Disciplinary de-merit points introduced

The Management Board has made a substantive addition to the League’s disciplinary process for the 2023 season. It  has the potential to impact every club where players misbehave this year so the Board would encourage everyone with the League’s interests at heart to read and digest what it means to them .

The Club Misconduct Code (CMC) will form a second tier to the ECB’s General Conduct Regulations, the basis of the League’s disciplinary regime in 2022. It follows on from last year when , after the appointment of Bill Holmes as the League’s Disciplinary Officer in mid May, he dealt with 52 separate disciplinary offences culminating in 4 club warnings.

Bill, now League Chair states: ” For a league that prides itself on its historic and ongoing ability to play hard and competitive cricket within the laws of the game , these numbers are unacceptable. Our match officials were frequently subject to or had to deal with aggressive behaviour ( well over one half of all disciplinary cases were for abuse and/or dissent or threatening behaviour) which will not be tolerated.”

Under the Raising Standards banner CMC’s primary objective is to enhance the playing experience of all our players and match officials by reducing misconduct. It does nonetheless establish  new  sanctions that will be applied to clubs, not players, whose disciplinary record breaches clear and transparent benchmarks.

"For the avoidance of doubt a secondary CMC goal though is to punish clubs whose players persistently breach General Conduct Regulations . The League seeks to impress upon clubs to take responsibility for the conduct of their players and reinforce the League’s message  that serial misconduct will result in clubs being sanctioned through deduction of League points and ultimately relegation."

Bill will remain in his Disciplinary Officer role for the time being although he acknowledges that a continuation in this role is far from ideal.The League is therefore looking for a suitable candidate as an immediate replacement for this important and influential role. Anyone interested should contact Alan Birkinshaw , the League’s Chief Executive Officer.

The CMC will be one of the topics under disacussion at Tuesday night's pre-seaspon meeting of clubs at Cleckheaton.

Guide to the CMC