Code of Conduct

Introduction 

Everyone who plays, volunteers, spectates or works in Cornwall Cricket recognises that the Spirit of Cricket’ and good behaviour underpins all cricket activities and all that we do in connection to the game.  ‘Everyone’ involved in cricket in Cornwall and their practices are an integral part of realising our vision of creating a recognised, valued and inclusive sport that everyone can be a part of. 

The Code of conduct explains the standards expected in cricket and how this code operates. 

Definitions

Spirit of Cricket (MCC)

“Cricket owes much of its appeal and enjoyment to the fact that it should be played not only according to the laws, but also within the spirit of cricket.

The major responsibility for ensuring fair play rests with the captains, but extends to all the players, match officials, especially in junior cricket, teachers, coaches and parents.

Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket. Respect your captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires. Play hard and fair, accept the umpire’s decision.

Create a positive atmosphere by your own conduct and encourage others to do likewise. Show self-discipline, even when things go against you. Congratulate the opposition on their success and enjoy those of your own team. Thank the official and your opposition at the end of the match, whatever the result.

Cricket is an exciting game that encourages leadership, friendship and teamwork, which brings people together, people from different nationalities, cultures and religions, especially when played within the spirit of cricket.” 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Cornwall Cricket recognises the need to encourage participation from all communities to strengthen the game in the county, and wishes to remove any barriers that reduce accessibility or that deter anyone from enjoying the game, particularly those whose personal status incorporates characteristics that are protected by law 1.  In saying this it notes that the history of cricket within the county has created a special and unique environment, enjoyed by many.  It has no desire to dilute the spirit of cricket as it is played in Cornwall; rather, it aims to ensure that this special atmosphere is available to all to enjoy, without fear of prejudice, harassment or abuse, even if unacceptable behaviour or language is unintended or unconsciously conveyed.  Cornwall Cricket also welcomes the fact that Cornish nationality is officially recognised as having minority status within the United Kingdom and seeks, therefore, to ensure that people who identify as Cornish are given equitable opportunities to participate in county representative sides of all natures.

Equity: we want no individual, or group of individuals, to be treated less favourably because of their protected characteristics.  We also want to ensure that those who may be disadvantaged can get the tools they need to access the same, fair opportunities as their peers.  Furthermore, in areas of under-representation we commit to positive action and application of resources to level the playing field.   

Diversity: we want to recognise, respect and celebrate each other's differences.  We wish to create a diverse environment, one that sees people with a wide range of backgrounds, talents and mindsets, thereby enabling an empowered culture of creativity and innovation.  

Inclusion: we want to create cricketing environments where everybody feels welcome and valued, including those who already play and are satisfied with the status quo. We want to become more aware of our unconscious biases, and to learn how to manage them.

Cornwall Cricket is committed to becoming the most inclusive sport in Cornwall. A key part to enabling that is an on-going commitment through cricket to be welcoming to all groups and sections within society.

We want to ensure that no individual (including players, spectators, volunteers, coaches, umpires, scorers, groundskeepers, administrators) receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, race, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation or socio-economic status. Cornwall Cricket Board have adopted the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code

For further information on Cornwall Cricket Board EDI action plan, click here  

Juniors

People under the age of 18 years old.

Our vision 

To create a recognised, valued and inclusive sport that everyone can be a part of.

Our mission 

Through our work we will: 

  1. Empower individuals to realise their potential in the game by supporting them on their playing, volunteering and career pathway. 

  2. Provide leadership to the game on policy and regulation, monitoring compliance to protect players, volunteers, parents, and workforce from harm. 

  3. Provide accessible, quality, and relevant learning and development opportunities. 

  4. Improve public knowledge to achieve confidence in our game. 

  5. Provide the sector with a diverse and valued workforce. 

  6. An agreed member Code of Conduct 

This Code of Conduct (the Code) has been developed by Cornwall Cricket Board within our remit as the Governing Body for Cricket in Cornwall. Cornwall Cricket Board is incorporated, to promote and advance the game of cricket in Cornwall for the public benefit. 

The Code has been developed in consultation with all of the other member organisations of Cornwall Cricket

Scope

Everyone involved in cricket in Cornwall is bound by and required to comply with all the provisions of this code of conduct. 

‘Everyone involved in Cricket’ and ‘individuals’ encapsulates all involved in the sport in some way or another including: -

  1. All Cricket Bodies – Cornwall Cricket Board and all its committees and member organisations, including, Cornwall Cricket League, Cornwall Association of Cricket Officials, Cornwall Association of Cricket Groundkeepers, Cornwall Cricket Youth.  Cornwall Cricket Women.

    1. Cornwall County Cricket Club are fully supportive of the Code of Conduct, but will be subject to their own Code of Conduct and internal disciplinary process aligned to the General Conduct Regulations as managed by the NCCA.

  2. All individuals, employees, directors, officers of committees, contractors, and volunteers, players, parents, any cricketer or person taking part in a match under the jurisdiction of the Cornwall Cricket Board (or any of it member organisations), any coach, umpire, scorer, groundskeeper, manager, selector, official or any person who is employed by, represents or is otherwise affiliated to a team from an affiliated club or member organisation and spectators, are bound by this code of conduct.

By participating in cricket, everyone involved shall be deemed to have agreed that it is their individual responsibility to ensure cricket in Cornwall achieves the highest standards of behaviour and conduct between all involved in the game and to do so, each individual shall,

  1. Read and understand this code of conduct

  2. Familiarise themselves with the ECB General Conduct Regulations

  3. Submit to the jurisdiction of the Cornwall Cricket Board when this code of conduct has been breached.

  4. Observe and respect all decisions of Cornwall Cricket Board and any disciplinary and/or compliance committee it chooses to establish.

The code of conduct extends to any activities which occur within cricket, is connected to or by the virtue of the individual’s involvement in cricket is a matter with which Cornwall Cricket Board is, in the view of Cornwall Cricket Board, entitled to consider and have regard to where it is in the good of cricket to do so.

Code of Conduct 

  1. Everyone involved in cricket to whom this Code applies:  

  2. Must ensure that cricket is played and conducted in all respects in accordance with disciplined and sporting behaviour;   

  3. Must acknowledge that it is not sufficient to rely solely upon umpires, club officials, regional associations and Cornwall Cricket Board, to maintain and uphold the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ and that personal behaviour is central to ensuring that cricket, in Cornwall, at all times observes the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ and the highest standards of behaviour;

  4. Shall cooperate with one another to ensure that the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ is upheld at all times in connection with all aspects of the game and actively discourage unfair play, rule violations and arguing with match officials.

  5. Shall respectfully communicate with people at all times and in all cricket environments.

  6. Shall cooperate to encourage everyone to refrain from behaving contrary to the ‘Spirit of Cricket’, Cornwall Cricket Board's Policy on EDI, and also to:

    1. not repeatedly breach the Laws of Cricket; 

    2. accept and observe the authority and decisions of umpires; and 

    3. accept and observe the authority and decisions of all cricket disciplinary bodies.

  7. Shall not state publicly, in person or on social media (Social Media Policy) criticism of the manner in which an umpire handled a match; https://cornwallcricket.co.uk/about-us/policies/social-media-policy.html

  8.  Shall not publish or cause to be publish criticism of the manner in which Cornwall Cricket Board, or any other cricket disciplinary body including Cornwall Cricket League, or clubs, handled or resolved any dispute or disciplinary matter resulting from or connected in any way to the Code of Conduct, any game-related issue, or any other regulatory matter;

  9. Shall not engage in any conduct or any activity on or off the field that may impair public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of a match, league, cup or other competition (including, but not limited to, the supply of information in relation to the game of cricket, directly or indirectly, to bookmakers or to persons who may use such information to their advantage) (Anti-Bribery Policy);  https://cornwallcricket.co.uk/about-us/policies/anti-bribary-policy.html

  10. Shall not engage in any conduct or any activity on or off the field that may impair public confidence in the integrity and good character of any Cricket Body or Individual(s); 

  11. Shall not commit a breach of any of rules or regulations published by Cornwall Cricket Board, Cornwall Cricket League, and any other cricket organising body in Cornwall (ECB General Conduct Regulations) and that require to be complied with; https://cornwallcricket.co.uk/about-us/policies/general-conduct-regulations.html

  12. Shall take all possible steps to prevent the game of cricket from being brought into disrepute;  

  13. Shall take all reasonable steps to promote the game of cricket in a good light;  

  14. Shall not do any anything which brings, or risks bringing, the game into disrepute; 

  15. Shall abide at all times by the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Policy https://cornwallcricket.co.uk/about-us/policies/ecb-anti-discrimination-code.html;     

  16. Shall not condone, or allow to go unchallenged, any form of discrimination if witnessed;  

  17. Shall not do anything which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other Individual on the ground of their sex, race, colour or national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation; 

  18. Shall not do anything which adversely affects the game of cricket;

  19. Shall place the well-being and safety of children above the development of performance;

  20. Shall ensure activities are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual;    

  21. Shall not act contrary to or breach any part of the Cornwall Cricket Policy on Anti-Doping or Anti-Doping Rules;

  22. Shall respect children’s opinions when making decisions about their participation in cricket;  

  23. Shall not smoke or vape, drink alcohol or use banned substances while working with children involved in Cornwall Cricket activities;

  24. Shall not provide participating children with alcohol when they are under their care.;

  25. Shall follow ECB guidelines set out in the “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children” and ‘Safeguarding Adults in Cricket Policy’ and any other relevant guidelines issued;

  26. Shall report any concerns in relation to a child, following reporting procedures laid down by the ECB;

  27. In addition, coaches and management of Cornwall Cricket teams shall not use their position of authority to benefit one’s own interest or the club they are associated with, e.g. player recruitment, playing opportunities within a team.

  28. All Cricket Bodies are under an obligation to comply with and to ensure that each of its members, as Individuals, comply with this Code of Conduct.    

  29. Each Club is under an obligation to bring this Code of Conduct to the attention of their members, as Individuals, and any person associated with their Club and educate and ensure that they behave appropriately.  For the avoidance of doubt a Club may be charged further to this Code for the conduct of its member(s) or any person(s) associated with their Club and whose behaviour they may be deemed to be responsible for (in addition to charges being brought against those individual(s)).  This may include non-member spectators, if they are in breach of material aspects of this code.     

  30. All Cricket Bodies, as laid out in point 7.a and 7.b, in particular, each Association and Club must monitor compliance with sanctions issued under the jurisdiction of Cornwall Cricket Board for breaches of the Code of Conduct by Persons under its jurisdiction.    

Code of Conduct Specific to Children

  1. This Code of Conduct applies to juniors (under 18s) involved in organised Cornwall Cricket activity.

  2. Activity includes but is not limited to: Schools Festivals, Youth League, Development Cricket, County Age Group, Emerging Player Programme, Academy Training, Women & Girls Festivals, Disability Cricket.

  3. All categories mentioned will adhere to the following code:  

    1. You are always expected to be respectfull

    2. In joining the activity, you are agreeing not to act in a violent manner or use bad language.

    3. Look after all Cornwall Cricket property and equipment. 

    4. Do not argue with umpires, managers, coaches or other players.

    5. Applaud good cricket, whoever plays it.  

    6. Watch and support your team and fellow players, even when not playing.  

    7. Listen and learn - follow instructions.  Do not talk when the coach or manager is talking.  Be sure you understand what you are being asked to do, if you don’t, ASK.

    8. Encourage each other and be supportive at all times.

    9. Keep good time - arrive early for training sessions and matches.

    10. Advise the manager in good time if you are going to be absent or late. 

    11. Enjoy yourselves, work hard, always try your best and show a positive attitude at all times. Have Fun.  

    12. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the context of cricket.

    13. Treat everyone equally and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief.

    14. Not condone, or allow to go unchallenged, any form of discrimination if witnessed. 

    15. Promote the positive aspects of cricket, for example fair play.

    16. Recognise good performance not just match results. 

Linked to Disciplinary Process

  1. Any breach of this code of conduct should be reported to Robert Jobson (CCB Disciplinary Officer) and be investigated by an appropriately appointed individual, potentially leading to disciplinary processes as set out within the General Conduct Regulations and any other disciplinary policies Cornwall Cricket Board may from time to time introduce.

  2. or in the event of a breach of Anti Discrimination, please report this to the Cricket Regulator via the ECB website

Review

The Cornwall Cricket Board member code of conduct will be reviewed in September 2024 unless a change in policy, governance or other circumstance requires a review prior to this date.

Version Control

  • Created By: Joe Skinner

  • Date Created: 5th October 2023

  • Review Date: Sepetember 2024

Version Number: V3.5

Date Modified: 6th March 2024

Status: Adopted