Summer Hill Cricket Club 

Ready to take the Pledge?

Pledge not 2 sledge - FAQ

Sledging, or "mental disintegration" as Steve Waugh described it, is also known as the tactic of talking to players on the opposition side with the objective of destroying either their concentration or their confidence/ self esteem.  In junior cricket, we see this as simply bullying. (www.urbandictionary.com/)

After seasons of seeing kids shattered as they come off the field after being sledged and bullied, SHCC decided it’s time to take a stand.  We have launched Pledge Not 2 Sledge as a way of supporting coaches and kids to stand up to sledging.  We see there is no place for sledging in the game we love. Sledging is about bullying, not cricket.

The principle behind the concept is that every child has the right to participate in sport without being bullied. The idea is that we play hard but fair, and pay more than lip service to the traditions of cricket which value fairness, honesty and respect over winning at all costs.

Acceptable:

• Encouraging your own team-mates
• Encouraging your bowler after they’ve delivered a good ball
• Generic comments not aimed at the player: “The stumps are hungry, give them a cherry.”
• Congratulate opposition batters on good play
  
  

Unacceptable:

• Any mention of the batter, except to genuinely congratulate them on good play
• Any talking to the batter, except to genuinely congratulate them on good play
• “You’ve got a bat, use it.” (talking to batter)
• “She’s shaking like a Tickle-Me-Elmo” (mentions the batter)
• “This guy must be scared – I would be if I was out here” (mentions the batter)
• “He/she can’t bat.” (mentions the batter)
• Silently mouthing threats, insults or anything to the batter
• Glaring angrily at the batter

This season, each Summer Hill junior player and coach will be invited to sign up to PledgeNot2Sledge. This is a voluntary program that we hope you will support. By showing we are dedicated to providing a bully-free environment, SHCC will be supporting our kids to get the most out of their cricketing experience and leading by example.