Code of Conduct

This code has been produced by Milford Hall Cricket Club (MHCC) in accordance with ECB guidelines on behaviour and conduct. The code will apply to all forms of cricket under the auspices of MHCC. As such all players are asked to:
• Be aware of and to have read the Code
• Play cricket within the Laws and Spirit of the Game
• Abide by MHCC membership rules and by association the rules of the relevant leagues and governing bodies.
Code of Conduct
MHCC is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct in cricket. This Code of Conduct incorporates the Spirit of Cricket (see below) as set out in the preamble to the Laws of the game and may be applied to cricket in general. MHCC will actively reinforce these provisions to ensure the good behaviour of its players towards fellow members, opposition players, umpires, supporters and officials.

1. It is the duty of all players to conduct themselves at all times in a manner appropriate to the Laws and Spirit of the game. Any conduct on or off the field of play that brings into disrepute the reputation of MHCC or the game itself will NOT be acceptable. Players will:
• Display high standards of behaviour
• Promote the positive aspects of Cricket and Fair Play
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the context of cricket
• Adhere to any dress codes stipulated or deemed appropriate
• Treat club property and equipment with respect and help to maintain the facility as a place of hospitality for members and guests.
• Treat everyone equally and not condone or allow to go unchallenged any form of discrimination or bullying
• Communicate in advance all matters pertaining to availability and respect the decisions of the committee regarding team selection
• Be punctual and participate when required in pre-match/practice preparation and post-match tidy-up
• Actively discourage unfair play
• Set an example for young people/junior members (dress and behave appropriately, not smoke,
Drink or use banned substances whilst actively working or in the company of young people)

2. The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.
3. Players and team officials must at all times accept the umpire’s decision. Players must not show dissent at the umpire’s decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards another player or a spectator.
4. There is no place for any act of violence or bad language on or off the field of play. Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator.
5. Players and team officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known as “sledging”) nor make offensive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately distract an opponent. We must make every effort to maintain a family atmosphere within MHCC. As such players are reminded that their voices can be heard around the ground by members of the general public and that the use of loud offensive language is unacceptable.
6. Players and team officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members or supporters. MHCC operates an active open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.
7. Players and team officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.
8. The provisions regarding abusive or inappropriate comments will also apply to the spoken or written word reported in the media or private/public domain with particular reference to any social networking sites. (e.g. Facebook, YouTube)
9. Failure to comply with these provisions may lead to disciplinary action. Any complaint or alleged breach of the Code of Conduct and The Spirit of Cricket that is reported will, in the first instance, be dealt with by the Cricket Committee in accordance with the club rules and disciplinary procedures. Discipline at cricket matches is an issue taken very seriously by the Leagues/governing bodies under which we play the game. More serious offences will be dealt with by the club Management Committee in conjunction with the relevant League disciplinary rules that may apply.

Spirit of Cricket

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.

1. Responsibility of Captains
There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct firmly on the captain (Laws 1.4 & 42.1). The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.

Player’s Conduct
In the event of any player failing to comply with the instructions of an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decision of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player’s captain, and instruct the latter to take action.

2. Fair and Unfair Play
According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. The umpires may intervene at any time, and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.

3. The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:
• Time wasting
• Damaging the pitch
• Dangerous or unfair bowling
• Tampering with the ball
• Any other action that they consider to be unfair.

4. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
• Your opponents
• Your own captain and team
• The role of the umpires
• The game and it’s traditional values

5. It is against the Spirit of the Game:
• To dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture
• To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
• To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance
a) To appeal knowing the batsman is not out
b) To advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
c) To seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side.

6. Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

7. Players
Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.

NOTE: These provisions will equally apply to managers, coaches, scorers or other officials. The players, umpires and scorers in a game of cricket may be of either gender and the provisions therefore apply equally to both. The use, throughout this text, of pronouns indicating the male gender is purely for brevity. Except where specifically stated otherwise, every sentence in these provisions is to be read as applying to women and girls equally as to men and boys.