An open letter has been issued
A cricket club chairman has said he’s saddened that player behaviour is affecting the grassroots game in Cambridgeshire.
It comes as the county’s Cricket Board issued an open letter saying it’s seen a rise in ill-discipline and discrimination in its leagues.
In the letter, the Board said it will impose sanctions on clubs and players who show poor behaviour towards the likes of other players and umpires.
“It’s a sad reflection of the game”
Anthony Palmer is from Chatteris Cricket Club:
“I’ve experienced a few games where things have got slightly out of hand but never on a regular occurrence, and it’s quite a sad reflection of the state of the game that the board felt it appropriate to send out such a letter,” he said.
“I think occasionally, things can get heated sometimes and that’s expected; everyone is trying to win.
“I’d like to think the majority of people can leave that to on the field only and put those issues to bed.”
What has been said?
In its letter to people including players, coaches umpires and parents, the Board said it’s seen “a distressing and unnecessary rise in cases of alleged ill-discipline and discriminatory language or behaviour that have been reported, alongside more that have not been formally reported.
The Board has called for “an environment and culture that supports the inclusion of players, particularly younger players as they are learning and developing in the game”.
It warned if this doesn’t happen, player numbers could fall.
The Board said league volunteer organisers are “becoming increasingly demotivated by having to deal with things, particularly player behaviour, which can so easily be avoided”.
What’s been suggested?
The Board has warned sanctions could be faced by clubs and players “who display ill-discipline and especially discriminatory behaviour”.
It suggests to help tackle the issue around behaviour, decisions made by umpires, teammates and the opposition must be accepted, making decisions within the laws of the game and following rules and regulations of the competition clubs are playing in.
“The best way to deal with these issues is go hard on people that decide to push the boundaries; I believe there should be a way they can ban players for life so they won’t be able to sign for any club, anywhere, if they show this sort of behaviour,” Anthony said.
“As players, if we don’t start conducting ourselves in a manner that suits the game, then these umpires are not going to give up their time if all they’re going to get is abuse; it’s completely unacceptable.”
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