Meeting on June 10, 2007

Fair Play Committee
Meeting Minutes
June 10, 2007

Attendance: Craig, Tom , Steve
Regrets: Jenn, Heather, Ted

The Year In Review:

What worked: - teams filled out Gamesheets for each game. Penalties, points and attendance were recorded. Gamesheets are the historical document for each game. It is very important that they are used correctly and the league does a great job of this
- When game ejections occurred the FPC responded promptly with good quality letters. We will keep this system and now have a decent template of letters to use for the future.
- The appeal process worked well and was fair.
- Heather logged all the incidents into the un-fair player database for future reference.

What did not work: - The FPC needs an up to date and accurate contact list for each team. We recommend that each team elect a ʽfair play representativeʼ, which will be the contact person. This person may or may not be the team GM.

Incidents: - We more or less followed the CHA rules for handing out suspensions and gave out stronger punishments when we felt necessary or if there was a repeat offender. This is a good system to follow.
- There are letter templates to use for next year.
- Suggested to have an ʽat most 2 suspensions and you are expelled ruleʼ.

The Year Ahead

New Initiatives: - Promote positive behaviour by setting up a ʽFair Player Awardʼ system for each team. It was suggested that Heather could be in charge of this.
- Issue a team and player contract explaining the values of the league and what is expected from the teams and each individual player. Individual players are primarily responsible for their behaviour and the teams need to work to uphold and sustain the league values.
- Suggested that the teams can write up report cards on-line after each game summarizing how the game went. This information can be used to track un-fair behaviour through the year. The team fair play representative would be responsible to go on-line and do this after each game.

Meetings: - Executive needs to meet a few times over the summer (in person and/or by conference call). There will be a meeting with all the team fair play reps and executive in July or August and then 2 or 3 meetings throughout the season.

Communication:

- The league needs to communicate more clearly the league rules and commitment to fair play. This will be done through the team and player contract that can be issued this year. Steve mentioned that he could get his students to design a brochure and player contract with the text that we provide.
- The FPC will be more formalized this year and everyone will know what it is and why it exists.

FPC Constitution:

- Suggested to have a 7 member committee. Also suggested that 2 spots be fixed. One would be the league commissioner (Tom), and the other would be the referee co-ordinator (Craig).
- Still need to determine the executive duties and team rep duties more clearly.
- We have a good start on the FPC terms of reference (the document we sent around earlier this year). This document just needs final edits.

Other:

- There are 3 sides to every conflict: the two opposing sides and the side of the community. The idea of the Fair Play Committee is to get everyone onto the third side and do what is best for the league.
- 3 words to remember: communication, inclusiveness, and fairness.

Game Play Procedure

Good Times Hockey League of the Arts

Game Play Procedure

The GTHLA was founded on the ideals of sportsmanship, fair play, fun, safety and community and each team and player must promote them. We expect players and teams to take responsibility for their actions on the ice. We expect a common respect for everyone on the ice. We rely on the game sheets, teams, referees, and the Fair Play Committee (FPC) to monitor that these values are upheld.

It must be understood that the team is the primary authority in maintaining discipline and promoting these ideals amongst its players. It is the team’s responsibility to filter out all unacceptable player behaviour even if it means not allowing certain players to play.

If there are any issues with missed infractions or consistent unsportsmanlike behaviour, communication with officials and other teams must be done through the Captains during a game. After the game, delegated Fair Play Representatives and General Managers are encouraged to continue any necessary productive communication on unresolved issues. It must be remembered that every team must demand discipline from their own players before they request more from others.

Game sheets are used to keep statistics on points, penalties and player attendance. Suspensions and game ejections are logged into an un-fair player database.

Game Ejection Procedure

Good Times Hockey League of the Arts

Game Ejection Procedure

Procedure to follow if a game ejection occurs:

· Team reps and/or players should discuss what happened with the referees at the game. The referees will forward this information and recommended suspensions to the Fair Play Committee (FPC).

· The FPC will review this information and the suspensions handed out by the referees.

· Teams will be notified by the FPC by e-mail before their next game of any suspensions that were issued. All suspensions and game ejections will be noted in the un-fair player database.

· Teams who want to appeal can do so by responding to the FPC e-mail within 48 hours.

· The FPC will review the appeal and respond within 48 hours.

· Referees are required to report game ejections to the league.

· There is an un-fair player database which we use to keep track of league suspensions.

Good Times Hockey League of The Arts

Commitment To Fair Play

The GTHLA was founded on the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play and each team and player must promote them. The team is the primary authority in maintaining discipline and promoting these ideals amongst its players.

Specifically, we feel fighting, roughing, verbal abuse and harmful stick-work are not part of the game. We do not have any patience for it and it’s not welcome. It is the team’s responsibility to filter out all of these unacceptable elements by not allowing certain players to play and preventing any on-ice confrontations.

We realize that on-ice confrontations always start from the actions of an opposing player. It is important to acknowledge that offenses are often accidental, but no matter what, retaliation is even more inexcusable and will often escalate the situation. Referees are present to supervise the game, it is important to accept that they cannot see the entire surface of play and may not be able to witness every infraction.

If there are any issues with missed infractions or consistent unsportsmanlike behaviour from specific players, please indicate it to your captain, who can then discuss it further with the referee or league officials after the game. Finally, every team must demand discipline from their own players before they request more from others.

Fair Play Committee

Fair Play Committee Purpose:

To act as a resource for teams and referees with respect to holding up the values of the GTHLA Commitment to Fair Play.

Fair Play Committee Goal:

A fun, safe and fair hockey league for everyone that upholds the GTHLA Commitment to Fair Play

Fair Play Committee Focus:

To recognize fair play in the GTHLA by awarding a year-end 'Fair Play Award' for each team. (need to determine how we would decide who would get it, and why, and when it will begin)

Monitor GTHLA league statistics and work with teams and referees to keep track of excessive unfair play from individual players or teams.

Administer league suspensions handed out by the referees during GTHLA games.

Promote conversations between players about the league and how everyone is playing together. The players do a great job of this now so let’s keep it up and let each other how we feel.

Fair Play Committee Composition:

· Chairperson: Steve O'Sullivan - 3 Gut Feelings

· Executive: Craig Barnes – Referee; Greg Simone - Dufferin Groove (resigned); Ted Bisaillion – Jokers; Heather Cunningham – Fruit; Tom Goodwin – Commissioner; Jenn Sek – Pneumonia

· One representative from each team