CODE OF CONDUCT

Bowdon Hockey Club Men, Women & Juniors & Bowdon Hightown Ladies Hockey Team

1. All members of the club must have paid their full annual subscription fee. This must be paid within 2 weeks of playing their first game.

2. All club members should have signed a form on a yearly basis stating that they have read and understood this code of conduct and agree to abide by it's contents. Failure to do so will result in them being unable to play or socialise under the name of BHC.

3. Members must regularly look at the Bowdon Hockey Club website and their individual email accounts for news of forthcoming events and fixture details. These are the primary sources of communication between the club and its members.

4. On all social media outlets, for example Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, you are a Bowdon player and a Bowdon representative. The actions you perform on these sites should in no way bring Bowdon Hockey or Bowdon Club into disrepute. These sites can have serious implications for the club and should be used with appropriate caution. The club groups that players are added to by their relevant captains should remain private and free from material that could be deemed by anyone to be offensive.

5. All games of hockey should be played according to the "Rules of Hockey" issued under the authority of the relevant regional, national and international governing bodies. Players are expected to keep up to date with these rules and fully understand them before the season begins. Any questions should be directed to their relevant coach.

6. All competitive matches should be officiated by umpires with the relevant level of qualification for the respective standard of competition.

7. For all fixtures and training sessions there must be a nominated session/match leader who is responsible for the safety of the group at all times. As well as this, all members must act in a safe and responsible manner, and must make themselves aware of all potential dangers in both situations.

8. The minimum standard for synthetic pitches, as laid down by the FIH, should be adhered to at all times, as should the minimum levels of floodlighting. Surface hazards such as frost, snow, flooding and inadequate watering of synthetic pitches should also be given due consideration as they can result in dangerous play.

9. All equipment used should conform to the guidelines laid down by the "Rules of Hockey." Goalkeepers must wear appropriate safety equipment at all times. Sticks should be free of splinters and cracks. If players are unsure of the safety of any equipment that they are using, they should stop playing immediately and inform the group leader / organiser / coach. Players are advised to wear shin pads and mouth guards at all times when playing. Personal items of kit are player's responsibility at all times. For all juniors from school year 4 upwards (aged 8 in most cases), it is compulsory to wear a mouth guards at all training and matches, indoor and outdoor. All juniors must wear suitable FIH approved protective facemasks at Penalty Corner Defence (PCD) at all levels of club hockey. Senior Members are strongly advised to also wear facemasks during PCD.

10. No player shall act in any way as to bring the team and club into disrepute and all players shall give due respect, courtesy and consideration to umpires and opposition alike. These terms still apply when under the influence of alcohol and particular care should be taken when wearing the Bowdon attire.

11. All match fees and other costs shall be paid promptly to the team captains.

12. All major club decisions shall be made by the committee and voted on democratically. By joining, Bowdon Hockey players accept their attendance at the Annual General Meeting at the end of the season is compulsory.

Breaching any of the points on the Code of Conduct can result in match bans, social bans and in extreme cases lifetime bans from Bowdon Hockey Club.

Updated 07/05/2016