Del Norte Little League

Disciplinary Policy

Del Norte Little League (DNLL) expects all participants (players, managers, coaches, spectators, and all volunteers associated with DNLL) to exhibit acceptable behavior on and off the field. Aggressive behavior (fighting, pinching, hitting or other acts of aggression) or other unacceptable behavior (foul language, tobacco, alcohol, or any other offensive behavior) will not be tolerated by DNLL. Participants involved in unacceptable behavior of this type will be subject to disciplinary action as dictated by Little League and DNLL policy. The DNLL Board of Directors reserves the right to set punishment according to the seriousness of the offense up to and including suspension from participation in any DNLL related activity. The ruling of the DNLL Board of Directors will be final.

It is the sincere hope of the DNLL staff and its members that no participant will display any form of unacceptable behavior, however, should the situation arise, this disciplinary policy will be enforced. ALL participants involved in unacceptable behavior will be disciplined on an individual basis as determined by the guidelines established by Little League International and as applied by the DNLL Disciplinary Committee.

Little League International – Rule 4.07 – All levels of Baseball and Softball

When a manager, coach or player is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. They MAY NOT sit in the stands and MAY NOT be recalled. Any manager, coach or player ejected from a game is suspended for his/her team’s next played game. (This is a Little League policy which may not be waived, altered, or modified. Any local league found in violation of this policy may be subject to league sanctions and loss of charter.)

*** NOTE: Ejection from any game may result in loss of eligibility of any and/or all All-Star privileges.

I acknowledge receipt of the DNLL Disciplinary policy and have discussed its content with participants involved with my team to include players, coaches, parents, and spectators. I agree to abide by this policy and understand that unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated.

Division ______________________________________________________________________________

Team Name __________________________________________________________________________

Manager: ____________________________________________________Date: ___________________

                                PRINT AND SIGN NAME

Coach: ______________________________________________________ Date: ___________________

                                PRINT AND SIGN NAME

Coach: ______________________________________________________ Date: ___________________

                                PRINT AND SIGN NAME

Del Norte Little League

Disciplinary Procedure

If an infraction of the DNLL Disciplinary Policy occurs, the complaint shall be submitted in writing to the League Player Agent or President within 24 hours of the infraction.

Upon receipt of a written complaint, the League President will assign one or more members of the executive board as the investigating officer(s) to conduct an impartial investigation. Upon completing the investigation, the investigating officer(s) will present those findings to the DNLL Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will present those findings to the Board of Directors who will determine whether disciplinary action is warranted and, when required, the disciplinary action to be taken.

The Disciplinary Committee will convene to discuss  league infractions, the severity, and proposed disciplinary action as soon after the occurrence as possible, typically within the week of receipt of the complaint. The severity of some complaints may require more immediate action.

It is the intent of the board of Directors to ensure that all investigations are completed prior to any disciplinary action being taken. However, for the most serious of alleged offenses, the Board of Directors may take administrative action to restrict or suspend participation of the party/parties involved in any games and/or DNLL activities until the investigation is complete and the issue has been completely resolved. In those instances where the investigation determines that the alleged offense did not occur, this “interim” action will not be considered to have been disciplinary in nature.

Those involved in the alleged infraction will be notified by the President of the date and time of the meeting to discuss the incident. Each party will be offered an opportunity to speak during a specified time frame assigned and managed by the President and Player Agent.

The offending party/parties involved will be notified of the decision of the Board of Directors verbally and/or in writing. Neither the Board of Directors nor the Disciplinary Committee is under any obligation to disclose the decision and/or punishment to the complaining party/parties.

The decision of the Board of Directors is FINAL.

Disciplinary Committee consists of:

President

Vice President

Investigating Officer(s)

Chief Umpire

Player Agent

Secretary

Other members as required

Ejection Procedures:

When an ejection occurs, the ejecting umpire shall complete an ejection report to be turned into the Chief Umpire. This report shall contain:

1.       Date, Time, Field #, and division of the game in question.

2.       Names of both teams involved in the game, and those team’s acting managers.

3.       Name(s) of individual(s) ejected.

4.       Any pertinent information leading up to the ejection, and pertinent information about the ejection, and any pertinent information about actions after the ejection.

5.       Any relevant statement(s) of other umpire(s) on the game.

6.       Whether the ejecting umpire believes the incident warrants further disciplinary action

●        Chief Umpire shall furnish a copy of the ejection report to the President, Player Agent, and Coaching Coordinator (if it was a manager or coach ejected)

●        If 2 or more of the board members receiving the ejection report determines that the ejection requires further examination, the League President shall schedule a meeting to include the Chief Umpire and at least 3 members of the Board of Directors who do not manage or coach at the level of play in question. If the President or Chief Umpire deem necessary, the ejected player, team manager, and/or parents may appear as advisor(s).

An ejection is a judgment call and therefore cannot be protested.

●        In the event the team manager of the ejected person wants to appeal the additional game suspension, see investigation section below. It is noted that such appeal must be made in writing to either the League President or Chief Umpire, within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game during which the ejection in question took place.

●        Board Members present shall discuss the situation after all parties have left. If present members are moved to impose further disciplinary action, such action shall come to a vote with simple majority ruling. Board Members who manage or coach at the level of play in question may participate in discussion but shall not vote.

Investigation Procedures:

If the team manager appeals the additional game suspension due to the ejection’s merit, he/she must make a statement to that effect, to include references to any relevant playing rules, and including any extenuating circumstances that support his/her belief. Such statement shall be recorded in writing as the grounds for defense against the ejection’s mandatory second game suspension.

●        The Chief Umpire shall prepare a statement of particulars regarding the ejection. Such statement shall contain references to any relevant playing rules, any extenuating circumstances surrounding the ejection, and whether the Chief Umpire believes the ejection and subsequent suspension to be warranted.

●        A meeting shall be held, of at least 7 members of the Board of Directors, to include the President, Chief Umpire, Coaching Coordinator, and Player Agent.

●        Any relevant discussion shall be held regarding the ejection. The understanding shall be that the burden of proof is on the ejected person’s grounds for defense to demonstrate reasons the additional game suspension should be overruled. After discussion is concluded, a vote regarding the additional game suspension shall be held.

●        If the Chief Umpire’s statement of particulars is in support of the additional game suspension, and if the President supports the additional game suspension, the suspension shall be upheld.

●        If the vote is unanimous by every other director present, the suspension may be overruled. This decision will be FINAL.

INFRACTION EXAMPLES AND PENALTY GUIDELINES

*This is for reference only. All penalties will be discussed and decided by the Disciplinary Committee and/or the Board of Directors*