Hi All (Secretaries),
Attached please find a draft Code of Conduct for the Leinster Cricket Union. This was drawn up in consultation with the umpires and representatives of players. The Code was briefly disussed at the Executive meeting last night and it was agreed to send it to the clubs for discussion. The intention is to bring into force this code for the 2004 season. If you have any comments on same can you get back to me as soon as possible but by the 26th March at the latest.
Thank You
Mary

CHANGES TO REGULATIONS  - JUNIOR CRICKET 2004

Teams arriving late

The main alteration from 2003 is that following discussion at the AGM, a specific 
provision has been included to deal with teams arriving late for matches.

This new regulation provides that if a team, through late arrival of players, is not in 
a position to carry out the toss within 30 minutes of the official starting time, that 
team shall forfeit the toss and the opposition shall have choice of batting or fielding.

Play shall commence immediately a toss takes place or a choice is made if the 
toss has been forfeited.

It should be noted that this applies to either side.

Introduction
The Laws of Cricket, code 2000, has a preamble, The Spirit of Cricket, which sets out a model of how the game should be played. Central to that model is that “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.” Also, “in the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions 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.”
The ICC Disciplinary Code sets out four levels of offence, the lowest of which are basic contraventions of the Spirit of Cricket. The other three levels contain successively more serious offences, with progressively greater sanctions.
Combining these two documents gives a code of conduct which specifies offences and appropriate sanctions.

Code of Conduct
Level 1 Offences
If any of the five offences below is committed, the umpires shall request the captain to deal with the matter immediately, and if this is done to the umpires’ satisfaction no further action shall be taken, although the umpires might wish to record the incident in their match report. A second offence by the same player in the same match will prompt a report by the umpires to the LCU which would normally result in a reprimand being issued to that player.

1.1 Abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings.
1.2 Showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse.
1.3 Using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of obscene gestures.
1.4 Excessive appealing.
1.5 Pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner by the bowler or other member
of the fielding side upon the dismissal of a batsman.

Level 2 Offences
Again, if any of the eight offences below is committed, the umpires shall request the captain to deal with the matter immediately. For offences 1 and 2, if this is done to the umpires’ satisfaction no further action shall be taken, but for offences 3-8 the umpires may decide to report the matter to the LCU regardless. The normal sanction for a Level 2 offence is a one- or two-match suspension.

2.1 Repeat of any Level 1 offence within 12 months of such offence.
2.2 Showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision by action of verbal abuse.
2.3 Public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on, a match related incident or match official.
2.4 Inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play.
2.5 Charging or advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.
2.6 Deliberate and malicious distraction or obstruction on the field of play.
2.7 Throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official in an inappropriate and dangerous manner.
2.8 Using language that is obscene, offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player, umpire, team official or spectator. (It is acknowledged that there will be verbal exchanges between players in the course of play. Rather than seeking to eliminate these exchanges entirely, umpires will look to report matters when this falls below an acceptable standard. In this instance, language will be interpreted to include gestures.)

Level 3 Offences
While it may be possible for any of the four offences listed below to be resolved by the immediate intervention of the captain, it is much more likely that the umpires will send a report directly to the LCU. The likely sanction for any of these offences is a suspension of three to five matches.

3.1 Repeat of any Level 2 offence within 12 months of such offence.
3.2 Intimidation of an umpire whether by language or conduct.
3.3 Threat of assault on another player, team official or spectator.
3.4 Using language or gestures 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.

Level 4 Offences
It is most unlikely that the intervention of the captain will achieve anything in mitigation for these five offences, and a report will be sent directly to the LCU with the expectation of a minimum suspension of 5 matches.

4.1 Repeat of any Level 3 offence within 12 months of such offence.
4.2 Threat of assault on an umpire.
4.3 Physical assault of another player, umpire, official or spectator.
4.4 Any act of violence on the field of play.
4.5 Using language or gestures that seriously 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.

Draft document written by Stu Daultrey, Hon. Sec., LCUA (31 Heather Drive, Dublin 16; tel/fax: 493-2230; tel: 495-0490; mobile: 087-753-0484; email: daultrey@eircom.net), 11th December, 2003; based on a discussion at Malahide C.C. on the evening of 9th December between Brian Gilmore, Eldon Gilmour, Greg Molins, Rodney Molins, Martin Russell and Damian Ryan, with Stu Daultrey in attendance for the latter part of the meeting.