Anti-Bullying and Discrimination

In this lesson you will learn what bullying is. Bullying is behaviour, usually repeated, that intentionally hurts another person physically or emotionally, often where there is an imbalance of power. That imbalance might come from age, size, status in the team, popularity or numbers. Bullying can be physical, such as pushing or damaging kit, verbal, such as name-calling and threats, or social, such as deliberately excluding someone or spreading rumours. It can happen between juniors, between adults, or from adults towards juniors. Bullying can cause lasting harm to confidence, mental health and enjoyment of the game, and it is one of the most common reasons people give up sport.

• Usually repeated and intentionally hurtful
• Often involves an imbalance of power
• Physical, verbal and social forms
• A common reason people give up sport

In this lesson you will learn to tell the difference between banter and bullying. Dressing-room humour is part of cricket culture, and good-natured teasing between friends who both enjoy it can bring a team together. It becomes bullying when it is one-sided, repeated, targets someone's identity or insecurities, or continues after the person has shown it is unwelcome. A useful test is to ask whether everyone involved is laughing, whether the target feels able to respond on equal terms, and whether you would be comfortable if their family heard it. If the answer to any of those is no, stop. The impact matters more than the intention.

• Banter is mutual and good-natured
• Bullying is one-sided and repeated
• Ask: is everyone laughing?
• Impact matters more than intention

In this lesson you will look at bullying online. Team group chats, social media and messaging apps are useful for organising cricket, but they can also be used to mock, exclude or threaten people. Online bullying can follow someone home and reach them at any time, and screenshots mean hurtful content can spread quickly and stay around. Examples include sharing embarrassing photos without consent, posting abusive comments about a player's performance, deliberately leaving someone out of a group, or sending threatening messages. Keep club chats respectful, never share images of others without permission, and save evidence such as screenshots if you need to report something. Junior group chats should include parents or a second adult.

• Group chats and social media can be misused
• Online bullying reaches people anywhere, any time
• Never share images without consent
• Save screenshots as evidence

In this lesson you will learn about discrimination and related behaviour. Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of a protected characteristic, such as race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age. Harassment is unwanted behaviour linked to a protected characteristic that violates someone's dignity or creates a hostile environment. A hate incident is any incident the victim or anyone else believes is motivated by hostility based on characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity, and some hate incidents are also crimes. The ECB has made clear that discrimination has no place in cricket, and the WFA treats it as a serious disciplinary matter.

• Discrimination: unfair treatment due to a protected characteristic
• Harassment violates dignity or creates hostility
• Hate incidents are judged by the victim's perception
• Discrimination is a serious disciplinary matter

In this lesson you will learn how to act as a bystander. Most bullying and discrimination happens in front of others, and silence can feel like approval. You can make a real difference. If it is safe, challenge the behaviour calmly and directly, focusing on what was said or done rather than attacking the person. You might say that is not okay here. If it is not safe or you do not feel confident, support the person afterwards and report what you saw. On the field, the umpires and captains have responsibilities for player conduct, so tell them. Never put yourself in physical danger. Choosing to act, in whatever way you safely can, is what matters.

• Silence can feel like approval
• Challenge calmly if it is safe
• Focus on the behaviour, not the person
• Tell umpires or captains on the field
• Support the person and report afterwards

In this lesson you will learn how to support someone who has been bullied or discriminated against. Listen without judgement and believe what they tell you. Let them know it is not their fault and that they were right to speak up. Ask what they would like to happen and explain how you can help, including reporting it on their behalf if they agree. Where a child is involved, or someone is at risk of harm, you must pass it on to the welfare lead even if they would prefer you did not, and explain why. Check in with them afterwards, because the effects of bullying can last long after the incident itself.

• Listen without judgement
• Reassure them it is not their fault
• Ask what they would like to happen
• Children's cases always go to the welfare lead
• Check in with them afterwards

In this lesson you will learn how incidents are reported and handled. Report bullying or discrimination to the captain, the WFA welfare lead or the committee, following the WFA's disciplinary and safeguarding procedures. On matchday, umpires may report serious misconduct to the league. Provide clear facts: what happened, when, where, who was involved and any witnesses or screenshots. If a criminal offence such as assault or a hate crime may have taken place, the police can be contacted. Reports will be treated seriously and confidentially, and nobody should be victimised for making a report in good faith. Follow-up and support for those involved are as important as any sanction.

• Report to the captain, welfare lead or committee
• Umpires can report serious misconduct
• Give clear facts and evidence
• Possible crimes can be reported to the police
• No victimisation for reporting in good faith