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SWAN HILL CRICKET CLUB INCORPORATED
Introduction 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 isn’t cricket” which implies that a certain type of behaviour is unacceptable. This document is a set of guidelines to provide all members with an understanding of the expectations the club has of each and every player and spectator. These guidelines are relevant during match days (on and off the field), training, club functions and at any other time when representing Swan Hill Cricket Club. The guidelines form part of the Players’ Code of Conduct (Cricket Victoria) and will be enforced by the committee of the Swan Hill Cricket Club, and/or the Tribunal of the Swan Hill & District Cricket Association. Players and spectators in breach of these guidelines can expect to receive penalties varying from a caution through to suspension, depending on the severity and the nature of the breach. Objective Our objective is to ensure that all players, when representing Swan Hill Cricket Club, 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. CODE OF CONDUCT (Incorporating the By-Laws of the Cricket Victoria) No person bound by this Code of Conduct shall engage in disorderly or improper conduct or behaviour. Disorderly or improper conduct or behaviour includes, but is not restricted to, a person: 1. Assaulting or attempting to assault, or abusing, either orally or physically, an umpire, player or spectator 2. Disputing, as distinct from questioning, an umpire’s decision, or reacting in an obviously provocative manner towards and umpire 3. Using crude or abusive language, or hand signals or other gestures 4. Engaging in any form of conduct or behaviour detrimental to the spirit of the game or likely to bring the game into disrepute 5. Refusing to supply that person’s name and that person’s address when required by another person who is lodging a report 6. 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 participating in a match under the jurisdiction or auspices of the Cricket Victoria or its affiliates 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 or ethnic origin.
The captain of a team shall ensure that the players (including the person acting as 12th man) comply with the Racial and Religious Vilification Code.
Expectation of Players: The Committee of Management of the Swan Hill Cricket Club has set down these guidelines for all players, including spectators, representing Swan Hill Cricket Club.
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.
Upon being dismissed: 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.
Post-Match Drinks: Players are encouraged to have a drink and friendly chat with the opposition after a match, either home or away, but should also make every effort to return to the Swan Hill clubrooms in time for the after-match presentations.
Weekly Award Presentations: Weekly award presentations are held in the clubrooms as soon as possible after training on a Thursday night. Awards are made to the best player/s of each team, as well as the “Player of the Round”. All players should make every possible effort to remain after training and attend these presentations.
Racial Vilification: Please refer to Racial and Religious Vilification Code outlined above. Under no circumstances will the club tolerate such behaviour. The committee will deal with Swan Hill players, if an official SHDCA report is not made. Likewise, if a Swan Hill player is subjected to such abuse, the club will take the matter to the SHDCA and ensure the matter is dealt with in the appropriate manner.
Training Expectations: All players are expected to train at least once a week. It is understood that work commitments can clash with those of the cricket club, but every effort should be made to attend training. Your captain should be made aware if you are unable to attend training.
Training is to be used to improve your game and those that you are training with. The bowling of excessive deliberate short pitched deliveries and the continual ‘slogging’ of balls out of the nets will not be tolerated. Remember, the players you are training with are your teammates. No player is to leave training early without notifying the person in charge of training.
Training Attire: Tracksuit pants/shorts and an appropriate white or coloured cricket shirt should be worn at all training sessions.
Swan Hill Cricket Club Social Rooms: These rooms are to be treated with respect at all times with no balls allowed indoors and the wearing of spikes strictly prohibited. Please ensure that all opposition players also respect these rules.
Playing Subscriptions: All subscriptions should be paid as soon as possible after the season commences.
Afternoon Tea Levy: A levy of $5 will be charged should players fail to provide afternoon tea at home games for the Swan Hill Cricket Club.
Under-age Drinking: Players under the age of 18 are not permitted to drink alcohol at club functions, including training and match days/nights. Exceptions to this would be where the parent is present and permits his/her son to do so when they are having a meal.
Players assisting under-age players to gain access to alcohol is considered, by the committee, to represent a serious breach of our Code of Conduct..
Player Availability: All players are expected to be available for all games throughout the season. Exceptions can occur, but wherever possible, plans involving weekends without cricket, should be scheduled outside the cricket season
Selection Policy: Where a player is unavailable for selection, he should not consider himself a certainty to be selected as soon as he makes himself available again. It is quite possible that he will not be selected in any grade upon his return.
Social Functions: Throughout the season there are several functions organised by the Social Committee. Key functions include a Trivia Night and the Annual Presentation Night, but there are many others. It is expected that players will make every effort to attend club functions, and where possible, invite as many of their friends as possible.
Match Days: Players are to arrive at the ground, at least 30 minutes before the commencement of play. When playing away, a car pool operates from Swan Hill Oval. Departure time from the ground varies depending on the travelling time. At home games there are various duties that need to be done. These include laying boundary markers and scoreboard. After play, these need to be placed away.
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, not only rests with the captains, but with all players alike.
Breaches of the Code of Conduct Any breach of this code can be reported to a member of the Committee who in turn will advise the Club President. An independent person, from within the Committee, will be appointed to investigate the breach and report to the Full Committee with recommendations of an appropriate penalty should the breach be proven.
The Committee Swan Hill Cricket Club Incorporated November 2004 | 
