to the offending student or

coach and inform them of the time and date of the meeting or conference call and offer the offending

student or coach the opportunity to speak directly to the Disciplinary Committee if they should so desire.

5.6 The responsible executive member shall phone the Principal of the offending player or coach and the

offending player or coach to inform them of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and to remind them

that appeals procedures are laid out in the handbook.

5.7 The responsible executive member shall then follow up with a letter to the offending player or coach, and

the Principal of that individual, detailing the Disciplinary Committee decision.

5.8 The responsible executive member shall give written or electronic notice to the appropriate supervisor of

officials and inform them that a disciplinary meeting has been held and that appropriate sanctions are to be

monitored by the offending coach or player’s Principal.

5.9 The SOSAA shall publish in writing the results of SOSAA Disciplinary hearings or Disciplinary Appeals

hearings to the Athletic Directors, and the Principals of the schools involved and to Athletes, Coaches and/or

sponsors also involved. BCSS, SOSAA, OVSAA and the appropriate Provincial sport commissions may also

be informed in writing by the SOSAA if deemed necessary or required.

6.0 In all cases the SOSAA executive must be aware of potential conflicts of interest, timelines and possible

factors limiting communication, and be somewhat flexible when allocating penalties.

Part 6: Disciplinary Appeals Procedures

An appeal to a Disciplinary Committee ruling may be granted if, according to the Administrative Representative or designate, it is shown that ‘due process’ was not given or new information is presented that would have had bearing on the ruling.

6.1 Appeal Procedure for Coaches and Teacher Sponsors

(a) The appeal must be made within one week of notification of the discipline ruling and be supported by the

school Principal.

(b) The Disciplinary Appeals committee shall consist of:

(i) The Administrator Representative or designate (different than who sat on the Disciplinary

Committee).

(ii) An SOSAA Executive Member who was not on the Disciplinary Committee.

(iii) A teacher/coach from a non-offending school (different than who sat on the Disciplinary Committee).

(iv) the SOSAA President or designate as a non-voting member.

(c) The cost of appeals to disciplinary action shall be the responsibility of the school making the appeal.

6.2 Appeal Procedures for Student Athletes

(a) The appeal of a Disciplinary Committee decision in a student athlete discipline case must be made within

one week of notification of the discipline ruling and supported by the school Principal.

(b) The Disciplinary Appeals Committee shall consist of:

(i) The Administrator Representative or designate (different than who sat on the Disciplinary

Committee).

(ii) The SOSAA Executive Member who was not on the Disciplinary Committee.

(iii) A teacher/coach from a non-offending school (different than who sat on the Disciplinary Committee).

(iv) the SOSAA President or designate as a non-voting member.

(c) The cost of appeals to disciplinary action shall be the responsibility of the school making the appeal.