Policy Statement
“Fair play comprises and embodies a number of fundamental values that are not only integral to sport but relevant in everyday life. Fair competition, respect, friendship, team spirit, inclusion, sport without doping, respect for written and unwritten rules such as integrity, ethics, solidarity, tolerance, healthy physical and mental play, excellence, and joy, are the building blocks of fair play that can be experienced and learnt both on and off the field.”
For Fair Play to occur, the members of our community need to know, understand, and accept the policies, rules, procedures, and decision-making criteria used by Ontario Basketball. We will strive to share our policies, rules and procedures and our decision-making criteria to clarify and help our membership in their understanding of these areas. Winning is only meaningful when we play fair.
Where an employee or member believes that there has been a failure of the policy, they should submit their compliant to the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution and copy the President. The following provides the procedures to be used to address situations of concern.
Role of the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution
- Receives complaint.
All complaints will be sent to the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution.
- Investigates complaint.
The Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution provides a fair and neutral investigation of facts alleged in the complaint. To that end, the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution may communicate with the complainant and the respondent to clarify the following:
- Who is the complainant and what is the complaint?
- Does the complainant have direct eyewitness evidence of the facts alleged?
- What Fair Play principles have been contravened?
- Who is the respondent? Are there multiple respondents?
- Is the respondent a player, coach, club or official?
- Is the respondent a member of Ontario Basketball?
The Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution may prepare a brief synopsis of his or her investigation to be placed before the members of a Discipline Committee.
- Sends complaint to the respondent.
The respondent is required to provide the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution with his or her response to the complaint within a period no longer than 7 days. Failure to do so, may result in sanctions placed against the respondent.
- Creates a case file and sends the file to the members of a Discipline Committee.
The case file will contain the letters of complaint and response, the investigation report, and any other relevant information.
- Receives a written decision from the Chair of the Discipline Committee.
The Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution should receive and a written decision from the Chair of the Discipline Committee within two (2) weeks of the Discipline Hearing.
6. a) Complaint is Dismissed.
- The Commissioner of Fair Play/Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution sends a copy of the decision to the complainant, the respondent, and Ontario Basketball’s Executive Director.
b) Complaint is Sent to the Discipline Committee
- The Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution sets a Discipline Hearing date, time, and place.
- The Commissioner of Fair Play/Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution sends letters to the complainant and respondent giving reasonable notice (at least two (2) weeks) of the Discipline Hearing.
- The Commissioner of Fair Play/Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution sends a copy of the case file to the members of the Discipline Committee Panel who will hear the complaint.
- Within two (2) weeks of the hearing date, the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution should receive a signed copy of the Discipline Committee Panel’s decision from the Chair of the Discipline Committee.
- The Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution sends copies of the decision to the complainant and the respondent.
Role of the Chair of the Discipline Committee
- Receives the case file from the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution.
The case file may contain letters from the complainant and respondent, the Complaints Panel’s decision, letters of hearing notification to both the complainant and the respondent and any other relevant documents. The Chair of the Discipline Committee reviews the file and determines, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution, the best panel members to participate in the hearing, considering conflicts of interest such as familial relations, personal relations and monetary conflicts.
- Selects the Discipline Panel.
The Chair of the Discipline Committee requests that the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution send copies of the case file to the selected Discipline Committee Panel members.
- Attends the Discipline Hearing.
The Chair of the Discipline Committee and Discipline Committee Panel members attend the Discipline Hearing, chaired by the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution. It is the responsibility of the Chair of the Discipline Committee to ensure that the Discipline Committee Panel’s decision is written and signed within two (2) weeks following the hearing.
- Reviews signed copy of the decision.
The Chair of the Discipline Committee reviews the Discipline Committee Panel’s decision to ensure completeness and accuracy. The decision is then forwarded to the Commissioner of Fair Play and Resolution.
Updated & Reviewed July 31, 2022 by Ontario Basketball Board of Directors
Approved November 1999 by Ontario Basketball Board of Directors