Safeguarding and Welfare

Safe Hands

The Cherwell Cricket League is committed to ensuring that all young people (Under 18) and vulnerable adults involved with cricket to have a safe, welcoming and positive experience.

Clubs must comply with England Cricket Board’s Safe Hands Policy, which promotes good practice, helps raise awareness and ensures people know what to do if they have any concerns about children or the behaviour of adults in cricket.

All Clubs need to appoint a Club Safeguarding Officer, who needs to ensure the Club follows the ECB Safe Hands policies.

The Club Safeguarding Officer, needs a current DBS, take a Safe Hands course, and have a Safeguarding Children certificate. These are all valid for 3 years.

The Safeguarding Officer needs to ensure that all persons with relevant roles within the Club have a current DBS. As a start it must be Captains/Vice Captains, Scorers and Umpires. The full list is in the Safe Hands document.

Contact your relevant County Safeguarding Officer or Cricket Development Officers if you require assistance.

U13s playing in open-age (Adult) cricket The ECB has guideline on the playing of U13s in open-age (adult) cricket the full guidelines are here. There is a Cherwell League requirement that all the parents of all U13 players complete a consent form and return to the league before playing. The County Safeguarding officer will also be informed. The consent form can be downloaded by clicking here.

Helmets for Young Players. The Cherwell League insists on all clubs following the ECB helmet wearing guidelines which can be found here.

ECB Fast Bowling Directives The Cherwell Cricket League takes the application of the ECB very seriously and considers a breach a disciplinary offence for which the Captain of the team in question will be charged. This offence typically includes a playing ban. For the avoidance of any doubt the Captain is solely responsible for the application of this direction not the umpire(s).
The full directives are here.

ECB Concussion Protocols The ECB have re-published updated concussion protocols for 2024 (Headed 2021). They can be downloaded here. Please note this includes a change that overrides the laws of cricket in one scenario

ECB Guidelines on Thunder and Lighting are here.

ECB/OCB Guidelines and information for Scorers is here and here
Health and Wellbeing

You may find you or persons within your club need further support. There are a range of different support networks available:

Opening Up Cricket - https://openingupcricket.com
Mind - https://www.mind.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Mangang - We are network of men who believe it’s not weak to speak https://www.mangang.org. Find more details here

Live Streaming and Photography Guidelines

You may find you or persons within your club need further support. The ECB is keen to promote positive images of individuals playing cricket and not preventing the use of photographic or videoing equipment.

The ECB wishes to ensure photography and video footage taken within cricket is done so appropriately.

Please read and act on the guidelines as appropriate to your Club. ECB Video Guidance