Devon Cricket League

Disciplinary Rules and Procedures

Throughout, a 'player' is any player, member or official associated with any DCL Affiliated Club, or a spectator. Where wording is used that implies reference to the male gender, it shall be taken to refer to either sex.

1. Offences.

Any breach of MCC Law 42 (Fair and Unfair Play), or of the ECB 'Code of Conduct' or 'Sprit of Cricket', printed after these Disciplinary Rules and Procedures, or of any other MCC Law shall be regarded as grounds for potential disciplinary action against an alleged offender.

See also sub-paragraph 1.3 of the Code of Conduct.

2. DCL Procedure.

• i. A report of an alleged offence (the 'Complaint') is received in writing by the DCL Secretary usually no later than seven days from the date of the occurrence. All reports will be treated in confidence.

• ii. The DCL Secretary informs the alleged offender's Club that a complaint has been received and is being assessed by the Disciplinary Officer*. He also acknowledges receipt of the complaint to the complainant as soon as practical.

• iii. The complaint is rigorously assessed by the DCL Disciplinary Officer against a set of standards to ensure that the allegation is fully supported. As a result of this examination, any of the following actions may be taken.

•  The complaint is dismissed and the Club and the complainant informed.

•  The complaint is formally confirmed to the Club and its record held on file for a period of 12 months from the date of the alleged offence, no further action being taken at the time.

•  The alleged offender is called to attend a DCL Disciplinary Hearing.

  at the Chairman's instruction.

In the case of 2.c) above, the DCL Secretary shall be instructed to call any or all of the player(s), Captain(s) and Club Officers deemed to be implicated in the complaint to attend full DCL Disciplinary Hearings.

* The Disciplinary Officer will usually be the DCL Chairman but may be any other member or co-opted member of the Disciplinary Sub Committee.

3. The Hearing.

• i. Any Hearing shall take place in accordance with the current Rules of the Devon Cricket League (DCL), details of which are printed in the Devon Cricket League Handbook.

• ii. The Panel convened for individual Disciplinary or Appeal Hearings shall exclude the DCL Secretary who shall be present in a purely minute-taking capacity. The integrity of Panel members shall be assumed, but where a serious potential conflict of interest is evident. Panel members affected may be replaced by other members of the LMC or suitable outside individuals.

• iii. No Player or Club shall be required to answer any complaint unless the Club concerned shall be given, in writing [See Rule 2.C], at least seven days notice of the date of the disciplinary hearing at which such complaint is to be considered, and details of the complaint. It shall be the responsibility of the Club to notify, as soon as possible thereafter, any of its players who may be named in such notice.

• iv. In the event that a player or Club fails to respond to such notice or fails, for whatever reason, to attend the hearing, the hearing shall take place in their absence.

• v. Any player shall be entitled to attend the hearing in person or to be represented by a person of his choice. Where a player elects to attend, he shall be entitled to be accompanied by no more than one 'supporter' who may be any person of his choice. A player attending a hearing shall also be entitled to call witnesses.

• vi. Any witness shall remain outside of the hearing until called and shall leave again once he has presented his account of events to the satisfaction of the Panel.

• vii. Where more than one player is called, the complaint against each individual shall be heard separately.

•  Where a Club is called, no more than one Senior Officer of the Club shall be allowed to attend. He shall have the same restrictions and privileges as a player. The hearing shall take place separately from any other hearing related to the alleged offence.

• ix. The decision of the Disciplinary Panel shall be made known to the defendant's immediately after the hearing, or series of hearings if more than one is held relating to the complaint, and shall be confirmed in writing as soon as possible thereafter.

4. Penalties.

If at the hearing a complaint is wholly or partially upheld, the Disciplinary Panel shall have the power to impose one or more of the penalties listed hereafter.

Admission of guilt and/or the tendering of an acceptable apology may be considered in mitigation.

A plea that an alleged offender's behaviour resulted from 'wrong' umpiring decisions will NOT be accepted by a Panel under any circumstances.

4. Penalties (Cont.)

A Player or Captain found guilty of the following offences will, on the first occasion, receive the Normal Minimum Penalties listed below.

Degrees of an offence (Player/Captain):

1)      Mild –      Normal Minimum Penalty applies.

2)      Serious -     Normal Minimum Penalty is doubled.

3)      Very Serious -   Normal Minimal Penalty is tripled or heavier penalty  (up to sine die)

In all cases the 'Team' point's penalty is to be applied in addition to individual penalties for Players and Captains.

Offences marked * occurring during the course of or in association with a Cup match will, in addition, result in expulsion of the Team concerned from that competition.

•  Unqualified figures relate to suspension of a player for the number of weeks stated and apply to a First Offence of a mild nature. Weeks relate to the DCL playing season and will be carried over to the following season where necessary.

•  Double the Normal Minimum Penalty will apply for a Second Offence , of any type except violent conduct, occurring within a twelve month period.

•  A Third Offence of any type within a 12-month period, except violent conduct, will result in the player/captain being suspended for the rest of the season subject to being banned for a minimum of three times the Normal Minimum Suspension shown above, and carried over to the following season where necessary.

•  Any second offence of violent conduct by a player within a 12-month period will result in an automatic ban for 12 months from the date of the decision.

5.   Any subsequent offence of violent conduct , at any time will result in a   lifetime ban, which may be reviewed after 5 years at the request of the offender.

6.   Any breach of DCL Rules, where no penalty is prescribed in the relevant Rule,   will be dealt with individually by the Disciplinary Panel, as will, repeated or   serious breaches of any DCL Rule.

7.   Any cases involving reported breaches of Laws 2.6, 18.5, 24.2 or 41.2 will   similarly be treated individually as they occur.

A Club found guilty of the following offences under Code of Conduct section 1.1.8. 0r Law 42, will, on the first occasion, receive the Normal Minimum Fines listed.

8.    A Club and its officials are at all times responsible for the activities of its   players and members on and off the field of play.

9.   The fines on Clubs, as outlined, are to be applied in proven cases when the   Club, its officials or members have been cited by the officiating umpires,   members of the opposing team or any member of the general public.

10.   The fine will be doubled for a 2 nd or subsequent offence by a Club, for any   reason, in the same season.

11.   A Club found guilty of failure to comply with ECB directives on Young Players   will in the first instance be fined £100. a second or subsequent offence, at any   time, will attract a fine of £200 fine.

12.   Any breach of DCL Rules, where no penalty is prescribed in the relevant Rule, will be dealt with individually by the Disciplinary Panel, as will repeat or serious   breaches of any DCL Rule, any other breach of C1.1.8. and breach of Law   40.2   and others listed at 7. above.

13.    Persistent offending, defined as a Club being found guilty of any offence   under section 1.1.8. of the Code of Conduct on FOUR Occasions over two   consecutive seasons will require the club officers (Chairman, Secretary   and Treasurer) to appear before a Disciplinary Hearing with a view to considering the possible suspension or expulsion of the offending Club   from the DCL.

Penalties will themselves not be suspended but will be applied from the date of the Disciplinary Panel's decision or, in the case of an Appeal, from the date of the Appeal Panel's decision.

5. Appeal.

•  A Player or Club found to have committed an offence and upon whom a penalty has been imposed shall have the right of Appeal to an Appeals Panel.

•  Notice of such Appeal must be received by post, fax or Email by the DCL Secretary within seven days of the date of the Disciplinary Hearing, together with a deposit of £50, payable to the Devon Cricket League. Any penalty imposed by the Disciplinary Panel shall not take effect pending hearing of the appeal.

•  The decision of the Disciplinary Panel will be published by the DCL within

  24 hours of the hearing.

•  An Appeal, once lodged, may not be subsequently withdrawn.

•  The Appeal shall be are-hearing of the case and the Player or Club shall have the same rights and responsibilities as for the original Disciplinary Hearing.

•  The Appeals Panel may confirm, vary or reverse the decision of the Disciplinary Panel and shall have the power to order the deposit, or part thereof. Forfeit. If the Appeal is upheld in all its aspects, the deposit shall be refunded in full.

•  The decision of the Appeals Panel will be published within 24 hours of the hearing date or, if no Appeal is lodged, of the Disciplinary Panel, shall be final and binding.