Central Disciplinary Structure

1
Central Disciplinary Structure

• Conchuir Ó hÓgain
• November 2005

2
Decisions of Congress 2005

• Division of Responsibilities of GAC
• Central Games Administration Committee (GAC)
• Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC)
• Central Appeals Committee
• Disputes Resolution Code
• Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA)

3
Central GAC

• Responsible for the organisation and control of
  games under the control of Central Council
• Organisation of championships, league formats,
  fixtures, venues, etc. Adopts referees reports
  for match results but not for discipline.
• Responsible for preparing match regulations for
  approval by Management and Central Council

4
Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC)

• Responsible for all disciplinary matters,
  including misconduct and breaches of match
  regulations, arising from games under the
  jurisdiction of Central Council and from the
  Provincial inter county senior championship
  games.
• Adopts referees reports for disciplinary purposes.

5
Central Appeals Committee

• Hears all appeals made at Central Level
• Decisions are final and binding subject only to a
  case being referred to arbitration under the
  Disputes Resolution Code.

6
Disputes Resolution Authority

• An Authority known as the Disputes Resolution
  Authority shall be established. It shall be
  independent of the Association and be bound only
  of the provisions of this code.
• The DRA provides for an independent and speedy
  system of adjudicating on disputes under the
  Arbitration Acts, which are legally binding,
  without having to resort to the courts.

7
DRA

• The DRA has a Secretary who maintains a panel of
  lawyers and lay people experienced in the rules
  of the GAA who are available to act voluntarily
  on DRA Tribunals.
• Disputes are referred to the Secretary in line
  with procedures and if a dispute is in order the
  Secretary constitutes a tribunal of 3 people to
  hear the case and adjudicate on it.

8
DRA

• Members and units are bound under rules to
  resolve disputes through existing procedures, the
  appeals system and the DRA.
• Members shall not resort to court proceedings in
  disregard of these procedures, the appeals system
  and the disputes resolution provisions.

9
DRA Activity to Date

• DRA has dealt with 11 cases since its inception
  some were multiple hearings.
• A number of Interim Rulings.
• 6 cases brought by individuals
• 4 won
• 2 lost
• 5 cases brought by clubs
• All lost
• A review of the first year in operation is
  currently in progress

10
Misconduct on Field Categories of Offences

• (A) Interference by a player or official with a
  Referee, Umpire, Linesman, Sideline Official or
  opposing Team Official minimum suspension 8
  weeks.
• (B) Striking with hurley, head, kicking or
  stamping minimum suspension 12 weeks.
• (C) Other immediate Ordering Off offences not
  covered by (A) or (B) above minimum suspension
  4 weeks.
• (D) Second Cautionable Foul remainder of game.

11
Penalties

• A player ordered off the field for a Category (A)
  or (B) offence shall stand suspended and shall
  not play again until his case has been dealt
  with.
• A player ordered off the field for a Category (C)
  offence shall stand suspended for the minimum of
  four weeks at the level and code at which the
  offence is committed i.e. Inter-County, Club,
  Interprovincial , Third Level, Schools etc. The
  player has the right to have his suspension
  reviewed.

12
Penalties

• A penalty for a Category (C) offence includes the
  next game in the Competition in which the
  suspension was incurred, even if the next game
  falls outside the suspension period.
• A player ordered off for a Category (D) offence
  may not play for the duration of the remainder of
  that game and extra time where played (but can be
  replaced in extra time with another player).

13
Additional Suspension

• The Commitee in Charge shall have due regard for
  the gravity and repetition of offences in each
  case, and shall, where appropriate, imposer a
  longer term of suspension.
• A player repeating any specific offence in
  Categories (A) or (B) within a forty eight week
  period, shall be suspended for not less than
  double the minimum applicable to that offence.

14
Additional Suspension

• A player repeating any offence in Category (C), a
  the same level, i.e. Inter-County, Club,
  Inter-Provincial, Third Level, School etc.
  within forty eight weeks, shall be suspended for
  not less than eight weeks (shall include the next
  game in the competition in which the suspension
  was incurred even if the next game falls outside
  the suspension period.
• A player repeating a Category (D) offence within
  forty eight weeks, stands suspended for two
  weeks.

15
Procedures

• A player alleged to have offended must be given
  notice in writing of the alleged offence i.e.
  charged
• Exceptions
• a case in which a suspension of 4 weeks or less
  applies i.e. Category (C) or (D) offences or
  suspensions of Juveniles for match offences.
• Rule of thumb if an offence carries a suspension
  of
• more than 4 weeks the player must be charged .

16
Procedures

• A body or member shall have three days from the
  date of receipt of the notice to make written
  representations or to seek, by writing, an oral
  haring in relation to the alleged offence.
• Such a hearing shall be granted on request.
• At an oral hearing, a body shall be represented
  by two of its full members and a member shall
  appear personally and may be accompanied by a
  full member of his Club/Unit.

17
Juvenile Suspensions

• For an offence other than a Category (D) offence
  minimum 1 week.
• For a subsequent Category (D) offence within 48
  weeks 1 week.
• For an offence, other than a Category (D)
  offence, in a National Under-Age Festival
  Competition (for Under 16 or younger age group)
  played off in one day or over consecutive days
  minimum penalty suspension from playing in the
  next round of the competition. If his teams
  invovlement in the competition is terminated
  minimum 1 week.