NAJA Disciplinary Policy

1.    Purpose & Introduction

Natal Amateur Judo Association is committed to create a conducive environment for effective and fair display of judo skills. In this respect NAJA seeks to promote good disciplinary conduct to ensure high quality of sport and mutual respect amongst judoka.

1.1    Ensuring that the code of conduct, rules and policies governing judo are adhered to at all times;

1.2    Creating an environment whereby judokas or commissioned officials may be comfortable that their complaints will be fairly addressed;

1.3    Communicating to all judoka and commissioned officials terms of reference in respect of their mandates and responsibilities; and

1.4    Safeguarding the image of Natal Amateur Judo through ensuring that all NAJA members represent it in a manner that will not bring its name to disrepute.

2.    Maintenance of Discipline

Fair and consistent maintenance of discipline will be informed by the grounds listed below:

2.1   Judoka conduct which does not support the objectives of NAJA policies; and

2.2   Enforcement of NAJA policies and professionalism.

3.   Types of Misconduct

3.1   Abuse of alcohol;

3.2   Refusal to sign Code of Conduct/Agreement form (applicable during tours);

3.3   Use of abusive language;

3.4   Sexual harassment;

3.5   Failure to carry out lawful instructions and duties by team manager and coach (applicable during tours and training camps);

3.6   Assault with intent to harm;

3.7   Indulging in immoral acts;

3.8   Vandalism;

3.9   Misrepresentation;

3.10   Failure to keep practice schedules during tours and training camps;

3.11   Failure to weigh-in during JSA sanctioned international tours;

3.12   Coaches/grading masters grading unregistered players;

3.13   Coaches not registering players within 30 days;

3.14   Disrespect for executive members

4.   Schedule of Misconduct

The above misconduct is further grouped into levels in order of seriousness of offences:

4.1 Level A : Gross misconduct

4.2 Level B : General misconduct

5.   Level A

• Use of abusive language
• Sexual harassment
• Refusal to sign Code of Conduct or player agreement form · Misrepresentation
• Failure to obey lawful instructions by team manager and/or coach
• Contravening the code of conduct
• Not registering judoka within 30 days
• Grading of unregistered players
• Indulging in immoral acts
• Abuse of alcohol
• Assault with intent to harm
• Vandalism

6.   Level B

• Failure to carry out assigned duties by team manager and/or coach
• Failure to keep practice schedules during tours and training camps
• Failure to attend team manager and coach’s meetings during tours and training camps
• Failure to arrive on time for official weigh-in during NAJA sanctioned international tours

Note 1

A thorough investigation has to take place before the cases can be heard, witness statements or affidavits must be forwarded to the chairperson or the secretary of NAJA disciplinary committee and all complainants and witnesses must appear before the panel for the case to be prosecuted by NAJA. This will enable the NAJA disciplinary committee panel to hear all sides of the stories to be able to make decisions from an informed position and to ensure a fair hearing.

7. Penalty for Misconduct 

Note 2

Where a written warning has been served on any misconduct, it will be automatically followed by a suspension sentence, if one, in the future is found guilty of any transgression within a space of twelve months consecutively, irrespective of whether it is not the same offence.

8.   Responsibility for Disciplinary Committee Hearing (as per constitution)

8.1   Disciplinary panel as promulgated in the NAJA Constitution shall preside on all NAJA disciplinary enquiries;

8.2   NAJA vice-president or his/her proxy is the chairperson of the disciplinary panel;

8.3   NAJA secretary or his/her proxy is the secretary of the disciplinary panel;

8.4   The relevant co-ordinator or his/her appointee, will be the prosecutor;

8.5   Respective provincial coaches form part of the panel, but each enjoys observer status;

8.6   Any co-opted NAJA affiliated member as a legal advisor to NAJA forms part of the panel

9. Notice of Hearing

The disciplinary committee chairperson, through the disciplinary committee secretary, shall, after having satisfied himself/herself and upon receiving a written complaint, inform all affected parties about the pending disciplinary enquiry. The chairperson, amongst others, shall ensure that the matter was handled first by the club before being handed over to NAJA and the grievance or complaint is forwarded through the chairperson. The information includes:

• the nature of complaint;
• the name of the complainant;
• the name of the defendant;
• the date, time and venue of the hearing;
• advise disciplinary committee panel members to preside over the matter; and
• individual rights and obligations.

Note 3

The parties would be given at least fourteen days (14) notice to appear before the disciplinary hearing. This period could be more depending on the circumstances at the disposal of the chairperson and is meant to allow the parties to thoroughly prepare for the hearing. In view of the above, parties must be available on the date of the hearing as the time given allows for better planning. However, the disciplinary committee panel shall consider any written affidavits for the purpose of witnesses where their absence is beyond their control and justifiable beyond doubt. NAJA cannot accommodate everybody in respect of the date of the hearing. In such instances, with all things being equal, the hearing will go ahead on the set date.

10.   Sanction

When the decisions have been made it will be communicated in writing to the relevant parties, the party/parties has/have fourteen days (14) to appeal against the ruling. The appeal shall be made in writing to the chairperson of NAJA. In this instance the sanction by the disciplinary committee panel will be automatically suspended when the appeal has been lodged and superseded by the appeal decision, which shall be final.

Note 4

The disciplinary panel should strive to take corrective measures rather than punitive measures. It is in the interest of justice, fairness and a constitutional right to have an appeal disciplinary committee level as indicated in 10.

11.   Appeal

The NAJA chairperson and executive shall hear all appeals against the findings of the disciplinary committee and their decision shall be final. The appeal will be chaired by the chairperson of NAJA and excludes executive members who presided over the respective initial disciplinary committee hearing or respective disciplinary committee hearing preceding the appeal.

There should be compelling reasons for an appeal to be granted; No new evidence shall be considered for this purpose; and Only on the basis of demerits and unfairness may the appeal be considered.

12. Scope

The scope of this policy shall be confined to all incidents that take place in NAJA and JSA sanctioned events and shall exclude incidents outside NAJA and JSA sanctioned events.