Teams across all four professional domestic cricket competitions in England "will be allowed to replace concussed players during matches," the England & Wales Cricket Board said on Wednesday after it approved rule changes for the new season. The incoming player, who will be allowed to bat and bowl, must be deemed a “like for like” replacement by the Cricket Liaison Officer appointed for the match or by the on-field umpires if the ECB’s representative is not present (REUTERS, 3/21).
Umpires in county cricket will be able to dismiss players for on-field disciplinary breaches from the start of this season "in a system that has been likened to red and yellow cards in football." Regulations released by the ECB aim to "make the punishments for on-field indiscipline more severe, so players can now be sent off for part of a match or for the whole of it," depending on the offense (LONDON TIMES, 3/21).
The first NHL Ball Hockey Program was implemented in four schools in Beijing on Wednesday. NHL Ball Hockey is an 8-week program that introduces students, educators and parents to the sport of hockey (NHL).
X-ray cameras will be used during cycling's Grand Tour stages and Classic races this season to "prevent riders hiding motors in their bikes." Thermal cameras have been used in the last two Tours de France (BBC, 3/21).
A new action plan is being put in place to stop professional athletes "reaching crisis point" with their mental health. The measures have been announced by the government to protect the mental health of athletes and "include giving coaches and support staff extra training to spot the signs of poor mental health" (BBC, 3/21).
