RULES OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY PROCESS
Georgia High School Water Polo Association (“GHSWPA”) desires to foster a harmonious and competitive environment for all participants in the game of water polo. “Participants” include teams, players, coaches, parents and spectators. Participants should engage in respectful and honest behavior. GHSWPA does not permit the use of any profane language or actions that can hurt or frighten another person. Additionally, respect for the schools that are hosting water polo matches is critical. Any inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to: aggressive or threatening behavior, harassment of any type, inappropriate language, or any other inappropriate activity, whether in the water or at the facility where matches are held, will result in consequences.
GHSWPA insists that all Participants comply with the letter and the spirit of the following Rules:
1. Abusive language, insulting Language and profanity will not be tolerated.
2. Fighting with or taunting opposing players, coaches or spectators will not be tolerated.
• Interpretation No. 1: Aggressively going after a player who you feel was too aggressive with you merely demonstrates that your conduct is intentional. Accordingly, your conduct may be punished equally or more severely. Players shall not mete out discipline or vigilante justice. Discipline is the job of the referees and coaches. Let the process work and do not retaliate.
3. Any and all acts of disrespect to Referees will not be tolerated.
4. Any and all attempts to intentionally harm or injure another player will not be tolerated.
EFFECT
Any Participant guilty of any of the above four rules shall be ejected from the game in which the conduct occurred and may face possible further disciplinary actions, which may include suspension and/or permanent exclusion from one or more water polo matches.
OTHER PRINCIPLES
(1) Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and players are responsible for the conduct of the spectators whom they bring to matches. Players are responsible for informing the spectators they bring to matches of these rules. Accordingly, team conduct may result in penalties to coaches and spectator conduct may result in penalties to those who bring the spectators.
(2) The referees’ judgment is final. No one other than coaches shall question the referees’ judgment without permission of the referee. Coaches may only do so in a respectful manner.
(3) Referees are human beings who can only call what they can see and hear. Accordingly, coaches are requested to bring issues to the attention of referees before the ends of games so that referees are alerted to watch for inappropriate conduct.
DISCIPLINARY PROCESS
Coaches may conduct internal team discipline as they see fit. In addition, in the event of actions which violate the above rules, GHSWPA’s technical coordinator retains sole discretion to impose additional discipline related to the Participants’ continued participation in future matches. As part of this process, GHSWPA may conduct investigations. The most important thing for any Participant is honesty and cooperation with the disciplinary process.
The findings and the decision of the technical coordinator are final, binding and non-appealable. Such decisions are subject to veto only by a unanimous vote of all of the officers of GHSWPA other than the technical coordinator. At his or her discretion, GHSWPA’s technical coordinator may consult one or more referees, coaches and officers of GHSWPA in making findings and conclusions with respect to disciplinary matters.
A STATEMENT ON WINNING WITH CLASS
The entire water polo community is greatly encouraged that high school water polo in Georgia is growing. As a sport like this grows, there will naturally be talent and match-up disparities between some teams. Coaches and players should understand that discouraging an entire team from playing this sport only hurts their own team’s ability to find future competition. Players should understand that, as the teams you play get better, you get better. There is nothing wrong with telling someone on the other team the right way to play that you were taught. They will be better for it and so will you.
While these are not rules enforced by discipline, in games that are out of hand in your team’s favor, some examples of winning with class include: (1) using the whole shot clock before shooting, (2) holding up the offense on fast breaks (even if you really, really want to score, does that really make you a better player by scoring on a two on one in a game that is way out of control?), and (3) not going crazy yelling and screaming after scoring the fifteenth goal that puts your team up 15-0 (normal cheering is perfectly fine, of course).