Cricket has traditionally been one sport to maintain and promote the highest levels of conduct and sportsmanship. We are all familiar with the saying “It’s just not cricket” which implies that a certain type of behaviour is unacceptable.

The Marylebone Cricket Club, regarded by many as the “home of cricket” has produced a document titled the Spirit of Cricket. The summary is printed below:

The 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.

We go further, and say that it rests with all players alike.

This document is a set of guidelines to provide an understanding of the expectations the club has of each player. Where this document refers to players, it also refers to non-players, parents, spectators and other associated persons. While we acknowledge that our influence on such other parties is limited, we encourage them to respect the spirit of the game and what we are seeking to maintain.

These guidelines are relevant during match days (on and off the field), training, and club functions and at any other time when representing Warkworth Cricket Club (WCC), including social tours.

Players in breach of our Code may expect to receive penalties varying from a caution through to expulsion, depending on the severity and the nature of the breach, or frequency of breeches.

Objective

Our objective is to ensure that all players, when representing the WCC, play cricket in the true spirit and traditions of the game so that the game can be enjoyed by all, including spectators, opposing players and umpires; and that the club is held in such high regard that former players and other supporters actively seek to maintain relationships with the WCC.

SENIOR MEMBERS CODE OF CONDUCT

No person bound by this Code of Conduct (Code) shall engage in disorderly or improper conduct or behaviour. Disorderly or improper conduct or behaviour includes, but is not restricted to, a person: player or spectator;

2. Appealing, when knowing the batsman is not out, or advancing towards an Umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing;
3. Disputing, as distinct from questioning, an umpire’s decision, or reacting in an obviously provocative manner towards and umpire;
4. Seeking to distract an opponent either verbally, or with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of ones own side. Using abusive language, or hand signals or other gestures,
5. Infringing the rules relating to advertising on cricket clothing or equipment.
6. Engaging in any form of conduct or behaviour detrimental to the spirit of the game or likely to bring the game or sponsors of WCC into disrepute, including the use or distribution of illegal drugs and acts of racism.
7. Refusing to supply that person’s name and that person’s address when required by another person who is lodging a report

The captain of a team shall ensure that the players (including the person acting as 12th man) comply with the Code of Conduct. The captain of a team breaches the Code of Conduct if a player in that team engages in continuing disorderly or improper conduct or behaviour.

Racial and Religious Vilification Code:

No person who is representing WCC shall engage in any conduct, act towards or speak to any other person in a manner which offends, insults, humiliates or vilifies such person on the basis of that person’s race, religion, colour, descent, sexual orientation or ethnic origin.

EXPECTATION OF PLAYERS:

The Management Committee of WCC has set down these guidelines for all players, including spectators, representing the WCC.

Umpiring Decisions:

The umpire’s decision is final and should be accepted immediately, whether batting or fielding. A bowler is entitled to ask the umpire why he turned the appeal down, but should accept this explanation, if one is given, and immediately play on. The use of offensive language-generally in the form of a disparaging and abusing remark to an umpire is not acceptable.

Walking:

When there are no neutral umpires, a batsman must walk if he is in no doubt that he has been dismissed fairly. Placing pressure on your team-mate, who is acting as umpire, can place doubt in his mind and lead to unnecessary friction between the two teams.

The actions of the dismissed batsmen – in failing to leave the crease promptly on being given out and then banging his bat on the ground or throwing the bat on returning to the pavilion, including audible foul language, is unacceptable.

Playing Subscriptions:

Subscriptions should be paid as soon as possible to the start of the season. Selection will be prioritised towards members who are up to date with their subscriptions.

Player Availability:

All players for the purpose of selections are assumed to be available for all games throughout the season. If at any time a player is unable to make a game, they are to contact both their captain and the selector/s to inform them of their unavailability.

Selection Policy:

Where a player is unavailable for selection, they should not consider them self a certainty to be selected as soon as they make themselves available again. It is quite possible that they will not be selected in any grade upon their return.

Swearing:

WCC is a family oriented club and as such excessive swearing will not be tolerated. Effort should be made to refrain from using poor language at all times.

Training Expectations:

Training is to be used to improve your game and those that you are training with. All players are encouraged to train at least once a week. It is understood that work and family commitments can clash with those of the cricket club. Your captain should be made aware if you are unable to attend training.

Match Days:

Players are requested to arrive at the ground, 30 minutes before the commencement of play. When playing away, car pooling is encouraged.

At home games there are various duties that need to be done. These include laying boundary markers and setting up the scoreboard. After play, all equipment needs to be placed away and the change rooms and surrounding areas are to be left clean at the end of the day.

JUNIOR CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT

The WCC is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore, junior club members and parents are encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the club to the Club President.