Any action which is seen to abuse the spirit causes injury to the game itself.

The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.

The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:-
Your opponents
Your own captain and team
The role of the umpires
The games's traditional values

It is against the Spirit of the Game:-
To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture
To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:-
i) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
ii) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
iii) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise
under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side.

Last year the Herts League introduced a tariff system of penalties, dependant upon the offence. This was due to confusion over the penalty regime operated by the League’s Disciplinary Committee.

The penalties also serve as a guide to clubs in disciplining their own players, which is the first stage in the League's procedure.

The penalties will be:
a) verbal abuse of an umpire or opposition player or your own player, or physical abuse to equipment, buildings and the like will result in a minimum two game penalty
b) physical violence towards another player, umpire or spectator would result in a minimum ban of one complete league season, regardless of when the offence took place.