CODE OF CONDUCT, PLAYER BEHAVIOUR, & DISCIPLINE MANAGEMENT

1. The League's Code of Conduct and Behaviour
1.1 The League's Commitment.
The East Sussex Cricket League ("the League") is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct of those subject to its jurisdiction. In pursuance of these standards all individuals and Clubs shall comply with the following Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct incorporates the 'Spirit of Cricket", as set out in the preamble to the laws of cricket.
1.2 The Responsibilities of Clubs and Captains
Clubs and Captains have the primary responsibility for ensuring proper behaviour by their players, officials and other Club members. Captains in particular are reminded of their responsibilities for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws. Clubs and Captains are also reminded that comments by captains, players or club officials, which result in media material that brings the League into disrepute and (particularly) casts doubt on the actions (or otherwise) of Umpires will be treated as a breach of this Code.
1.3 Code of Conduct
1.3.1 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.
1.3.2 Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault, or attempt to intimidate or assault, an umpire, another player or a spectator.
1.3.3 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.
Players and team officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members and supporters. Clubs must operate an open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.
1.3.5 Players and team officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.
1.3.6 Clubs must take all reasonable and proper steps to ensure the good behaviour of all their members towards players and umpires.
1.4 Breaches of the Code of Conduct
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Paragraph 1 may lead to disciplinary action, irrespective of an alleged breach being related to a match not under the jurisdiction of the League.
2. Discipline Management and Reporting. The Responsibilities of Captains and Umpires
(to be read in conjunction with the Disciplinary Offences and Suspension Guidelines - see Annex)
2.1 General
The responsibilities of Captains are clearly defined in Paragraph 1.2 above. Umpires are responsible for ensuring that matches are conducted in accordance with the Laws of Cricket and the Regulations of the League, and in their discharge of these duties the League will always give them the fullest possible support. Between them, Captains and Umpires set the scene for the establishment of proper behaviour and the maintenance of discipline throughout the match.
2.2 Captains
Must ensure that they and their players at all times comply fully with the Code of Conduct, and throughout the match behave in accordance with the requirements of both the Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket. In addition, before each match they must act to satisfy themselves that their team members are aware of the League's policy on behaviour and discipline, and that all concerned understand the way in which the Code and the associated Discipline reporting procedures operate. Captains are themselves entitled to draw the attention of their Club managements to instances of misbehaviour that they would like to see reported independently from any action taken by the umpires.
2.3 Umpires
Umpires must always accept their responsibility to ensure that the requirements of the Code of Conduct and the Disciplinary Offences and Suspension Guidelines (see Annex) are met. They must always report major disciplinary (Category A) offences. They must also use their report cards to notify Category C offences even where they may feel that such matters have been dealt with satisfactorily at the time they occurred. When such reports are made Umpires must ensure that the player(s) concerned and the relevant Captains are properly notified.
3. Disciplinary Procedure
(to be read In conjunction with the Disciplinary Offences and Suspension Guidelines - see Annex)
3.1 Any alleged breach of Paragraph 1 above (to be known as 'a Complaint") shall be notified in writing to the Secretary of the League, who will inform the Chairman. Immediate action shall be taken to form a special Sub Committee (the "Disciplinary Committee") to consider the Complaint. The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of not less than three persons, none of whom shall be connected with the player, team official, or Club concerned or their opponents; at the time of the alleged breach. Members of the Disciplinary Committee (one of whom shall be nominated as Chairman) will normally be drawn from the League's Executive Committee members: when this is not possible suitable persons shall be co-opted.
3.2 The Secretary shall immediately refer any such Complaint to a responsible officer (normally the Chairman or Secretary) of the relevant Club or Clubs (with a copy to the League Contact). The Club shall take steps without delay to deal with the complaint in accordance with its responsibilities (at the same time notifying the player/team official concerned that formal Disciplinary Procedures have been commenced). The Club must then within three days notify the Chairman of the League Disciplinary Committee as to the action taken, penalties imposed, etc.
3.3 The Disciplinary Committee shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider the Complaint and the action taken by the relevant club and resolve either:
3.3.1 to take no action, except to record the Complaint;
3.3.2 or to endorse the disciplinary action taken by the club, in which case the action will be regarded as action formally taken by the League: or
3.3.3 to refer the matter for a Disciplinary Hearing.
4 Disciplinary Hearing
4 1 In any case which is referred for a Disciplinary Hearing, the Hearing shall be convened as soon as practicable. At least seven days' notice in writing of the Hearing and of the offence(s) alleged shall be given to the player or team official, or in the case of a Club, its Secretary. Notice to a player or team official shall be deemed to be given if sent to the address of the Secretary or League Contact of his club as set out in the League Directory and in the case of a club to such League Contact or Secretary. Any adjournments may be granted at the discretion of the Chairman of the Disciplinary Hearing.
4 2 The player and/or Club shall be entitled to attend the Hearing (in the case of a Club by the Secretary or other official). to state their case, to be supported by a Club colleague and to call witnesses. Any umpire called to attend a hearing may also be supported by a colleague.
4.3 The Hearing shall be conducted by the Disciplinary Committee of the League, with membership formulated as provided for in paragraph 3.1 above.
5. Penalties
(to be read in conjunction with the Disciplinary Offences and Suspension Guidelines - see Annex)
5.1 If at the Hearing, the Disciplinary Committee finds the alleged offence proved it shall have the power to impose one or more of the following penalties together with such order as to costs as it deems appropriate:
5.2 In the case of a player:
5.2.1 to require the player to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within a specified time:
5.2.2 to record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct;
5.2.3 to impose a fine;
5.2.1 to suspend the player for one or more matches, or for a stated period of lime:
5.2.5 to deduct League points from the player's team;
5.2.6 to expel the player from the League.
5.3 In the case of a Club or team official:
5.3.1 to require the Club to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within a specified time;
5.3.2 to record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct;
5.3.3 to impose a fine; or
5.3.4 to deduct League points from the Club's team(s);
5.3.5 to relegate the club to any lower division of the League:
5.3.6 to expel the Club from any cup competition of the League;
5.3 7 to recommend the expulsion of the Club from the League, in accordance with the Rules of the League.
5.4 The Disciplinary Committee shall have the power to suspend the operation of any part, or all, of the penalty it imposes for such period and subject to such terms and conditions it deems appropriate.
6. Appeals Procedure
(These procedures apply to Disciplinary cases and certain other decisions - see Paragraph 10 of the Rules).
6.1. A player or Club shall have the right of appeal. Notice of any such Appeal, setting out the grounds, must be given in writing to the Secretary of the League within seven days of the decision of the Disciplinary or other Committee, together with a deposit, in the case of a player, of £50 and in the case of a Club, of £100. No Appeal shall be allowed if this condition is not complied with.
6.2. In the event of such an Appeal the Chairman of the League shall appoint an Appeals Committee consisting of not less than three members, drawn from the Executive Committee, or suitable Club Chairmen or other officials, or other such persons as are deemed to be suitable. One Member shall be designated as Chairman. No member of the Appeals Committee shall have any connection with the Club or players involved, nor with their opponents at the time of the alleged breach/incident: neither shall they have formed part of the Committee that considered the original case.
6.3. If Notice of Appeal is properly given, together with the required deposit, the penalty shall not take effect pending the hearing of the Appeal, which shall take place as soon as is practicable. An Appeal, once made, shall not be withdrawn.
6.4. The Appeal shall be by way of a re-hearing before a different Committee, established as set out in Paragraph 6.2 above. The player or Club shall have the same right of attendance and representation, and to call witnesses, as they had before the original Committee.
6.5. The Appeals Committee may confirm, vary or reverse the decision of the original Committee and it shall have the power to increase the penalty and make decisions as to the costs of the appeal hearing. If the Appeal is successful the Committee will return some or all of the deposit.
7. Decisions
7.1. Decisions of the Disciplinary or Appeals Committee (a finding that a Complaint is proved or not proved, a decision as to penalty, or any other consequent action) shall be by majority vote, where necessary the Chairman of the Committee shall have a casting vote.
7.2. Decisions made by the Appeals Committee, or if no appeal, by the Disciplinary or other relevant Committee, shall be final and binding, in accordance with the Rules of the League.
DISCIPLINARY OFFENCES AND SUSPENSION GUIDELINES
Annex to Code of Conduct
THE LEAGUE'S POLICY
The League's Code of Conduct and Behaviour makes it clear that the primary responsibility for discipline lies with Clubs and Team Captains. The League expects this responsibility to be properly discharged. If it is not, the League will take action against the Club and Captain concerned.
Captains are expected to address incidents promptly and take appropriate action. If they do not they are also liable to be charged with the offence.
The Code also places a duty on Clubs to take immediate action when notified of a disciplinary complaint. Such action will be taken into account by the League Disciplinary Committee and may be accepted as appropriate. Alternatively, the Complaint may be referred to a Disciplinary Hearing.
In all cases the following guidelines will be followed by the Disciplinary Committee, as well as by umpire;
The guidelines specify suspensions for a period. The Disciplinary Committee will normally assess the period so as to cover a given number of scheduled League matches. The suspension will then be notified as "being up to and including a certain date." Clubs and players should be aware that any suspension by the League applies not only to matches under the control of the League but also to all matches played under the auspices of the ECB or an ECB affiliated Club during the period of suspension.
A. MAJOR OFFENCES (Category A Offences)
(Umpires will make formal and full reports in all cases and disciplinary charges will be laid.)
A1. ABUSE OF CRICKET EQUIPMENT, CLOTHING, GROUND EQUIPMENT OR FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
The knocking of slumps, or the throwing or kicking of a bat, ball, helmet or any cricket attire, boundary marker, rope or any match or ground equipment. Suspension: MINIMUM period of one week.
A2. ABUSE OF A PLAYER
Deliberate violent physical contact on a member of the opposing team or a fellow team member.
Suspension: MINIMUM period of six weeks. (The severity of the act will influence the length of the penalty imposed. Indefinite or life bans may be appropriate in certain circumstances).
Threatening behaviour. Includes threats of assault. Also, serious and persistent verbal abuse (sledging) using comments or language designed to denigrate, intimidate or provoke the recipient.
Suspension: MINIMUM period of two weeks.
A3. ABUSE OF AN UMPIRE
Deliberate violent physical contact.
Suspension: MINIMUM period of twelve weeks. (The severity of the act will influence the length of the penalty imposed. Indefinite or life bans may be appropriate in certain circumstances).
Threatening behaviour.
Suspension: MINIMUM period of six weeks
Verbal Abuse (inclusive of language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of obscene gestures).
Suspension: MINIMUM period of three weeks.
Dissent - any action that seeks to question or undermine the authority of an umpire. Aggravated dissent would include the use of foul or threatening language.
Suspension: MINIMUM period of one week. Aggravated offences will attract more severe penalties, with prior record being taken into account.
NOTE: In dealing with the above offences, where it is apparent that, following the intervention of an umpire, the offending player's captain failed to take action to control the offending player, the captain will himself be subject to a MINIMUM suspension of one week.
A4. RACIAL ABUSE
Any racially abusive comment or action, i.e. using language that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages, or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin. Suspension: PERIOD to be decided by the Disciplinary Committee.
B. ACCUMULATED BAD BEHAVIOUR (Category B Offences)
This relates to repeated offences that are reported by umpires under the Laws of Cricket or as General Misconduct (as set out in the Section C of these Guidelines). Although the individual infringements may not, on their own, merit disciplinary action they will in all cases be recorded and notified to the Club(s) concerned. A second report relating to the same player will likewise be recorded and notified: a third or subsequent report will automatically attract a Disciplinary charge, leading to penalties:
Suspension: MINIMUM period of one week on the first occasion; two weeks for the second; four weeks for the third, etc.
Repeated offences involving a particular team will lead to charges against the Captain concerned.
In these cases the MINIMUM suspension will be two weeks and/or a deduction of match points. Such action will take into account previous disciplinary problems.
NOTE: the "totting-up" process will not be carried over from one season to the next.
C. NOTIFIABLE OFFENCES (Category C Offences)
The League's Umpires are REQUIRED to report each and every incident under this heading. This applies even where the umpire considers that the incident has been "dealt with" at the time. Such reports may be brief, and umpires will normally use their standard reporting cards for such incidents. Category C1 offences are, in general penalised under the Laws. For the remainder (the Category C2 offences) disciplinary action will not necessarily flow from individual reports but each one will be recorded and repeated offences will be dealt with under the procedure relating to ACCUMULATED BAD BEHAVIOUR.
CI. OFFENCES REQUIRING MANDATORY REPORTS UNDER THE LAWS OF CRICKET.
o Deliberate short runs or run stealing.
o Dangerous and unfair bowling, including "bouncers" and "beamers".
o Ball tampering.
o Deliberate and malicious distraction/obstruction on the field of play. Distracting an opponent.
o Deliberate time wasting.
o Damaging the pitch.
C2. OFFENCES CLASSED AS "GENERAL MISCONDUCT" - MANDATORY REPORT REQUIRED
a) Excessive, ridiculous, and orchestrated appealing.
b) Charging or advancing towards the Umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.
c) Premature "celebrations", before an umpire's decision is made.
d) Persistent questioning of umpires' decisions/actions. (Where this falls short of actual dissent - see Cat A3).
e) Pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner upon the dismissal of a batsman.
f) Throwing the ball in a careless manner at or near a player, umpire, team official or spectator.
g) Making comments or gestures that are obscene, offensive, insulting or deliberately provocative to another player, team official or spectator.
NOTE 1. The above constitutes a MAJOR offence when directed at an umpire - see A3 - ABUSE OF AN UMPIRE
NOTE 2. It is acknowledged that there will be verbal exchanges between players during the course of play. Rather than seeking to eliminate these exchanges entirely, umpires will look to make a report when this behaviour falls below an acceptable standard.
h) Failure of a Captain to take appropriate action to control players' conduct/behaviour.
i) Any unsavoury action or event, which in the opinion of the Umpire should be reported as being contrary to the Spirit of the game.
D. SPECTATORS' BEHAVIOUR
Clubs are responsible at all times for the conduct of all their members, even where they are merely spectators. In the event of such a member's conduct being reported as offensive, abusive, etc (whether to players umpires, officials or other spectators), clubs will be liable to fines and/or points deductions, or such other penalty as the Disciplinary Committee shall deem appropriate.

FOOTNOTE: Umpires will normally report Category A, C and D offences. However, individual Clubs may also make reports if they wish. Such reports must be made by a responsible Club Official. (Normally this will be the Chairman or Secretary).