GUIDELINES

In order that Harpenden Hockey Club continues to run smoothly, to the maximum benefit of its members, it is the responsibility of all members to adhere to the club's Code of Conduct, as follows.

Availability
Each player must inform their team captain after each game of their availability for subsequent games so that accurate data is available for selection. If you have to leave immediately after the game, you should give the appropriate match tax to your captain before doing so, and tell your captain whether you will be available to play next week. If you are absent for a match, please take it upon yourself to call or email your captain on the Sunday or Monday after the game you have missed, clarifying with your captain your availability for the next week.

Cancellations
Team captains will inform their players of cancellations as soon as possible. If there is any doubt, players should assume the game will be played or should check with the team captain or vice captain. If you have a mobile phone, please be sure to have it switched on throughout the morning of a match, in order that you can be made aware of a cancellation.

Illness/Injury
If for some reason you suddenly become unavailable for a game, it is imperative that you notify your team captain or vice captain immediately, in order that he or she can draft in another player if necessary. Your unexpected non-arrival could mean that your team does not have a full side and could therefore lose points unnecessarily. Needless to say, injuries and sickness do happen and are generally unavoidable. However, crying off on a Saturday morning because you decide to go shopping or because it's a bit chilly is unacceptable and lets down your captain, your team and your club.

Discipline
As a Harpenden HC player or supporter, you are expected to maintain high standards of behaviour when representing or supporting the club. In particular, we must at all times respect the umpires who give up their time in order to officiate our games. Without them there would be no hockey, and it is hard enough for captains to secure umpires for their games without making it any harder for ourselves. Please be aware that, should supporters be particularly offensive to umpires or players, the umpire is at liberty to send off the captain of the side being supported. Captains are required to report any misconduct, foul play, warnings or suspensions to their section committee and if it is thought necessary, appropriate action will be taken against the player, whether a warning or a temporary suspension.

Pre-match warm-up
As essential as this may be, please do not knock-up on the artificial pitch when a game is in progress. It distracts umpires and players!