Applies to: All Academy sessions, matches, tours, events and communications involving students aged 5–16, their parents/guardians, coaches and volunteers.
Purpose: To create a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable environment that develops young cricketers in line with the Spirit of Cricket and the standards of the SCC Cricket Section.
The Academy is part of the SCC Cricket Section. This Code complements (and does not replace) the SCC Cricket Section Players’ Code of Conduct.
Section members (including Junior Sports Members) are bound by both Codes. Non‑members are bound by this Academy Code when participating in Academy activities.
If the two Codes differ, the higher/stricter standard applies.
Respect – for officials, coaches, teammates, opponents, facilities and the game.
Humility – play and behave with grace; win with humility, lose with dignity.
Integrity – be honest, fair and accountable on and off the field.
Uphold the Spirit of Cricket. Accept umpires’ and officials’ decisions without dissent.
Use appropriate language at all times. Discriminatory, abusive, threatening, bullying, or racist behaviour is strictly prohibited.
Treat SCC facilities, equipment and clothing with care and pride.
Be punctual; come prepared to contribute positively to the team and session.
Use social media responsibly. Do not post content that criticises officials, players, coaches or the Club, or that identifies children without consent.
Show respect for personal boundaries, welfare, and emotional safety. Every participant has the right to train and play in an environment free from abuse, intimidation, discrimination, and harassment.
Play Fairly: Know and follow the Laws and play in the Spirit of Cricket.
Listen & Learn: Follow the instructions of coaches/managers. Avoid arguments with teammates or opponents.
Safety First: Wear mandatory protective equipment (helmets when batting or keeping up to stumps; abdominal guards; pads; gloves; appropriate shoes). Remove jewellery and secure long hair.
Effort & Teamwork: Give your best effort in training and matches; support teammates on and off the field.
Respect Others: Students must not bully, intimidate, racially abuse, discriminate against, mock, or verbally abuse any other student, coach, official, or participant.
Speak Up: If a student experiences or witnesses bullying, racist comments, abuse, or any behaviour that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable, they should tell a coach or trusted adult as soon as possible.
Kit & Punctuality: Arrive on time in correct kit (training attire for practice; match kit for fixtures) and with sufficient hydration.
Positive Support: Encourage effort and learning over results. Applaud good play from both teams. Never ridicule mistakes.
No Coaching from the Sideline: Parents/guardians must not give tactical, technical, or behavioural instructions to players during matches. Match guidance is the responsibility of the coach and team management.
Match-Day Team Zone: During matches, the Team Zone is for players, coaches, managers, scorers, and other authorised officials only. Parents/guardians and spectators must remain in the designated Spectator Zone and must not enter the Team Zone unless specifically invited by the coach or manager.
No Interruption During Matches: Parents/guardians must not approach or interrupt coaches, managers, or players during a match except in an emergency or where immediate welfare/safety concerns require it.
Raising Concerns: If a parent/guardian has a concern or complaint relating to a match, this should be raised with the coach or manager after the match and after the team talk/post-match huddle has finished. The coach or manager will then follow up with the Academy Director if required.
Training Exclusion Zone: Parents/guardians must not enter the nets or coaching area and must remain at least 10 metres away from the nets and any fielding drills unless specifically invited in by a coach.
Respectful Conduct: Parents/guardians must treat coaches, players, officials, volunteers, and other parents with respect at all times. Disagreements or concerns must be handled calmly and appropriately.
Photography & Media: Seek permission before photographing or filming children other than your own. Share images responsibly; never post material that could identify or embarrass children, or criticise participants.
Alcohol, Smoking & Vaping: Not permitted inside or near the field of play, nets or training areas during Academy activities.
Model the values of Respect, Humility and Integrity; ensure sessions and matches reflect the Spirit of Cricket.
Enforce boundaries and safety: maintain the 10-metre exclusion zone around nets/fielding drills and clearly define the Team Zone and Spectator Zone on match days.
Manage concerns professionally: where a parent enters a restricted area or interrupts play, coaches should respond firmly but calmly and direct the parent to raise any issue after the match unless it is an emergency.
Provide clear, constructive feedback and equitable opportunities appropriate to age and ability.
Intervene early to prevent dissent, poor language, unsafe behaviour, bullying, discrimination, or abuse, and report breaches promptly to the Academy Director/Section as appropriate.
The safety and wellbeing of children is paramount. Report any welfare concerns to the Academy Director (or designated safeguarding lead) as soon as possible.
Coaches may remove any participant (student or parent) from an area where behaviour or positioning creates a safety risk.
Heat, lightning and ground‑condition protocols will be followed. Instructions to pause or stop activity must be obeyed immediately.
Matches – Attendance & Notice: Please inform the coach or manager as soon as possible if a student will be late or absent for a match.
Training Sessions: If a student is late or absent for training, there is no need to notify the coach or manager unless specifically requested for a particular session. Training will continue as planned.
Facilities: Keep dugouts, changing areas and sidelines tidy; teams share responsibility for water, scoreboards and packing equipment.
Uniform: Follow Academy guidance for training attire; wear the specified kit for matches.
Use the official channels for notices and queries (e.g., team groups, TeamApp/Google Sites, email to Academy).
Do not debate selections, umpiring decisions, or disciplinary matters in public forums or parent chats.
Refrain from contacting coaches during sessions or matches except in an emergency.
The Academy may capture images/video for coaching and promotional purposes in line with consent collected at enrolment.
Parents wishing to opt‑out or raise concerns about imagery should notify the Academy in writing.
The Academy uses age-appropriate, progressive discipline in line with the Cricket Section framework.
Examples of breaches (non-exhaustive):
Dissent, abusive language, sideline coaching, entering exclusion zones, entering the Team Zone without permission, approaching coaches/players during a match, unsafe play, social-media misconduct, bullying, discriminatory language, racist comments, or any other abusive behaviour.
Parent/Guardian breaches may include:
entering the Team Zone during a match without permission;
interrupting or confronting coaches or players during a match;
giving instructions to players during a match;
entering restricted training areas or breaching safety boundaries.
Typical progression for parent/guardian breaches (may be accelerated for serious or repeated breaches):
Verbal reminder by the coach/manager.
Formal warning from the Academy Director.
Match-day attendance restriction or suspension from Academy events.
Removal of the student/family from the Academy in serious or repeated cases where the Academy believes the parent/guardian’s conduct has undermined safety, welfare, or the proper running of sessions and matches.
Student breaches may include:
abusive or threatening language;
bullying or intimidation;
discriminatory or racist language or behaviour;
unsafe or seriously disruptive conduct.
Serious misconduct:
Any confirmed incident of racial abuse, racist language, discriminatory abuse, or serious bullying by a student towards another student, coach, official, or participant will be treated as gross misconduct.
Where such an allegation is substantiated following the Academy’s review, the student will be permanently removed from the Academy.
Serious incidents may also be referred immediately to the Cricket Section Committee, Club Management, and/or any relevant external authority where appropriate.
General progression for student breaches (where the matter is not gross misconduct):
Verbal reminder or immediate time-out.
Written warning to parent/guardian and student.
Temporary suspension from sessions or matches.
Season suspension or removal from the Academy.
Appeals: Submit in writing to the Academy Director within 7 days of notification. For Section members, appeals may also be escalated under Section procedures.
By enrolling in, attending, or participating in the SCC Cricket Academy, students and their parents/guardians acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct and any related SCC Cricket Section standards that apply to them.
The Academy may update this Code from time to time to reflect Club policy, safeguarding requirements, safety requirements, or legal and operational changes. The current version will be made available through the Academy’s usual communication channels and/or website. Continued participation in the Academy after such publication will constitute acceptance of the updated Code.
For new enrolments, the Academy may require acknowledgement of this Code through the enrolment process, including by way of an online confirmation or tick-box acceptance.
Contact: Academy Director — for conduct, welfare and safety concerns.