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Club Secretaries and Youth Discipline

It is the role of the Club Disciplinary Committee to deal with discipline cases where a Club youth player has been Sent Off, or cited. The Guidelines in the RFU Handbook should be consulted as it lays out a sentencing tariff to inform the process, this can also be found at www.rfu.com/regulations under Discipline, Appendix 3 - Recommended Sanctions (Youth) Sin Bin Protocol or click here.

It is an important role and must be a fair and effective process. It should take case as soon as possible after the match, and every effort to get the Referee's report should be made. The Referee"s report is the only true independent record of events.

The player should be invited to a meeting, with a friend or parent to help him/her. It is not a court of law and the meeting should be conducted in private, but the setting shouldn’t be made too formal or intimidating. Use language appropriate to the player’s comprehension. Natural justice rules apply to the hearing and the player can be represented and should be given ample opportunity to speak. It should be made clear that there is a right of appeal (to the CB RDP or CB Disciplinary Committee).

The case should be put, as stated by the Referee’s report, and an opportunity for the player to make comments about the circumstances of the offence. If the player accepts the Offence then you proceed to sentence. If (s)he denies it (E.g. mistaken identity / didn’t stamp) then you will need to set up a Panel (of 3) to hear the evidence and decide the outcome. This may need to be on another date when any key witnesses can attend. The Panel ought to be composed of respected club officials with experience of youth rugby but who didn’t see the incident. You may wish to nominate independent people to this panel and you could invite your CB SYDS/CBYDS.

Before deciding on your sentence the player’s previous record should be discussed and any other mitigating reasons. Very brief notes should be taken by one of the Panel, if requested this record should be made available to the player.

In deciding on a sentence you will note from the guidelines there are 3 outcomes:

1. The Sending Off was sufficient;
2.  A Caution is given,
3.  or A match ban is imposed.

In deciding on the outcome please bear in mind his/her previous record, any mitigation or remorse shown and the age, (If the same act was committed by an U13 and an U17 we would expect a more lenient outcome for the U13).

When pronouncing sentence make the terms of any ban clear; normally so many specified matches *. A caution is a clear warning about future expectations of the Club and the need for high standards and good control if he is to continue to play for your Club. Your sentence should be communicated to your CBYDS / CBSYDS and may apply to school games too. Discussion with the School concerned over this may help keep relationships good.  The Referee Society (if any) and your opponents should be informed.

The outcome will inevitably be public and there is value in teammates knowing as a deterrent but youth matters are normally handled privately. So publishing the outcome on web sites, in newsletters, or on the club notice board is not appropriate.

If you need guidance please contact your CB SYDS (or CBYDS).

[*In gauging the match ban ask the player to list the coming games he expects to participate in, this can be as many as 3 or 4 in a ten day period if he plays at school too; or might be 3 spread out over 6 weeks.]

Nigel Orton
National Schools & Youth Disciplinary Secretary
NRO@latymer-upper.org