Rugeley Cricket Club
Making Cricket Accessible to All

PLAYERS CODE OF CONDUCT

Rugeley Cricket Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well being of all its members and the game of cricket in general. The club believes that it is important that members should at all times show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others.
Therefore members 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 with the Club’s Committee
All Club Members are expected to abide by the Vision and Values of Rugeley CC

Vision

Making Cricket Accessible to All
Developing Young Cricketers
Encouraging participation

Purpose

To develop and inspire the Sporting Community

Values

We expect all Members of the Club to uphold the club Vision and Values of
Honesty
Integrity
Respect for others and the environment
Sportsmanship

All Rugeley CC players are expected to abide by the following rules:

All players must play within the rules and respect officials and their decisions

All players must respect their opponents

When at home, players should look to arrive early and contribute to the work required in order to ready the Club for the fixture

Players should keep to agreed timings for matches and practice or inform their captain if they are going to be late. The squad Captain reserves the right to issue a fine for late arrivals

Players must wear suitable kit for matches and practice sessions, as stated below

Players must have paid their annual subscription, or have pre-agreed arrangement to pay annual subscriptions before being allowed to play

Players must pay any fees for matches or practice on the day

Foul and/or abusive language on or off the field is unacceptable

Intimidation, aggressive behaviour and/or deliberate distraction of opponents by words or actions are unacceptable

Players are not allowed to smoke or consume alcohol on the pitch at any time

Players are not allowed to take drugs of any kind on the club premises or whilst representing the club

It is expected that teams will do their utmost to win but the highest standards of sportsmanship in keeping with the spirit of the game must be upheld at all times

Dress Code
The club colours are maroon and yellow and only club or plain shirts and jumpers are permitted. Club caps should be worn for matches and no other cap is acceptable on the field.
Cricket shoes must be white. Please note that black or coloured footwear is not permitted at any activity.

Helmets
It is a club requirement that all players under the age of 18 shall wear a helmet when batting or keeping wicket standing up. There shall be no exception to this rule.

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 will be dealt with by the Cricket Committee in accordance with the club rules and disciplinary procedures. 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.

Responsibility of Captains
There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct firmly on the captain.
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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
• Your opponents
• Your own captain and team
• The role of the umpires
• The game and its traditional values

4. 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.

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

6. 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.