Disciplinary Issues

By SCP

Published on Thursday 25th July 2024 6:37am

Dear South Coast Panel Umpire Members

We are writing to you on behalf of the Management Committee of both the Southern Premier League and South Coast Panel following recent disciplinary events. We have been made aware of the strong feelings within the umpire community with regards to certain outcomes. This has been interpreted by some as a direct signal that the SPCL does not support umpires, questioning any future value in the reporting of incidents.

The Southern Premier Cricket League is incredibly grateful for the support that it receives from the Panel umpires and both organizations are proud of the strong partnership that has been enjoyed for many years. The league is grateful to be able to call on the services of well trained and skillful cricket officials, without whom we could not provide the standard of cricket we do. The SPCL believe that being a Premier League is not just a title, but an ethos that guides the league, and does so under no illusion of the important role you as umpires play.

Some members will be aware of the mid-season decision, a few years ago, to reverse a decision not to apply Law 42 sanctions as a direct response to the need to protect and support umpires. You will also be aware that since 2023 the SPCL has been including league table point deductions, as part of their disciplinary sanctions.

That said, it is inevitable that some situations and decisions can take place which are not agreeable and cause a high degree of emotion, which at times are difficult to reconcile.

As a national ECB Premier League, the SPCL have been learning to work with the General Conduct Regulations since they were released for the 2022 season. While a summary procedure can be used for Levels 1 and 2, it is a requirement that for Level 3 and 4 offences this is managed by a disciplinary panel/hearing. The role of the panel is to determine whether a breach of the regulations has occurred and indeed what sanction should be applied. Any decision made by panels in this regard is made with the best of intentions. Similarly to yourselves, they are also volunteers and as such bring to these roles a variety of experiences and knowledge, which creates a different mix in every case that is heard. What can seem obvious and ‘easy’ is not always the case when panels are faced with this difficult task.

While outcomes, made in good faith cannot be changed and cannot be appealed by the complainants (whether it be an umpire or a club who has made a report), it would be naïve to suggest that learnings cannot be taken from situations like those we have experienced in recent weeks.

With this in mind, we would like to confirm that the following actions will be taken by both Management Committees, in the spirit of continuous improvement.

1.While 99% of the time, we have a serving umpire as part of disciplinary panels, we are inviting umpires to add their names to a list being created by the league disciplinary officer of those who wish to be considered for future appointments to disciplinary panels, in order to continually widen and vary those that make these important decisions. If you are interested in doing so, then please sign up below: - https://forms.office.com/r/5a1EStHz3:

2.The SPCL will be considering an increase in the number of penalty points applied in the league table. It is aware for example, that currently a non- player registration attracts a larger deduction than a Level 1 offence.

3.All members of future panels will receive training in good practice, regarding the GCR and hearing management

4.Umpires will be given a walkthrough of the GCR process after the reporting stage, to strengthen understanding for any future meeting

5.At the pre-charge stage, we will strengthen the initial investigation by including where possible a written conversation that will take place between the reporting umpire and the disciplinary officer, to verify and clarify important factors in the submitted report. This will be a mandatory requirement upon the League, at both Level 3 and 4.

6.Charged players will be asked to confirm, whether or not they accept the charge. If the charge is not accepted, then umpires will be invited to give evidence in hearings, where a Level 3 or Level 4 offence has been awarded. In such circumstances, the player must attend the hearing.

We hope that these actions will strike an important balance between having to accept that sometimes decisions do not go the way we expect, but also ensuring that a continual learning and reflection ethos is maintained in the name of our ongoing vital partnership together.

Thank you once again for everything you have done and will continue to do, to make the Southern Premier Cricket League the best competition in the country.

Yours in cricket, on behalf of the SPCL and SCP.

Steve Vear Huw Evans

SPCL Chairman SCP Chairman