6.2 Dealing with a captain’s
refusal to play
1) T
he umpires cannot force
the reluctant captain to
have his team play and
should be careful not to
Law 21.3 makes clear that, in
coerce him.
the event one team refuses to
play, the umpires shall award 2) The umpires can remind
the game to their opponents.
the captain calmly that the
decision to play is theirs,
In the recreational game,
and theirs alone, to make.
when GW&L issues arise, it is 3) T
he umpires can briefly
often the case that one team
address any issues raised
will want to play (usually
by the captain (eg the ball
because they think that they
will get wet and slippery).
might win) and one team will 4) If the captain persists, the
not (usually because they
umpires should ask the
fear they will lose).
specific question, ‘are you
refusing to play?’
Umpires must determine
5) A
ssuming the answer
whether play is possible
to 4) is affirmative, the
based entirely on external
umpires should explain
conditions, not on the state
that the Laws provide that
of the match. However, once
a captain’s refusal to play
they decide that play can
will have consequences.
begin or continue, they will
The umpires will follow the
often be lobbied by clubs,
procedures laid down in
captains or players, who will
Law 21.3 and will award the
argue the decision is wrong.
match to the other team.
6) The umpires can point out
Some of this lobbying is
that other consequences
inevitable and has to be
may arise under the
accepted and managed
Playing Conditions, which
sensibly, principally by the
the captain may wish to
umpires being firm and
consult before arriving at
objective in explaining their
his decision.
thinking. However, in the
7) T
he umpires give the
event their doing so does
reluctant captain a
not resolve the situation, it is
specified amount of time
important the umpires adopt
to change his mind. Once
a clear plan if they believe
that time has elapsed,
one team is indeed refusing
play will either continue
to play. The following 7-step
or the umpires invoke
process is suggested as a
the sanctions in Law
way to handle this situation.
21.3 (unless the Playing
Conditions provide to the
contrary) and award the
match to the opposing side.
6.3 Handling players’ desire
to play on when conditions
are dangerous
It is not uncommon for
captains and players to say
they would like play to start,
continue or resume, even
though they accept the
umpires’ conclusions that
conditions are dangerous.
They will often tell the
umpires that they also
accept the risk of injury to
themselves and their players.
This is a difficult situation for
umpires. The following 3-step
process is suggested as a way
to handle this situation.
1) The umpires can calmly
remind the captains that
the decision not to play is
theirs, and theirs alone, to
make under the Laws and
that they owe a duty of
care to the players.
2) The umpires should advise
the captains and ask
them to tell their players
that they have concluded
there is a foreseeable risk
of injury to the players or
umpires, ie the conditions
are dangerous.
3) The umpires should
abandon the match and
withdraw from the ground.
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