NIPA ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP & CODE of CONDUCT


The NIPA will be introduced a new annual ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP scheme starting from the 1st September 2014 season. 

A PLAYER NEEDS TO BE AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER
. To play in any set of International Team Trials
. To play for any NI International Team
. To play on any NIPA Tour

AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER WILL RECEIVE A 50% REDUCED ENTRY FEE INTO
. All National Individual Events

NON ASSOCIATE MEMBERS WILL PAY FULL ENTRY INTO
. All National Individual Events

LEAGUE AFFILIATION FEES ALONG WITH ANY APPLICABLE ENTRY FEE WILL COVER ENTRY INTO
. Interleague A & B Events
. Willie Lucas Super 7s

£15.00 ADULT ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (annual)
FREE - UNDER 18 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (annual)

Players can pay their ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP fee at the first event they enter or to apply in advance please email nipablackball@yahoo.co.uk

The new system is a natural step forward in the growth of the NIPA. With extra finance we will have extra scope to develop new ideas, one being the concept of holding all of our National Individual Championships over one weekend in a Hotel venue with multiple tables. Others include financial assistance for non playing team Managers, further development of our live streaming, Association Insurance, the development of our Junior section and more. Our end goal is to give you the players as good a product as we can and to that end we appreciate your support for the sport we all love


CODE OF CONDUCT

The Northern Ireland Pool Association (NIPA) is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its members. The Association believes that it is important that Members, Team Managers, Administrators and Parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore members are encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the Association by either contacting someone on our Executive Committee (numbers on our website ) or via their League Committee.
As a member of Northern Ireland Pool Association you are expected to abide by the following code of practice:
·         Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.
·         Be fair, considerate and honest in all dealing with others.
·         Be professional in and accept responsibility for your actions.
·         Operate within the rules of the sport, including National and International guidelines which govern the NIPA.
·         Do not use your involvement with the NIPA, to promote your own beliefs, behaviours or practices where these are inconsistent with those of the NIPA
·         Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility especially when dealing with persons under 18 years of age, as your words and actions are an example.
·         Avoid unaccompanied and unobserved activities with persons under18 years of age, wherever possible.
·         Refrain from any form of harassment of others.
·         Refrain from any behaviour that may bring the NIPA into disrepute.
·         Adhere to the NIPA’s dress code.
·         Show concern and caution towards others who may be sick or injured.
·         Be a positive role model.
NIPA members are expected to refrain from posting derogatory remarks towards fellow players and officials on any social media site relating to the NIPA. Any member posting such remarks who continues to ignore NIPA official warnings will have their membership cancelled with no financial recompense. The NIPA does not see this as a form of censorship on its members as we do encourage constructive criticism, we view it as an essential step to preserve a harmonious relationship amongst all its members.



To understand why this document and policy was put together we need to look at the bigger picture. The NIPA as a Sport NI recognised national body has to have a duty of care in relation to all its members, Special Needs, Juniors and Adults. Part of the duty of care policy has to be to give all members a mechanism by which their concerns or complaints in regards to posts on social media by fellow members that they class as offensive, derogatory, abusive or threatening can be addressed. This is what this policy is about, it is not about trying to censor any individual from criticising the NIPA or its' policy and it states that openly on the form