Code Of Conduct Policy

Code of behaviour for players  

• Play by the rules. 
• An umpire’s decision is final. Respect all decisions. Never argue with an official. If you disagree with a decision, have your captain, coach or manager approach the official during a break or after the competition. The official’s decision is final. 
• Control your temper and remain calm at all times. Verbal abuse of officials, sledging other players or deliberately distracting or provoking an opponent is not acceptable behaviour in any sport, especially cricket. 
• Work equally hard for yourself and your team. Your team’s performance will benefit and so will you. ● Always be a good sport. Applaud all good plays whether they are made by your team or the opposition. 
• Treat all participants in the game as you like to be treated. Treat all players with respect at all times. 
• Cooperate with your captain, coach, manager, team mates and opponents. Without them, there would be no competition. 
• Have fun at all times. Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not just to please others. 
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion. 

Code of behaviour for parents and spectators  

• Sit back, relax and enjoy the game. Remember that children participate in sport for their own enjoyment. 
• If children enjoy the game they will keep playing. Focus on the children’s efforts and performances rather than whether they win or lose. 
• Respect the decisions and actions of all coaches, managers, captains and match officials. Show appreciation for coaches, officials and administrators. Without them our Association could not function. 
• Encourage children to participate, do not force them. 
• Always encourage children to play according to the local playing conditions and Laws and Spirit of Cricket and to settle disagreements calmly. 
• Always encourage positive behaviour. Compliment the performance of all children. Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition. 
• Lead by example and be a positive role model. Remember that people learn best by example. 
• Appreciate good performances and skillful plays by all participants.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities. Remember that it is  positive or it's pointless.  
• Respect officials’ decisions and teach others to do likewise. 
• Remember that children participate for pleasure and winning is only part of the fun.  
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural  background or religion. 

Code of behaviour for coaches 

• Remember that young people participate for pleasure and winning is only part of the fun.  
• Always encourage positive behaviour. Compliment the performance of all children. Never ridicule or  yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.  
• Be reasonable in your demands on players’ time, energy and enthusiasm. 
• Operate within the local playing conditions and the Laws and Spirit of Cricket, and teach your players  to do the same. 
• Ensure that the time players spend with you is a positive experience. All young people are deserving  of equal attention and opportunities. 
• All players need and deserve equal game time - avoid overplaying the more advanced and  developed players. 
• Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age and ability  of all players. 
• Control your temper and remain calm at all times. Display control, respect and professionalism to all  involved with the sport. This includes opponents, coaches, officials, administrators, the media,  parents and spectators. Encourage your players to do the same.  
• Show concern and caution toward sick and injured players. Follow the advice of a physician when  determining whether an injured player is ready to recommence training or competition. 
• Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up to date with the latest coaching practices and the  principles of growth and development of young people.  
• Any physical contact with a young person should be appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill development. 
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, cultural  background or religion.

This Policy seeks to provide guidance about communication, including use of email and social media. It applies to all those involved in the MSW Association activities.

MSW Communication and Use of Email

• The MSW Secretary will be the primary point of communication for the Association. The Secretary will issue information, correspondence and other important updates to the Club contacts and Delegates group, who are then able to issue to the club or school membership, as appropriate.
• Should anyone wish to contact the Association, the Secretary can be contacted at secretary@mswcricket.com
• The MSW Representative Cricket Coordinator also performs an important function, on behalf of the Association and Secretary, in providing communication to the MSW representative cricket group regarding trials, selection, logistics, clothing and equipment and matches.
• Correspondence including e-mail discussions between Management Committee members and others are to be copied to appropriate people, on a need to know basis, but not necessarily to all.
• Important inwards or outwards correspondence relating to the Association’s activities is also to be tabled at a Delegates meeting.
• When email is utilised, the style and language should be succinct, respectful and appropriate in nature. Emails which are aggressive, unfairly critical of others (without reasonable basis) or similar in nature are not acceptable and may be a breach of MSW’s Code of Conduct.

Club Contacts List

• MSW will occasionally publish a team contact list on its website, to facilitate communication, for example, during wet weather. Due to privacy legislation provisions, clubs are only to provide contact details of its coaches or managers, after first having checked that is acceptable with each.

Web and Social Media

• The Secretary will provide accountability and control over material published on the Association’s website.  The Representative Cricket Coordinator will act as the Facebook Administrator for the Association’s Facebook page. 
• MSW’S philosophy and Code of Conduct is consistent with that of Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket, in that all people involved in cricket should be able to treated fairly and be able to freely enjoy their participation without being intimidated, harassed, bullied or unfairly criticised.
• In terms of social media posts, using any social networking site (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram etc.), the following is not considered acceptable, whether posted on the MSW Facebook site or posted elsewhere and commentating upon the activities of the Association or player, coach, manager, parent or administrator.
  • Abusive, discriminatory, intimidating or offensive statements. 
  • Statements critical of a player, coach, manager, parent or administrator
  • Statements critical of the activities of the Association (including selection related). If there is issue in this regard, MSW asks that the issue be directly raised to the Association. 
• Statements questioning players’ abilities, coaches’ management styles of teams etc.
• If any offending posts are made on the MSW Facebook page, they will be removed and those responsible will be blocked from the site. 
• A breach of the Code of Conduct in relation to the Web and Social Media policy is s serious matter and may lead to disciplinary action being considered by the Association.

Very Hot Weather Policy

Temperature is one component of the conditions of play – just like rainfall, pitch condition, grass length etc.

Local conditions also have a significant effect on how the temperature impacts players. MSW Cricket is played in summer and Brisbane has a hot climate, so players will inevitably experience discomfort from the playing conditions. This will be felt differently by different individuals. Therefore:

There is no pre-determined temperature which will cause matches to be abandoned but as always player safety is paramount.

If very high temperatures are anticipated:

• Coaches and managers of both teams must discuss with each other strategies to reduce heat effect on players. Do this as early as possible, depending on any advance warning available. Dialogue is important.
• The safety of players is paramount.
• Commencing or continuing a match during excessive temperatures should be viewed in a similar manner to rain affected matches. The team coaches and captains should discuss the conditions under which play would take place. Note: It is not anticipated that a morning game will be abandoned before play begins for reasons of temperature alone as it is highly unlikely that the temperature at 8 am could be said to present a danger to the players.
• Increase the number and length of drink breaks.
• Enforce Sun Smart protocols of wearing a hat, applying sunscreen on a regular basis, wearing sunglasses and drinking plenty of fluids. 
• Have ice packs available for general application and for use in the event of heat stress.
• Have water sprayers available to keep the players cool – the umpires could have one each and apply to players as deemed necessary. 
• Have plenty of iced water available for the players. Some sports drinks can be beneficial.
• All breaks in play should be taken in the shade. This could be provided by way of tents or umbrellas and so on if none is naturally available at the ground.
• Enforce shorter run-ups for bowlers.
• Everyone should be watching for signs of heat exhaustion (parents and spectators can form a useful role here). The umpires have a duty of care to observe the players and allow them to leave the field if it is felt that they are at risk. The square leg umpire will have a special role in being attentive to the welfare of players.
• Advise spectators of the extra precautions being taken to ensure the safety of the players.

Signs of Heat Stress and First Aid

• Players not walking in or moving much in the field, sitting down, moving slowly or in an uncoordinated way, vocal players becoming quiet, hands in pockets, complaints of headaches, flushed skin, confusion, even aggression, delirium and convulsion are all warning signs. (Body temperature of 39°C to 41°C indicates heat stress.)
• If heat exhaustion occurs, get the player off the field into the shade. Allow the player to have plenty of room - do not crowd around the player. Loosen all clothing and apply ice or cold water to the back of the neck or the head. Give the player a cool drink if they are conscious. If they do not respond immediately call for medical assistance. Assess the risk of other cases occurring.

Lightening Policy

The 30/30 Rule. If thunder follows a lightning flash by 30 seconds or less play must cease and players and officials must leave the field immediately. Play must not resume until thirty (30) minutes after the initial flash. If during the suspension of play thunder follows lightning by thirty (30) seconds or less the suspension period is to recommence.

See Standard AS/NZS 1768-2007 “Lightning Protection”.

Note. A 30 second time difference indicates the flash is within a 10km radius, a 15 second time difference is within a 5km radius, and a 3 second difference indicates within a kilometre.

There is little you can do to substantially reduce your risk if you are outside in a thunderstorm. The only completely safe action is to get inside a safe building or vehicle

• An unearthed outdoor shelter (e.g. a permanent park shelter or portable shade structure) is not a safe building.
• Stay away from metal items, water and wet items. Water and metal do not attract lightning but they are excellent conductors of electricity. The current from a lightning flash will easily travel for long distances.
• If your cricket shoes have metal spikes, remove your shoes.