12 - Discipline
1.1)The Northern Premier Cricket League (NPCL) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviourand conduct
The NPCL operating within the jurisdiction of the ECB, take commitment very seriously.
1.2)The expression "player" in this document shall be deemed to mean and include all players, be it amateur or professional, any member or official of any member club or any other person involved in any incident of alleged misconduct within the curtilage of the club premises.
1.3)The League will operate a disciplinary procedure based on the current version of the ECB's Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct will be incorporated into the League Registration form which players must sign stating that they have read and will abide by the Code of Conduct and that they will accept any disciplinary action arising from a breach of the Code of Conduct as provided for in these rules.
1.4)The code places the emphasis on clubs and team captains who have the prime responsibility to deal with their own misconduct once it has been reported in a fair and speedy manner
The Executive Committee will monitor the actions taken via the Disciplinary Sub-Committee within the guidelines which are based on the ECB model.
1.5)It is considered a disciplinary offence for a club to act in a manner which could prejudice the standing or intrests of the NPCL or to fail to act promptly to control and/or disciplin a player.
1.6)Umpires will normally be the instigators of disciplinary reports but written reports are also acceptable to the Executive Committee from a club chairman/cricket chairman or other acceptable officer acting on behalf of a club committee, an officerof the League or club appointed Child Welfare Officer.
Allreports will be dealt with by the Disciplinary Sub-Committee and clubs will be expected to deal with them within the timescales laid down within the Guidelines.
2) Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket
2.1)Preamble
The following preamble is taken from the introduction to the Laws of Cricket, it informs clubs of the way in which the NPCL approaches all aspects relating to disciplinary matters
2.2)Code of Conduct
2.2.1)The ECB and the NPCL are committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct both on and off the field.
All clubs and players by virtue of their registration with the NPCL, explicitly agree to abide by this Code of Conduct which incorporates the Spirit of Cricket, and are bound by the provisions in these Regulations.
2.2.2)The Captains are responsible at all times for ensuring the play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.
2.2.3)Players and club officials must at all times accept the umpire's decision
Players must not show dissent at the Umpires decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards another player or spectator.
2.2.4)Players and club officials shall not intimidate assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player, a club official or a spectator.
2.2.5)Players and club officials shall not use crude and/or offensive language, (known as sledging), nor make offensive gestures or hand signals, nor deliberately distract an opponent.
2.2.6)Players and club officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members and supporters.
Clubs must operate an active open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.
2.2.7)Players and club officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.
2.2.8)Players and club officials shall not make any public or media comment which is detrimental to the NPCL, clubs, umpires or the game in general.
In this instance media shall include press, radio, television, external websites, club websites, social networking sites and club match programmes.
2.3) 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.
2.3.1)There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain
2.3.1.1)Responsibilty of the Captains.
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.
2.3.1.2) Players Conduct
In the event of a player failing to comply with the instructions of an umpire, criticising his decision by word or action, showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first instance report the matter to the other umpire and then the player's captain, requesting the latter to take action.
2.3.2) Setting the Tone
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.
2.3.3) 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 when required.
2.3.4) The Umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of
Time wasting
Damaging the pitch
Dangerous or unfair bowling
Tamperimg with the ball
Any other action they consider to be unfair
2.3.5)The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
Your Opponents
Your own captain and team
The role of the umpires
The game's traditional values
2.3.6)It is against the Spirit of the Game
To dispute an umpier's decision by word, action or gesture
To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
To indulge incheating or any sharp practice, for instance
Appealing knowing the batsman is not out
Advance towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
Seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persisitent clapping or unneccessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side.
2.3.7)Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play
3 REPORTING AND MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES
3.1)Disciplinary Committee Strucuture
3.1.1)The Disciplinary Committee is a Sub-Committee of the NPCL Executive Committee
3.1.2)The Disciplinary Committee will consist of the NPCL Chairman, a Disciplinary Representative nominated by the Executive Committee, and a Northern Cricket League Umpier's Federation (NCLUF) nominated Disciplinary Secretary
3.1.3)The Disciplinary Committee will manage the disciplinary processes as described in these Guidelines, keep records, post notices on th NPCL website an will report regularly to the NPCL Exectutive Committee
3.2) Level 1 Disciplinary Offence
3.2.1)Umpires advise captain(s) at the end of the match of their intention to submit a Report.
The captain(s) must inform their players of the award of a Level 1 Disciplinary Offence (L1DO).
3.2.2) A L1D0 is recorded on the green form headed "Level 1 Disciplinary Report Form" and forwarded to John Kettlestring by post or email and who will include the details on the NPCL website
3.3)Reports
3.3.1)For reports one umpire takes the responsibility to inform the NCLUF Disciplinary Secretary as soon as possible and within 48 hours of the close of play submit the report on the form headed "Recreational Umpire Disciplinary Report" This report should be sent by email if at all possible.
3.3.2)The NCLUF Disciplinary Secretary will advise the NPCL Disciplinary Representative of the incident by forwarding a copy of the disciplinary report together with any additional information, and also forward a copy of the report to the Cricket Chairman/Secretary of the club(s)concerned.
Should there not be a suitable club contact available for notification of the report, the NPCL Disciplinary Representative will be advises accordingly.
3.3.3)The Discipinary Representative will immediately establish contact with the club(s) concerned and clarify the action taken by the club.
Clubs are expexted to convene an internal enquiry and convey the action taken to the NPCL Disciplinary Representative within 4 days of the match in which the incident occurred, having taken into account any previous misconduct attaching to the player(s) concerned and using these Guidelines to guage the penalty appropriate to the offence.
Clubs may recommend that part of any non-mandatory suspension be deferred dependant on the player's future behaviour, but this will not be automatically accepted by the Discipline Committee Chairman
3.3.4)Action to be taken by the clubs will be:
3.3.4.1)Ageed - by the Disciplinary Committee Chairman and notified to the NPCL Disciplinary Secretary for advices to both umpires invovled in the match, the club(s) concerned and the webmaster for the notice-board; or
3.3.4.2)Disagreed, when a disciplinary hearing shall be held
3.3.5)The intention is that any suspension/penalty will be placed in force prior to the next scheduled league fixture.
In the event of the club(s) taking no action, the Disciplinary Committee Chairman may impose a one week suspension subject to the hearing in circumstances where it is clear that such suspension will be a minimum imposition
3.3.6)Should a player commit a further offence whilst in receipt of a suspended sentence, the suspended sentence will apply immediately and the further offence should be considered by the club( and if appropriate by the Disciplinary Committee Chairman) as a separate matter
4 DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS
4.1)The NPCL Representative will notify, within a 7 day period, the player(s), and his/their club's(s) secretary (ies) of the time, date and venue of the disciplinary hearing and a Disciplinary panel will be appointed.
The NCLUF Disciplinary Secretary will be advised.
The notification shall specify the alleged disciplinary offence and give player(s) and club(s) 7 days notice of the hearing.
4.2)The accused player or club shall attend the hearing and be entitled
to submit written statements ahead of the hearing;
to state his case(in the case of a club, by its Secretary or other official); and
to be supported by a colleague and to call witnesses.
4.3)If the player or club is to have representation present at the hearing then the details of that representation must be given to the NPCL Discipinary Representative not less than 7 days before the date of the hearing.
4.4)The Disciplinary Panel will consist of the Disciplinary Committee Chairman pus 2 members drawn from a list approved by the NPCL's Executive Committee, and a minute taker appointed by the Executive Committee(who will have no involvement or vote on the proceedings, with all costs being the responsibility of the club concerned).
None of the Panel should be connected with the player, the club or their opponents at the time of the alleged offence, or a club which might directly benefit from any disciplinary action.
The hearing minutes will be made available to an Appeal Panel if such action should subsequently take place.
4.5)The Disciplinary Panel will call on umpires, players, independant witnesses and any other person(s) whom they may consider to be of assistance in their enquiries .
The NCLUF is to encourage its members to include details of independent witnesses within their within their report wherever possible.
4.6)Umpire(s) requested to attend a disciplinary hearing (or an Appeal) will receive expenses of a similar amount to the current travelling expenses payable under Playing Regulations 8.1.2.
4.7)A club or player involved in disciplinary proceedings will be solely responsible for meeting such costs or expenses as it or they may incur, including the cost of any legal or other representation.
4.8)In the event of more than one club being involved in the hearing, the cost will be equally shared.
4.9)The standard of proof shall be on the balance of probabilities rather than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt.
4.10)The Disciplinary Panel shall decide what if any penalties are to be imposed at the time of the Hearing and shall advise the player club and the NPCL Disciplinary Representative.
The penalties shall be generally in line with the guidelines in Section 7 below.
5. APPEALS
5.1)There are no appeals allowed against an automatic ban instigated for a Level 1 Disciplinary Offence.
5.2)Where a disciplinary offence has been proved at a Disciplinary Hearing, a player or club shall have the right of appeal.
Where a player and his club are appealing in relation to the same incident, they must do so separately.
5.3)An appeal should be made in writing to the Disciplinary Committee's Chairman or Secretary within 5 days of the date of the original decision, accompanied by a cheque for £50.00 payable to the NPCL which amount will be refunded in the event of such appeal being successful.
The club is responsible for the cost of the appeal hearing. In the event of the appeal not being correctly received within the 5 day period, the decision of the Disciplinary Hearing Panel will stand.
5.4)If a notice of appeal is given, the penalty shall not take effect pending the hearing of the Appeal, which shall take place as soon as is practicable and in any event within 14 days of receipt of the notice of the appeal.
5.5)The Appeal shall be by way of a hearing or a re-hearing before a different panel - the Appeal Panel.
The composition of the Panel shall be at the discretion of the Chairman of the NPCL Disciplinary Committee and shall consist of not less than three persons, none of whom shall be connected with the player, the Club or their opponents at the time of the alleged offence or have been a member of the original Disciplinary Panel.
5.6)One member of the Appeal Panel will act as Chairman. The NPCL's Honorary Secretary will take the minutes of the hearing.
5.7)The club shall have the same rights of attendance and representation at any hearing or re-hearing and to call witnesses.
5.8)The Appeal Panel may call on umpires, players, independent witnesses and any other person(s) whom they may consider to be of assistance in their enquiries.
The NCLUF is to encourage its members to include details of independent witnesses within their report wherever possible.
Umpires will receive expenses as described above (Clause 5.6).
5.9)The travelling expenses of the three members of the Appeal Panel plus those of any others called to give evidence will be the responsibility of the player's club.
The NPCL will pay these expenses if the appeal finds in favour of the player.
5.10)In the event of more than one club being involved in the hearing, the cost will be equally shared.
5.11)The standard of proof shall be on the balance of probabilities rather than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt.
5.12)Non-attendance at a hearing of the Appeal Panel by the club or person that submitted the appeal without good and valid reason for such non-attendance will automatically result in forfeiture of their right of appeal.
5.13)The Appeal Panel may confirm, vary or reverse the decision of the Disciplinary Panel and it shall have the power to increase the penalty and award costs of the Appeal hearing and forfeit the whole or part of the deposit.
Decisions of the Appeal Panel shall be by majority vote; where necessary, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
The decision of the Appeals Panel shall be made at the time of the Hearing and the Chairman shall advise the player, club and the NPCL's Disciplinary Representative.
5.14)The decision of the Appeal Panel or, if no appeal, of the Disciplinary Panel, shall be final and binding.
6. PENALTIES
Level 1 Disciplinary Offence
6.1.1)Any player receiving three L1DOs in two seasons will receive an immediate and automatic two weeks ban.
6.1.2) The remainder of this Section of the Guidelines relates to the penalties applicable to reportable offences.
6.2 Reportable offences
6.2.1) As a minimum, automatic suspension by the club for ONE WEEK.
6.2.2) If the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the League is satisfied with the action taken by the club, the case will be closed.
6.2.2.1) Should the Disciplinary Committee Chairman decide the offence is sufficiently serious, he will refer the complaint for a full disciplinary hearing.
6.2.2.2) When issuing the penalty, the Disciplinary Panel or Appeal Panel may take account of instances of poor team discipline in previous years, particularly where the on the field captain is the same, and the previous record of any individual charged.
6.3) Panels will take the following factors into account when determining the penalties to be imposed:
If the accused player/club has pleaded guilty
The player's previous disciplinary record
If the player is also the captain
The conduct of the player subsequent to him being warned and told that he will be reported
If an appeal is considered to be spurious
6.4 Suspensions
6.4.1)Suspensions will be imposed for offences which occur in any league or cup competition fixture and will apply to all matches under the auspices of the ECB.
In addition suspensions imposed for a period which continues beyond the end of a season will be carried forward into the following season.
6.4.2)A player charged with more than one offence will receive (if guilty) separate penalties which are cumulative and NOT concurrent.
6.4.3)Suspensions will be imposed in weeks (as multiples of seven days) commencing midnight Friday to midnight Friday.
6.4.4)Suspensions of four weeks duration will be reported by the NPCL to the Lancashire Cricket Board for national circularisation. Such suspensions will normally apply to all cricket played under the auspices of the ECB.
6.5)The severity of the offence will influence the appropriateness of the length of sentence to be imposed in all cases.
6.6)The Disciplinary Panel or Appeal Panel 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.
APPENDIX - LIST OF DISCIPLINARY
OFFENCES AND SUSPENSION TARIFFS
Level 1 Disciplinary Offences
Where both umpires agree that the level of general behaviour and misconduct does not warrant a formal disciplinary report, then they should report the incident as a Level 1 Disciplinary Offence on the match report card. The reporting of such offences is mandatory.
The type of L1DOs are listed below
(a)Shouting of foul or abusive language whether in selffrustration or at or to an umpire or player, at such a level as to be heard at or beyond the boundary thus bringing the game and NPCL into disrepute.
(b)Excessive or orchestrated appealing including 'ridiculous' lbw appeals from a position where the fielder could not possibly make a considered appeal
c)Premature 'celebrations' prior to an umpire' decision.
(d)Advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.
(e)Gesturing/pointing towards the pavilion upon dismissal of the batsman or any other form of aggressive 'send-off'.
(f)Persistent questioning of an umpire's decisions and comment thereon - where this falls short of (c) Abuse of an Umpire above.
(g)A captain's failure to take appropriate action to control a player's behaviour/ actions following a request.
Mandatory reporting under the laws The umpires after consultation are instructed to report transgressions under the following headings:
a. Law 18.5 - deliberate short runs
b. Law 24.2(c) - fair delivery - the arm
c. Law 42.3 - changing the condition of the match ball**
d. Law 42.4 - deliberate attempt to distract striker**
e. Law 42.5 - deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman**
f. Law 42.6, 7 and 8 - dangerous and unfair bowling**
g. Law 42.9 - time wasting by the fielding side
h. Law 42.10 - batsman wasting time
i. Law 42.11, 12, 13 and 14 - bowler, fielder or batsman avoidably damaging the pitch**
j. Law 42.16 - batsmen stealing a run
k. Law 42.18 - players conduct
**These offences are likely to incur a minimum TWO WEEKS suspension
Other Disciplinary Reportable Offences
Tariff: One to four weeks
1. Abuse of cricket equipment, clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings.The knocking of stumps, or the throwing or kicking of a bat, ball, helmet, boundary flag, rope or any equipment on the field of play or within the curtilage of the club premises or ground.
2. Aggressive behaviour
2.1 Repeated charging or advancing towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.
The Captain may also be disciplined.
2.2 Throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official in an inappropriate and dangerous manner.
2.3 The bowling of fast short pitched balls that result in the bowler being disallowed from bowling further in that innings.
2.4 Inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play.
Tariff: Two to six weeks
3. Abuse of a player
Using language or gesture that is obscene or of a serious insulting nature to another player, umpire, team official or spectator.
The player's Captain is liable to be suspended similarly if reasonable steps were not taken to avoid the abuse
4. Abuse of an umpire (inclusive of intimidation by language or conduct)
Dissent by action and/or verbally, verbal or written abuse (including language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of an obscene gesture.
Tariff: Six to eight weeks
5. Threatening and violent behaviour
5.1Threatening to assault another player, team official or spectator
Tariff: Six to ten weeks
6.Racial Abuse of any person
Using language or gesture that offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage or vilify another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, sexual orientation, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin
Tariff: Six to twelve weeks
