The purpose of these Rules is to encourage good sportsmanship, appropriate behavior and the necessary level of discipline required to perform well at football within a team and club environment.

1. Punctuality

1.1. Players should arrive on time to training sessions and matches, as requested by Team Management.
1.2. Selected players are expected to attend all matches and training sessions, exceptions being just illness or holidays.
1.3. Unless due to illness, players are expected to give at least 1 weeks’ notice if unable to play a football match, or 1 days’ notice if unable to attend a training session. If ill, please advise a member of the management team a.s.a.p.

2. Behavior on and off the pitch (Parents, Players and others)

2.1. Players are expected to take pride in their football and should ensure that their football strip and boots are kept clean and well maintained. Only Ashbourne Aztecs colors of gold/black should be worn on match days except for color clashes where the away strip of raspberry/black should be worn as advised by team managers. Football boots can be any color but must be in accordance with the appropriate footwear for the surface i.e. studs/blades for grass, trainers/astro turf boots for astro turf/indoor.
2.2. Poor Behavior – Ashbourne Aztecs JFC will not tolerate any form of bullying, fighting, swearing, abuse or other forms of bad behavior from players, parents or spectators during their time with Aztecs at training sessions, matches or events. Specifically, none of this behavior should be directed at other players, team management, match officials, grounds men, supporters or spectators. This also applies to all social media outlets. If any of the above are guilty of poor behavior it will be dealt with in accordance with section 4 below.

3. Guidance for Parents

3.1. Please do all you can to assist the players in following the rules above, to increase the enjoyment of football for everyone involved.
3.2. Please respect the need for team management and coaches to be able to make their own decisions on how the team should be managed. Constructive comments and support are welcome when presented reasonably.
3.3. Please respect the referee’s/assistant referee’s decision as final on match days.
3.4. All Ashbourne Aztecs Playing Kit (Home & Away Kit) belongs to the Club, in the instance of a player leaving the Club or a New Kit being issued then the kit MUST be returned to the Ashbourne Aztecs.

4. Disciplinary process

4.1. Poor behavior/Misconduct- Failure to comply with expected behaviors mentioned in sections 2.2.1 & 2.2.2. above may result in the following:

Stage 1 – Verbal caution about behavior with a condition that if repeated within a 3-month period, then Stage 2 of the process will be invoked.
Stage 2 – Written warning setting out the nature of the misconduct, which may include a ban from attendance at matches or training for a period and include a fine which would be a minimum of £10.00.
Stage 3 – Expulsion from Club, if persistent misconduct continues to occur after Stage 2 of the process has been invoked.
At the discretion of the Team Manager or Coach, the above actions may be escalated according to the severity and regularity of any offences. In the event of any disputes, these should be raised with the team management first. If still unresolved, the player or their parent should write to the Club Secretary/Welfare Officer and the issue will be discussed at the next Aztecs JFC Management meeting to which the Player or Parent will be invited to attend. The county welfare officer may need to be invited dependent on the nature of the complaint and the decision at that meeting will be final.
4.2 Gross Misconduct – Definitions of Gross Misconduct include Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Proven Child Abuse, Fighting causing bodily harm and assault, Criminal activity or any offence so serious justifying expulsion from the club without previous warning.
All such incidents must be reported to the Club Secretary, who will contact the member involved, requesting an explanation. The matter will be brought to the attention of the Committee, who shall decide in the light of events about expulsion. The decision of the Club will be final.

5. Decision to Leave the Club of your own accord

Verbal/written confirmation must be given to the player’s Manager and kit belonging to Ashbourne Aztecs JFC must be returned. Any unnecessary damage to the kit or failure to return the item will be chargeable by the club.