Glasgow Accies Cricket Club is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all children and adults regardless of age, sex, colour or creed to play and enjoy the game of cricket.
In return the club expects all of its players to conduct themselves in a reasonable manner at all times and in particular to follow the basic code of conduct adopted by the club, as outlined below:
GACC Code of Conduct
- GACC is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. This Code of Conduct incorporates the Spirit of Cricket, as set out below.
- The captains of GACC teams are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.
- Players and team officials must at all times accept the umpire's decision. Players must not show dissent at the umpire's decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards an umpire at any time.
- Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator.
- Players and team officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known as "sledging") nor make offensive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately distract an opponent.
- Players and team officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members and supporters. GACC operate an active open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.
- Players and team officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.
- GACC will take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and supporters towards players and umpires.
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.
1 There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.
- Responsibility of 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.
- Player's conduct: In the event that any 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.
2 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.
3 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
4 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
5 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 that 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
6 Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.
7 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.
As such players of GACC are required to additionally abide by the rules and regulations of the relevant league authority that they are playing under.
Abridged from the ECB Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket
Online Discussions
The club has a number of features on its website and social networking facilities where comments and discussions can be posted by club members.
All comments, match reports, posts and discussions on these facilities must be made according to the Spirit of Cricket and the club's Code of Conduct above.
In addition members:
- should note that what could be viewed as banter and jokes between team mates can be viewed by others as offensive or derogatory.
- must not criticise, deride or abuse fellow members.
- should understand that comments are public and represent the club.
- are prohibited from posting or transmitting to or from any facility any unlawful, threatening, libellous, racist, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or any other material that would violate any law.
Members should understand that if they have issues or problems with the club, teams or fellow members they should directly contact their captain, the club's committee or club captain and they should not air their grievances publically on the internet or the club's internet services.
GACC reserves the right to remove any comments from its online facilities according to the discretion of the moderators.
Any member who abuses the code of conduct and rules may face club disciplinary proceedings that could lead to their suspension or expulsion from the club.