(photo: Joel Armstrong / hawks.com.au)
Townsville Crocodiles Head Coach, Paul Woolpert, has been fined and given a suspended four-game ban by the NBL Tribunal. Woolpert lashed out at referees during his team’s victory over the Wollongong Hawks on the weekend.
Electing to have his hearing via phone, Woolpert pleaded guilty to the charges of Abusive Language and Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Unhappy with the calls his team was receiving during the game, he verbally challenged the referees, which resulted in a double-technical foul on Woolpert, his ejection and a fiery shouting performance by the Townsville coach.
ONE HD Television commentator and experienced NBL coach Brendan Joyce at the time sympathised with Woolpert’s plight, implying that he was hard-done by, by the match officials and that they did not provide enough leeway for a coach to communicate with referees.
The full finding of the Tribunal is below.
Charge/s dated 7th January 2012 against Townsville coach, Paul Woolpert for Unsportsmanlike Behaviour and Abusive Language towards a referee.
Hearing
The hearing was conducted by teleconference at the request of the Townsville club. The tribunal interviewed by telephone the three game officials and coach, Woolpert. The tribunal also had the opportunity of reviewing videos of the game and incident supplied by the NBL and Townsville as well as written submissions from Townsville.
Coach Woolpert pleaded guilty to both charges.
Finding/s
Coach Woolpert is found guilty of both charges. The tribunal views the behaviour of coach Woolpert which led to his ejection from the game as very serious and not something that this sport is prepared to tolerate. His behaviour was physically threatening, intimidating and confronting. Whilst he may have been frustrated by some perceived refereeing decisions, this, in no way, allows him to behave in this manner. It has brought the sport into disrespect and disrepute. On any view of the incident, it was very ugly and such that the referees had concerns as to whether it might escalate into an even more serious situation.
Penalty/penalties
Coach Woolpert is fined $3,500 for these offences. This must be paid to the NBL by Friday, 27th January 2012. If it is not paid by that date, Coach Woolpert will be suspended and not allowed to coach in the next four NBL games in which Townsville is playing.
In addition, Coach Woolpert is given a suspended four game penalty. That is, if Coach Woolpert comes before the NBL Tribunal again on any charge for which he is found guilty before the end of season 2012/13 he will be immediately suspended for four NBL games in addition to any other penalty that is imposed as a result of his further appearance before the Tribunal.
The tribunal has taken into account, in setting these penalties in the mid range, the contriteness of Woolpert during the hearing and his guilty pleas, but on his own admission he has previously been ejected from quite a number of games. He must learn that this is not the type of behaviour that the NBL will accept and will need to moderate his behaviour in the future.
