The results of matches and the outcome of leagues should always be determined on the pitch. But sometimes clubs and players try to take advantage - either breaking the relevant rules or failing to uphold their spirit. It is at this point that administrators step in and have to decide what action to take. But it is important that the clubs and players have an input into the formulation of regulations and perhaps even more important on the way they are enforced. Getting the balance right between a very strict interpretation of every regulation [without reference to common sense] and a laissez faire approach that ultimately serves to undermine the regulations themselves can be very difficult. Some guidance on the areas that administrators should focus on and how strictly enforced [e.g. how many warnings, guidance on grounds for appeal] and whether there should be more actions that are automatic rather than discretional [e.g. points deduction], is something that might usefully be raised at the Club Day on 1st October.
In order to give an idea of the dimensions of this vast subject some different aspects of compliance with regulations and other matters are set out below. But it is the views of players and clubs that are needed and which it is hoped the forthcoming club day will help provide.
Broadly there are four aspects to compliance.
[a] incentives
disciplinary and appeals process
[c] actions by competition administrators
[d] actions by Executive Committee
Incentives There are a number of areas where the LCU has sought to encourage a particular course of action mainly through incentives. It has been standard practice for many years that there is a 5% discount on fees for any club that pays on time. The reason for this is obvious and it has been successful in encouraging most clubs to get their payments into the Treasurer within the agreed timeframe. A more recent addition has been the Accreditation Process where again a discount [5% per annum] is given provided a club maintains its accreditation status for the year. Finally, a different type of example, was the donation of iPads to clubs in return for undertaking Live Scores for the Cricket Leinster Match Centre.
The question to be asked in all these cases is what happens if the club decides not to avail of the incentive and does not comply with the relevant requirements. Is it enough that the incentive is foregone or is an additional penalty necessary. The area where this is most acute is in relation to the Accreditation Process. Some items here - having proper insurance, compliance with Child Protection policy - are not discretionary in any way and have to be rigorously enforced. But it is a greyer area when one comes to general facilities and ground conditions. What if the grass isn’t properly cut [on a number of occasions] is this something for which there should be a penalty. Accreditation may have approved the ground on the basis that covers are available - but what if they are not used and a match has to be cancelled. Clubs might usefully review the various requirements of the club accreditation programme they have signed up to and ask themselves which of these, if any, need to be more rigorously enforced.
Discipline The Disciplinary Regulations are reasonably well understood and the process has worked well for a number of years. The process for dealing with appeals can always be improved and there is an item on the agenda for the Club Day on this. Another interesting and sensitive area relates to whether greater publicity should be given to the decisions of the Disciplinary Committee / Appeals Board with a view to demonstrating openness and transparency but hopefully also to discourage poor behaviour. Should reports be published, with or without persons named, giving details of decisions [the names of players under 18 would be withheld in any event]. The sensitivity here is that this might have an impact on the individual outside of cricket and this is something that has to be taken into account.
Competitions There are a number of general regulations that are in place to allow for the smooth running of leagues and cups. These include those relating to registration, the submission of result cards, cancellation of matches and starring. For the past couple of years as new systems have been introduced a supportive approach has been taken by the various competition committees and ever effort made to ensure that results and league positions are decided on the pitch rather than in committee rooms.
Some of these areas have some element of built in penalty [e.g. a non-registered player cannot be included on starring lists but it has been practice to allow such players to play and charge the club the registration fee at the end of the season] but is this enough. The question for the clubs to advise on is whether the LCU has the balance right. How important are keeping league tables up to date. What value do players place on being able to find out about their individual performances / averages. How big an issue is not being able to be able to check a p[layer’s photo. Should there be additional penalties where a team does not fulfil a fixture? And, do clubs, players and spectators care enough about the Match Centre that they would want a more robust regime to ensure that, for example, Live Sores for D1/D2 and WD1 are provided. Is the common good [if we assume there is one in respect of the above items] sufficient to justify taking stronger action on the relatively few clubs that do not comply, or are we happy to leave things as they stand and continue to rely on peer pressure. If further action is wanted, what form should it take?
Executive Finally, there are the actions that the Executive can take in the event that a club is not living up to the minimum standards that are deemed acceptable for competing in club cricket. Fortunately the LCU has never had to take strong action against any club for non-payment of dues or non-compliance with other aspects of what might be deemed the club’s responsibilities to the cricket community. But with more clubs involved issues are getting more complicated. There are probably two aspects of this that need discussion [and probably over an extended period]:
Plenty of interesting and perhaps some intractable questions. If there is sufficient interest some of these topics may be raised on 1st October in the Green Isle Hotel.