1. A Guide to Completing the Red Card Report FormBy
Simon Widdison
Umpire and Nottinghamshire CDA

2. For many of you who don’t know, I am Nottinghamshire’s CDA, which means that when an umpire gives a Red Card, MMO or Disrepute to a team which is affiliated to the Nottinghamshire Hockey Association your paperwork will come to me.
I am fortunate ( or unfortunate ) to see both sides of not only giving the red card but receiving the paperwork and completing the associated documentation once the card has been given.

3. The chance of giving a red card is normally quite slim and it seems to be rumoured that the paperwork is not only difficult but time consuming. This is a complete phallacy. The following pages will not only help you understand the process and what is expected from an umpire, but what is also needed by the disciplinary personnel and England Hockey.

4. Issuing a Red Card.
This should be issued in a calm manner and depending on the situation fairly close to the offending player or person.
If it is a potential hostile situation you can show this from a distance but please make sure that you show the card, so that everyone can see it.
It can be helpful to inform the Captain at the time why you have given the Red Card if you cannot inform the player. The time is stopped, the card is issued and the player must leave the playing area in a prompt and timely fashion. This means the player must leave not just the pitch but the complete area. They should not influence the game in any way. The game should not restart until the player is away from the area ( you may need the Captain’s help to establish this ). If you are in the position of giving a Red Card make your colleague aware that you are giving it and ask him to concentrate on the area around whilst you are giving it. Make sure you make a note of the player’s number and if the player is under the age of 18 they must be accompanied by an appropriate adult.

5. Once you have recorded the player’s details, get the game restarted
Once you have recorded the player’s details, get the game restarted. The game may have a different temperament and you’ll have to manage this between you and your colleague.
After the game, fill in the league team sheet with the details you have and record the Red Card against the person’s name. Any problems with identifying the person then you will need to approach the Captain or Coach of the team the player is part of. It is a further offence for the Team to refuse to give you the name of the player under the regulations. This would be a case for a Disrepute. This doesn’t happen often and usually a chat after the game and it’s all sorted.
As an Umpire we should make every effort to go back to the club house after the game and if asked about the Red Card we should be approachable. It may help to be with your colleague when discussing it with other people. If there are any issues about safety then please be mindful. My advice is to leave the pitch, changing rooms and travel together to the club house.
You are allowed to talk to the person or persons that you have sent off. Please make sure that you are aware of the Category that the Offence comes under. You can inform them of the category and even talk to them about what you saw. Be mindful that you may be quoted on what you say.

6. The following are the categories.
Cat A
Where physical violence is not used ,attempted or threatened - Min 16 days.
Cat B
Where physical violence is used, attempted or threatened to a player or any other person - Min 30 days.
Cat C
Where physical violence is used, attempted or threatened to an Umpire or properly appointed tournament or match official - Min 60 days.
Cat D
Where a player has committed two separate but duplicate offences where a yellow card was issued for the first offence - Rest of match suspended.
A RED CARD REPORT FORM MUST BE COMPLETED FOR EVERY RED CARD!!

7. Once you’ve finished your after match hospitality and you are leaving, make sure you have got your colleagues contact details/ address, so that either you or your partner can give any information about what was seen or heard. This reason we should do this will become apparent on the next couple of pages.
It can be helpful to contact the relevant CDA by phone or to let them know that they’ll be expecting an WITHIN 72 HOURS.
We are here for advice too but be mindful that we have a life outside of hockey…. So calls at 22:00 on a Saturday night do not go down too well unless it’s an emergency.

8. * Permission granted to use clubs and umpires names.

10. What happens next?
As a CDA I will contact the club to find out who I deal with and send the form over to them. They have a certain amount of time to get their representations together and return them to me.
I will then look at the information that you have given and that of the club and I will make a decision based on the facts. Any more than the Category Basic, 16,30,60 I have to discuss with the Regional RDA (Midlands).
After we have made a decision, we forward the outcome to The club, who should forward to the player, The Hockey Association, YOU THE UMPIRE ,England Hockey. The player is fined £50 which is paid to the local Association.
The form is on the EMHUA Website under downloads and the Regulations are also available to download. You can find a list of CDA’s for the counties that the clubs are affiliated to also on our website. The ones listed on the RCRF/MMO ARE NOT the ones we use at EMHUA appointed games.
Please make sure you have a copy downloaded.