ONC Baseball

ONC - Code of Conduct

The Ottawa Nepean Canadians Baseball Club (herein referred to as "ONC") expects all participants in our organization to abide by a strict Code of Conduct. Coaches, team managers, players, parents, instructors, volunteers, and Board Members are all expected to conduct themselves with honour, dignity, and respect, and abide by a set of acceptable behaviours.

Members (as defined in the ONC constitution) are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the values of the ONC and are expected to comply with the policies, rules, and regulations of ONC, the league(s) our teams play in, and of any tournaments that its teams enter into.

Members may be subject to sanctions according to our discipline policy for engaging in the following behaviour:

verbally or physically abusing a teammate, an opposing player or coach, team official(s), volunteers, spectators or sponsors;
showing disrespect to officials, including the use of foul language and obscene or offensive gestures, or physical abuse of any kind;
uttering sexist remarks, engaging in verbal or physical acts of sexual harassment, or engaging in verbal or physical acts of sexual assault;
uttering racist remarks, or engaging in racist behaviour;
not complying with the rules, regulations, and policies of the ONC, as adopted and amended from time to time;
deliberately disregarding the Rules of Baseball as amended from time to time;
abusing playing equipment or the playing area;
consuming tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, or illegal substances on the field, in the dugout, or in the stands, at any ONC-sanctioned competition;
any other unreasonable conduct which brings the game, or the ONC, into disrepute, including but not limited to, abusive use of alcohol or illegal substances, use of alcohol or illegal substances while acting in any league capacity.

Complaints Procedure

If any member has a complaint about an issue within the ONC, the issue should be brought up in writing or in person with any member of the Board of Directors. The complaint shall be investigated by a designated member of the ONC Board of Directors.

Complaints shall be assessed against the criteria below as defined under Minor Infractions and Major Infractions.

Complaints should be made in writing or by email. Complaints made verbally or via text message will be acknowledged but not acted upon until submitted in writing as noted above.

At the time the complaint is lodged, the report will be brought before the President of ONC. The investigator will not, where possible, be a person who is in a position of direct authority over any of the people involved in the complaint and will report findings directly to the President.

The ONC will handle all complaints seriously and promptly, with the utmost professionalism, discretion, and respect for the person(s) involved.

Investigation Process

ONC pledges to investigate and deal with all complaints of violations of our Code of Conduct in a fair and timely manner.

Within three (3) days of a reported complaint, a member of the ONC Board of Directors will investigate the complaint. The investigator will speak with possible witnesses and with the person named in the complaint. The investigation will be fact-based, neutral, fair, and thorough. Anonymity will be protected whenever possible.
Depending on the complexity of the investigation, the League will make a determination on the complaint within 15 days.
Confidentiality will be assured where possible. Details of the matter will not be disclosed without prior approval. Anonymity will be protected, and there shall not be any retaliation for making a complaint.

Minor Infractions

single incident of disrespectful, offensive, or abusive comments or behaviour directed towards others, including but not limited to peers, opponents, athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, spectators, and sponsors;
unsportsmanlike conduct such as angry outbursts or arguing;
non-compliance with the rules and regulations under which ONC events are conducted at any level of play.

Major Infractions

repeated incidents of disrespectful, offensive, or abusive comments or behaviour directed towards others, including but not limited to peers, opponents, athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, spectators, and sponsors;
any single incident of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual assault directed towards others;
any single incident of racist comments or racist behaviour directed towards others, including but not limited to peers, opponents, athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, spectators, and sponsors;
playing under an assumed name, falsifying an affidavit or roster, or giving false information to league or tournament officials;
playing or participating in a game as a coach or team official while under suspension from the league, a tournament, Baseball Ontario, Baseball Canada, or from ONC;
repeated unsportsmanlike conduct such as angry outbursts or arguing;
activities or behaviour which interfere with a competition or with any athlete's preparation for competition;
pranks, jokes, or other activities which endanger the safety of others;
deliberate disregard for the rules and regulations under which ONC events are conducted, at any level of play;
abusive use of alcohol or an illegal substance where abuse means a level of consumption which impairs the individual's ability to speak, walk, or drive; causes the individual to behave in a disruptive manner; or interferes with the individual's ability to perform effectively and safely;
any use of alcohol or an illegal substance by any individual while acting in any league capacity.

Discipline Procedures

Complaints will be assessed by a Discipline Panel which shall be comprised of the President or their designate, and two other members of the Board of Directors. The results of all complaints will be reported verbally, and with a written report as needed. The offending individual will be informed of the report by phone and/or letter and given the opportunity to provide information concerning the incident. If uncontested, a judgment will be made immediately and if contested, a meeting will be held within seven days of the filed challenge to ONC's ruling.

The following disciplinary sanctions may be applied singly or in combination for minor infractions:

verbal reprimand from the ONC;
requirement of a verbal apology from the transgressor;
requirement of a written apology from the transgressor;
suspension from ONC membership, coach/manager positions, committee participation as deemed necessary;
other sanctions as may be considered appropriate for the offence.

Major infractions will be dealt with on the day of the offence if possible or within three (3) days. The Discipline Panel may apply the following disciplinary sanctions singly or in combination for major infractions:

written reprimand to be maintained on file with the ONC Board of Directors;
requirement of hand-delivered written apology by the transgressor;
suspension from league membership, coach/manager positions, committee participation as deemed necessary;
termination of league membership and expulsion from the league.

Appeals Procedure

An appeal of any disciplinary matter will be conducted by a special meeting of the Board Members of the ONC.

Monitoring

The effectiveness of this policy will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated accordingly.

Adoption of This Document

Originally adopted by the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Baseball Club with the approval of its membership on August 7, 2018.

Amended with the approval of the membership on October 26, 2020.