1. Statement of Intent
1.1 The ECB is fully committed to the principles of equality of opportunity and aims to ensure that no individual receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief. This includes job applicants, employees, participants, volunteers and spectators.
1.2 The ECB will ensure that there will be open access to all those who wish to participate in all aspects of cricket and that they are treated fairly.
1.3 The ECB specifically supports initiatives by other organisations within cricket which recognise the principles of equality of opportunity and treatment such as the International Cricket Council Anti-Racism Policy and the Professional Cricketers Association's Racism Awareness Campaign.

2. Purpose of the Policy
2.1 The ECB recognises that certain sections of the community may have been affected by past discrimination and may have felt denied the opportunity to participate equally and fully in sport at all levels.
2.2 This policy has been produced to prevent/tackle any potential/current discrimination or other unfair treatment, whether intentional or unintentional, direct or indirect, against its employees, members and volunteers.
2.3 This policy is applicable to the game of cricket at all levels and in all roles.

3. Actions
3.1 The ECB will produce and maintain an action plan to ensure the intent of this policy is delivered.
3.2 All areas of the organisation will be affected by this action plan, which will be incorporated in to the overall business plan.
3.3 The ECB recognises that, in some cases, to achieve the principle of equality, unequal effort is required and, if appropriate, will consider positive action to tackle under representation.

4. Legal Requirements
4.1 The ECB recognises its legal obligations under, and will abide by the requirements of, the following:
Equal Pay Act 1970
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (and Exemptions Order 1975)
Sex Discrimination Acts 1975, 1986 & 1999
Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000
Children Act 1989 and 2004
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Data Protection Act 1998
Human Rights Act 1998
Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
This includes any later amendments to the above Acts / Regulations, or future Acts / Regulations that are relevant to the ECB.
4.2 The ECB will seek legal advice each time the policy is reviewed to ensure it continues to comply with all legislation requirements.

5. Discrimination, harassment and victimisation
5.1 Discrimination can take the following forms:
5.1.1 Direct Discrimination. This means treating someone less favourably than you would treat others in the same circumstances.
5.1.2 Indirect Discrimination. This occurs when a job requirement or condition is applied equally to all, which has a disproportionate and detrimental affect on one sector of society, because fewer from that sector can comply with it and the requirement cannot be justified in relation to the job.
5.2 Harassment is described as inappropriate actions, behaviour, comments or physical contact that is objectionable or causes offence to the recipient. It may be directed towards people because of their gender, appearance, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, age, sexual preference, a disability or some other characteristic. The ECB is committed to ensuring that its employees, members, participants and volunteers are able to conduct their activities free from harassment or intimidation.
5.3 Victimisation is defined as when someone is treated less favourably than others because he or she has taken action against the ECB under one of the relevant Acts / Regulations (as previously outlined) or provided information about discrimination, harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
5.4 The ECB regards discrimination, harassment or victimisation, as described above, as serious misconduct and any employee, volunteer or participant who discriminates against, harasses or victimises any other person will be liable to appropriate disciplinary action.

6. Responsibility, implementation and communication
6.1 The following responsibilities will apply:
6.1.1 The Board is responsible for ensuring that this Equity Policy is followed and to deal with any actual or potential breaches.
6.1.2 The Chief Executive has the overall responsibility for the implementation of the Equity Policy.
6.1.3 A specific member of staff, designated by the Chief Executive, has the overall responsibility for achieving the equity action plan as this will form part of their work programme.
6.1.4 All employees, volunteers and members have responsibilities to respect, act in accordance with and thereby support and promote the spirit and intentions of the policy and, where appropriate, individual work programmes will be amended to include equity related tasks.

6.2 The new policy will be implemented immediately following Board agreement and, at a corporate level, will result in the following:
6.2.1 A copy of this document will be available to all staff (both permanent and contract), members and volunteers of the ECB.
6.2.2 The ECB will take measures to ensure that its employment practices are non-discriminatory.
6.2.3 No job applicant will be placed at a disadvantage by requirements or conditions which are not necessary to the performance of the job or which constitute unfair discrimination.
6.2.4 A planned approach will be adopted to eliminate barriers which discriminate. The ECB will ensure that best practice is extensively promoted and will expect that clubs and members will follow guidelines that are set down.
6.2.5 Ensure that consultants and advisers used by the ECB can demonstrate their commitment to the principles and practice of equity and that they abide by this policy.
6.2.6 The ECB will require all affiliated organisations to adopt this policy or ensure that current equity policies have the same stated intent as the ECB cricket policy
6.3 The new policy will be communicated in the following ways:
6.3.1 It will be part of the staff handbook and reference will be made to it in any codes of conduct.
6.3.2 It will be covered in all staff and volunteer induction training
6.3.3 All participants will be made aware of the policy's existence through the ECB website and a summary of any revisions will also be published there www.ecb.co.uk.
6.3.4 At time of review, a mechanism will be put in place to allow all staff, members, participants and volunteers to be part of the process.

7. Monitoring and Evaluation
7.1 This policy will be reviewed annually and changes made if required.
7.2 The equity action plan, created to ensure the intent of the policy is delivered, will be reviewed by the Chief Executive and the member of staff with the responsibility for its implementation, on a quarterly basis.
7.3 As part of the overall business delivery plan, the equity action plan will be reviewed by the Board on an annual basis.
7.4 On an annual basis, statistical information will be produced by the Chief Executive for the Board, and will be published internally and externally, to show the impact of this policy.

8. Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
8.1 To safeguard individual rights under the policy, an employee, volunteer or participant who believes he/she has suffered inequitable treatment within the scope of the policy may raise the matter through the appropriate grievance procedure.
8.2 Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any employee, volunteer or participant who violates the ECB's Equity Policy.
8.3 An individual may raise any grievance and no employee, volunteer or participant will be penalised for doing so unless it is without foundation and not made in good faith.
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Guidelines for dealing with Incidents and Accidents
The nearest Accident & Emergency Department is at Epsom General Hospital (01372 735 735). A map and directions are available on the notice board in the clubhouse and in both changing rooms
Stay calm but act swiftly and observe the situation. Is there danger of further injuries?
Listen to what the injured person is saying.
Alert the qualified First Aider who should take appropriate action for minor injuries.
In the event of an injury requiring specialist treatment, call the emergency services 999.
The telephone number for NHS Direct is: 0845 46 47
Deal with the rest of the group and ensure that they are adequately supervised and safe.
Do not move someone with major injuries. Wait for the emergency medics.
Contact the injured person's parent / carer / guardian.
Complete an Incident / Accident Report Form.

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Directive on Fast Bowling

Age Max. overs per spell Max. overs per day
Up to 13 5 overs per spell 10 overs per day
U14, U15 6 overs per spell 12 overs per day
U16, U17, U18, U19 7 overs per spell 18 overs per day

For the purposes of these Directives a fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.
Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his* spell have been bowled from the same end. A bowler can change ends without ending his current spell provided that he bowls the next over that he legally can from the other end. If this does not happen his spell is deemed to be concluded.
If play is interrupted, for any reason, for less than 40 minutes any spell in progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate age group. If the spell is not continued after the interruption the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell before the interruption have been bowled from the same end. If the interruption is of 40 minutes or more, whether scheduled or not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately.
Once a bowler covered by these Directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the maximum number overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls spin. He can exceed the maximum overs per spell if bowling spin, but cannot then revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. If he bowls spin without exceeding the maximum number of overs in a spell the maximum will apply as soon as he reverts to bowling fast.
Captains, Team Managers and umpires are asked to ensure that these Directives are followed at all times.
For guidence it is recommended that in any 7 day period a fast bowler should not bowl more than 4 days in that period and for a maximum of 2 days in a row.
*Any reference to he/his should be interpreted to include she/her.
Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31st August in the year preceding the current season.
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Directive for Fielding Regulations
The ECB has regulations covering the minimum fielding distances for young players in all matches where a hard ball is used.
No young player in the Under 15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 8 yards (7.3 metres) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batsman has played at the ball.
For players in the Under 13 age group and below the distance is 11 yards (10 metres).
These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet.
Should a young player in these age groups come within the restricted distance the umpire must stop the game immediately and instruct the fielder to move back.
In addition any young player in the Under 16 to Under 18 age groups, who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a helmet and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 6 yards (5.5 metres) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side. Players should wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position where they feel at risk.
These fielding regulations are applicable to all cricket in England and Wales.
Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31st August in the year preceding the current season.
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Directive for Helmets
In February 2000 the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued safety guidance on the wearing of helmets by young players up to the age of 18. This original guidance document can be found at www.play-cricket.com/helmets.
In brief, the guidance recommends that:
With the assistance of schools, cricket clubs and leagues, the wearing of helmets by young players is now standard practice in cricket throughout England and Wales. Helmets are widely available and are covered by a British Standard (BS7928:1998).
The original guidance allowed parents or guardians to give their written consent to allow a young player not to wear a helmet. However most clubs, schools and leagues including Leatherhead CC have decided not to accept this parental consent and require all young players to wear a helmet in all junior matches. If a club or school does agree, in exceptional circumstances*, that a young player need not wear a helmet they must ensure that an ECB Team Card is completed and given to the umpires before the start of play whenever the young player takes part in a junior match.
At the beginning of 2007 the ECB clarified the guidance relating to young players in adult matches and confirmed that all young players who have not reached their 18th birthday must wear a helmet with a faceguard when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket in adult matches. Parental consent not to wear a helmet should not be accepted in adult cricket.
This guidance applies to all players up to the age of 18, both in adult cricket and in all junior cricket played with a hard cricket ball. The guidance also applies during all practice sessions. Any individual taking responsibility for players should take all reasonable steps to ensure that this guidance is followed at all times.
helmets with a faceguard or grille should be worn when batting against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice sessions
young players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting, together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box)
young wicket-keepers should wear a helmet with a faceguard when standing up to the stumps.
* Additional guidance on what constitutes 'exceptional circumstances' can be obtained from the ECB Cricket Department.
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Directive for Junior Cricketers playing in Adult Cricket
The ECB has issued the following guidance covering the participation of young cricketers in adult matches. This guidance applies to boys and girls and any reference to he/his should be interpreted to include she/her. Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31st August in the year preceding the current season.

Guidance for Clubs and Leagues
All clubs must recognise that they have a duty of care towards all young players who are representing the club. This duty of care also extends to Leagues that allow the participation of young players in adult teams in their League. The duty of care should be interpreted in two ways:
Not to place a young player in a position that involves an unreasonable risk to that young player, taking account of the circumstances of the match and the relative skills of the player.
Not to create a situation that places members of the opposing side in a position whereby they cannot play cricket as they would normally do against adult players.

In addition the following specific requirements apply to young players in adult matches:
All young players who have not reached their 18th birthday must wear a helmet with a faceguard when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket. Parental consent not to wear a helmet should not be accepted in adult matches. A young player acting as a runner must also wear a helmet even if the player he is running for is not doing so.
The current ECB fielding regulations must be adhered to and enforced by the umpires and captain. The umpires are empowered by these fielding regulations to stop the game immediately if a young player comes within the restricted distance.
The umpires and the opposing captain must be notified of the age group of all players participating in an adult match who are in the Under 19 age group or younger even if the player is not a fast bowler. This requirement also covers any young player taking the field as a substitute fielder. The ECB Team Sheet cards are freely available to facilitate this.
Any player in the Under 13 age group and younger must have explicit written consent from a parent or guardian before participating in adult matches. Clubs must ensure that their player registration procedures ensure that consent is obtained.
The guidance related to changing and showering (see 'Safe Hands' Cricket's Policy for Safeguarding Young People) must be adhered to.
Any club wishing to play a player in the Under 11 age group in an adult League or Cup match must obtain the explicit prior approval of the League or Cup management before the player can play. Approval should only be given to exceptionally talented players. It is recommended that advice is sought from the County Age Group Coach or other ECB Level 3 coach as appropriate.
Clubs and Leagues can apply more strict restrictions on the participation of young players in adult matches at their discretion.
It is strongly recommended that a parent, guardian or other identified responsible adult is present whenever a player in the Under 13 age group or younger plays in an adult match. This could include the captain or other identified adult player taking responsibility for the young player.
This guidance applies to all cricket in England and Wales from the beginning of the 2007 season.