SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR FL 2012 TRIBUNAL REFERENCE MANUAL 1 P a g e
SA AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE INC ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS FOR TRIBUNAL HEARINGS Appintment f Chairman The tribunal shall satisfy itself that the persn charged has had details f the charge. Umpire's evidence. Crss-examinatin f Umpire by the tribunal. Crss-examinatin f Umpire by the Player and/r Delegate. Evidence f Umpire's witness. Crss-examinatin f umpire's witness. Plea f player Evidence f player. Crss-examinatin f player by tribunal Cmment by the Umpire n the evidence submitted by the player at the discretin f the tribunal. Evidence f player's witness. Crss-examinatin f player's witness by the Tribunal. Cmments by the Umpire n the evidence submitted by the player's witness at the discretin f the Tribunal. Submissin by the player based upn the evidence presented. If a "Nt Guilty" plea has been entered: a) All peple ther than the Tribunal shall withdraw t allw the Tribunal t decide whether the charge is prven. b) Upn reaching its decisin the Tribunal shall recall the persn charged and the umpire. c) If the player is fund "Nt Guilty" the Tribunal will be declared clsed. If the player is fund "Guilty" r has entered a plea f "Guilty" the details f the player's recrd shall be read. The player r his Representatives may make a submissin t the Tribunal n the questin f penalty. All persns wh have been called t give evidence shall remain present until all ther evidence has been presented t the Tribunal. All parties shall again withdraw t allw the Tribunal t decide n what rder is t be made. The player charged and his Representatives shall then be readmitted and infrmed f the decisin. SPECIAL NOTES: Evidence must be taken even if the player pleads guilty. A plea is always required A plea can be taken at any time until evidence f player is given. At any time the Chairman and thrugh him the ther members f the tribunal may ask questins f the Umpire, player r witnesses. Any persn wh cnducts himself disrespectfully t the Tribunal during the hearing f a charge may be dealt with in such manner as the Tribunal in its abslute discretin shall deem fit. Members f the Media may be admitted at the discretin f the Chairman f the Tribunal. If tw players are reprted in the same incident they can be heard at the same time at the discretin f the Tribunal. It is nt pssible fr a persn t be a delegate appearing fr the player and a witness giving evidence during the same hearing. 2 P a g e
SA AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE INC ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS FOR TRIBUNAL HEARINGS DETAILS OF CHARGE/S ARE PRESENTED TO THE TRIBUNAL PANEL EVIDENCE that can be presented Umpire Player Player witness Umpire witness DVD/Vide Medical reprts Umpires Evidence Evidence is given by umpire Tribunal panel crss examinatin f umpire Player/advcate crss examinatin f umpire DVD/Vide can be viewed Player enters plea Players Evidence Evidence is given by player Tribunal panel crss examinatin f player Umpire crss examinatin f player DVD/Vide can be viewed Witness Evidence Evidence f player s witness. Crss-examinatin f player s witness by the Tribunal. Cmments by the Umpire n the evidence submitted by the player s witness at the discretin f the Tribunal. Summary by player advcate upn the evidence presented. Verdict All parties, apart frm the members f the Tribunal, shall withdraw t allw the Tribunal members t decide whether the charge is prven r dismissed. If fund Nt Guilty: The Tribunal will be declared clsed If fund Guilty: If the charge is prven, then the Tribunal will determine an apprpriate penalty. The player advcate and player will be readmitted t be advised f the Tribunals decisin. The reprting umpire will be given the ptin f re-appearing t hear the utcme decided by the Tribunal. 3 P a g e
SA AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE INC PROCEDURE FOR PLAYERS REPORTED FOR CATEGORY A REPORTS Hearings are held - 7:00pm Wednesday evenings @ League Office 1a Meyer Street, Trrensville Unless therwise advised by The League The reprted player and a player advcate (Club representative), t act n behalf f player, must be present at The League Office n later than 7.00pm n the Wednesday fllwing the match in which the player was reprted. The nly ntificatin Clubs will receive regarding a reprted player, will be n the Reprt by Umpire sheet cmpleted by the reprting umpire(s) and cllected by a Match Day Official after the cmpletin f the match A schedule f reprted players will be psted n The League s website n Mnday mrning f each week. www.saafl.asn.au Unless there are significant changes frm the riginal umpire s reprt, in which case The League will advise. If there are exceptinal circumstances fr being unable t attend a tribunal hearing, the Tribunal Chairpersn may cnsider pstpning the hearing, prvided The League is ntified by 12 nn n the Mnday fllwing the game Fines are impsed fr the nnattendance f a reprted player and/r player advcate at a scheduled Tribunal hearing A reprted player must attend the tribunal befre playing again 4 P a g e
SA AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE INC PRESCRIBED PENALTIES CATEGORY A REPORTS Disputing a decisin f (intentinally, reckless r negligently)...1 Match Use f an bscene gesture...1 Match Engaging in time wasting... 1 Match Thrwing r pushing anther player after that player has taken a mark, dispsed f the ftball r after therwise ut f play...1 Match Engaging in rugh play against an ppnent which in the circumstances is unreasnable...1 Match Engaging in a melee, except where a player's sle intentin is t remve a team mate frm the incident...1 Match Attempting t kick anther player...2 Matches Attempting t strike anther player...1 Match Attempting t trip anther player whether by hand, arm, ft r leg...1 Match Intentinally shaking a gal r behind pst when anther player is preparing t kick r is kicking fr gal r after the player has kicked fr gal and the ball is in transit...1 Match Wrestling anther player...1 Match Using abusive, insulting, threatening r bscene language...1 Match Failing t leave the playing field when directed t s by a field umpire...2 Matches Wearing bts, jewellery and equipment prhibited under Law 9 f the Laws f Australian Ftball...1 Match Any act f miscnduct...1 Match 5 P a g e
TRIBUNAL PENALTY MECHANISM The fllwing mechanism is t be used when the Tribunal Cmmissin finds a player guilty f an ffence. It will categrise the level and severity f the ffence by determining three (3) factrs Cnduct whether the cnduct was intentinal, reckless r negligent (refer later fr definitin) Impact/Circumstance - whether the impact was sever4high, medium r lw. The circumstance f the impact may increase r reduce the penalty, i.e. in play, r behind the play. Cntact - whether the cntact was high, t the bdy, r t the grin (The area between the tps f the thighs and the abdmen). CONDUCT DEFINITIONS Negligent "The cnduct cnstitutes a breach f the duty f care by the reprted player t all ther players". Each player has a duty f care t all ther players nt t engage in cnduct which will cnstitute a reprtable ffence being cmmitted against that ther player. In rder t cnstitute such a breach f that duty f care, the cnduct must be such that a reasnable player wuld realise the cnduct was reprtable and avid ding it. Australian ftball is a cntact sprt. Hwever every player wes a duty f care t all ther players nt t cause, and t avid, illegal cnduct. Reckless "A player recklessly cmmits a reprtable ffence if he engages in cnduct that he realises has a real likelihd in resulting in a reprtable ffence being cmmitted (r that a reasnable player wuld realise may result in the reprtable ffence being cmmitted) but nevertheless prceeds with that cnduct". Intentinal "A player intentinally cmmits a reprtable ffence if the player engages in cnduct with the intentin f cmmitting that reprtable ffence". An intentin is a state f mind and may be frmed n the spur f the mment. Whether r nt a player intentinally cmmits a reprtable ffence depends n the state f mind f the player when he des the act with which he is charged. What the player did is ften the best evidence f the purpse he had in mind. The deliberate ding f the act carries with it evidence f intentinal cnduct. 6 P a g e
IMPACT CATEGORIES/CIRCUMSTANCE There are fur (4) categries f impact:- severe, high, medium and lw. In determining the level f impact, cnsideratin will be given t the extent f frce and in particular, any injury sustained by the player wh was ffended against. Cnsideratin will als be given t the ptential t cause serius injury, e.g. strike with elbw. In additin t the extent f the injury n the victim, the bdy language f the ffending player will als be taken int cnsideratin, e.g. flexing, turning, raising r psitining the bdy t either increase r decrease the frce f impact. The absence f injury des nt necessarily preclude the classificatin f the impact as severe. Cnsideratin will als be given t the circumstances in which the impact is made. If impact is made behind play, the Tribunal may, at its abslute discretin, take it int accunt. CONTACT CATEGORIES There are three (3) categries f cntact: high, grin r bdy High Includes any cntact abve the shulder Grin Includes the inner part f each upper thigh tgether with the adjacent regin and including the testicles. Bdy Includes any/all parts f the bdy nt cvered under "high" and/r "grin". In categrising cntact, cnsideratin will be given t the pint f cntact. Where cntact is bth high and t the bdy, the cntact will be classified as high. Fr example, shuld a player tackle anther player arund the waist and as a result f the tackle the victim player's head makes frceful cntact with the grund (r anther player) then the cntact in these circumstances wuld be classified as high, even thugh the tackle was t the bdy. 7 P a g e
LEVEL OF OFFENCE Once the level f ffence has been determined it will be used in calculating the match penalty. Accmpanying tables (pages 10 and 11) shuld be used as a guide nly. The Tribunal, at its abslute discretin, may increase r reduce match penalties dependent upn circumstances surrunding each reprtable ffence. Tribunal discretin is mst likely t ccur (but nt necessarily be limited t) the fllwing ffences: Any act f serius miscnduct Kicking Bumping r making frceful cntact when the player has his head dwn ver the ball. Any intentinal act with severe/high impact and high cntact Intentinal cntact with an Umpire** Behaving in an abusive, threatening, r bscene manner tward, r in relatin t an Umpire** **Offences against Umpires are cnsidered t be serius and as such match penalties are t be at the abslute discretin f the Tribunal Penalty reductins may be cnsidered by the Tribunal, at its abslute discretin, fr the fllwing:- Early guilty plea and/r genuine remrse shwn by ffending player Offending player has nt been fund guilty f any reprtable ffence within the last five (5) SAAFL years.
PENALTY GUIDELINES Cnduct Impact/ Circumstance Cntact Match Penalty (Guideline Only) Intentinal Severe High/Grin Tribunal Discretin Intentinal Severe Bdy Tribunal Discretin Intentinal High High/Grin Tribunal Discretin Intentinal High Bdy Tribunal Discretin Intentinal Medium High/Grin 4-6 Intentinal Medium Bdy 3-5 Intentinal Lw High/Grin 2-4 Intentinal Lw Bdy 2-3 Reckless Severe High/Grin 4-6 Reckless Severe Bdy 4-6 Reckless High High/Grin 4-5 Reckless High Bdy 4-5 Reckless Medium High/Grin 3-4 Reckless Medium Bdy 2-3 Reckless Lw High/Grin 1-2 Reckless Lw Bdy 1-2 Negligent Severe High/Grin 4-5 Negligent Severe Bdy 4-5 Negligent High High/Grin 3-4 Negligent High Bdy 3-4 Negligent Medium High/Grin 2-3 Negligent Medium Bdy 1-2 Negligent Lw High/Grin 1-2 Negligent Lw Bdy 1-2 NOT WITHSTANDING THE ABOVE GUIDELINES ALL PENALTIES WILL BE AT THE DISCRESION OF THE TRIBUNAL 9 P a g e
PENALTY GUIDELINES CONTACT INTENTIONAL Refer t Guidelines RECKLESS Refer t Guidelines NEGLIGENT Refer t Guidelines SEVERE Hspitalisatin Surgery Recvery Absence wrk/educatin SEVERE SEVERE HIGH Hspitalisatn Recvery Absence wrk/educatin HIGH HIGH MEDIUM Medical treatment Recvery Absence wrk/educatin MEDIUM MEDIUM UMPIRES LOW Minimal medical treament Minimal recvery time LOW LOW CONTACT Frceful bdy r bject BEHAVIOUR Abusive, insulting Threatening, Obscene LANGUAGE Abusive, insulting Threatening bscene 2-4 GAMES 1-2 GAMES 0-1 GAMES Tribunal Discretin Tribunal Discretin Tribunal Discretin 4-6 GAMES 2-3 GAMES 1-2 GAMES Tribunal Discretin 4-5 GAMES 2-3 GAMES Tribunal Discretin 4-6 GAMES 4 5 GAMES 10 P a g e
TRIBUNAL SUMMARY OF REPORTABLE OFFENCE AND MATCH PENALTY The Chairman f each Tribunal Cmmissin is t prvide a summary f the reprtable ffence detailing the classificatin f cnduct, impact/circumstance, and cntact. The Chairman f the Tribunal Cmmissin shuld als summarise any extenuating circumstances which may result in the increase f r reductin in, the match penalty. SAAFL WEBSITE ADVICE RE MATCH PENALTIES SAAFL Website advice n match penalties shuld include:- Classificatin f level f ffence in relatin t cnduct, impact/circumstance, and cntact Very brief descriptin f any extenuating circumstances resulting in increase, r reductin, in match penalty. This shuld prvide transparency t all SAAFL Clubs in determinatin f match penalties by the Tribunal Cmmissin. 11 P a g e