Policies

Code of conduct

On the field and off it

Play to win, inside the laws and the spirit of the game. Accept the umpire's decision without argument, including when the umpire is a teammate. No abuse of opponents, officials or your own side.

Racism, homophobia, sexism and harassment end a player's time at this club immediately. There is no warning system and no second look.

What happens at the ground represents the club. So does what gets posted about it afterwards.

Child safety

Child safe commitment

Melbourne Punters Cricket Club is committed to the safety, participation and wellbeing of every child and young person who attends a match, a training session or a club event. We have zero tolerance for child abuse of any kind, and every allegation or concern is taken seriously and acted on.

This commitment is written to meet the eleven Victorian Child Safe Standards, which apply to community sporting clubs that engage with children.

What the club does

• Every adult in a role involving children holds a current Working with Children Check, sighted and recorded by the club before that role starts.
• Children and their families are told who to speak to, and are listened to and taken seriously when they raise something.
• Children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, with a disability, and who are LGBTQIA+ are welcomed and supported to take part safely.
• Families and communities are informed and involved in how the club keeps children safe.
• Complaints are handled through a process that is child-focused, and that does not require a child to raise it alone.
• Physical and online club environments — including team chats and social media — are run so that children are not put at risk.

Reporting a concern

• If a child is in immediate danger, call 000.
• To report suspected abuse, contact Victoria Police, or Child Protection on 13 12 78 (after hours 13 12 78).
• Concerns about anyone connected to this club can also be raised with the club at melbournepunterscricketclub@gmail.com.
• Nobody at this club will be asked to keep a child safety concern quiet, and no one who raises one in good faith will be disadvantaged for it.

Committee: this is a drafted policy, not an adopted one. It reflects the Victorian Child Safe Standards but has not been reviewed by a lawyer or formally adopted at a meeting, and it names no responsible officer. Before relying on it, confirm the current requirements with the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People and with Cricket Victoria, appoint the person responsible, and record the adoption date here.

Member protection

Raising a problem

Any member can raise a complaint with any committee member. It goes to the Secretary, gets acknowledged within seven days, and is handled confidentially.

If a complaint is about a committee member, it goes to the President. If it's about the President, it goes to the Vice-President. Nobody investigates a complaint about themselves.

Privacy

What we collect and why

The club collects names, contact details and emergency contacts so it can register players with the league, arrange teams, and reach someone if a player is injured.

Details are shared with tournament organisers and with CricHeroes for registration and with nobody else. They aren't sold, and they aren't used for marketing.

Match photos may appear on this site and on the club's Instagram. Ask the Secretary to take a photo down and it comes down, no reason needed.

To see or correct what the club holds about you, email melbournepunterscricketclub@gmail.com.

Alcohol, weather and safety

Match-day rules

• Alcohol
  None during play, including for players who are off the field. After stumps only, and never at a ground where the council prohibits it.
• Heat
  Play is suspended at 38°C under the league's heat policy. Drinks breaks every six overs above 30°C. Shade and water are provided at home matches.
• Helmets
  Compulsory for all batters, for keepers standing up, and for fielders inside the circle in front of square.
• Injuries
  A first aid kit is in the kit bag at every match. Head knocks mean the player comes off, no exceptions and no negotiation.