League Rules
1. All Member Clubs should be affiliated to the Worcestershire Cricket Board.
2. It is the responsibility of each Member Club to ensure that its policies regarding its playing members, who are under the age of 18, are in accordance with the ECB policy entitled 'safe hands - Welfare of Young People in Cricket.'
Player Registration Rules
1. All players must be bona-fide members of their club.
2. A player may move clubs during the season. However any move has to be sanctioned by the League Executive Committee. The club to which the player wishes to move should apply in writing to the Chairman, enclosing written authority from the club he wishes to leave. Provided that all dues are paid to this club by the player concerned, this permission shall not be reasonably withheld. No movement of players shall be sanctioned after 30th June.
3. ECB Category 2 and 3 Players may play only in the First XI Competition
4. Each Club will be entitled to play a maximum of two ECB catagory 3 players in a match in any one season.
Playing Rules
1. Each side shall receive 45 overs unless all out earlier (40 overs in the 2nd XI competition)
2. The result of the game shall be a win, a loss, a tie or the game shall be abandoned due to the weather (see Rule 17).
3. A 30 yard circle will operate throughout the game in which four fielders plus the wicket keeper and bowler must be inside at the instant of delivery of the ball.
4. In an uninterrupted match the tea interval will take place between the innings and shall be of 20 minutes duration.
5. In the event of ground, weather or light conditions delaying the start or interrupting the first innings, the overs shall be divided so that each side receives the same number. The calculation of the number of overs still to be bowled shall be based on one over for every full three and a half minutes of the time remaining to 8.00 pm. In these interrupted games and with the agreement of both captains, the interval may be taken earlier.
6. There shall only be ten minutes between the innings if the tea interval has already been taken (see Rule 10).
7. No more than nine overs may be bowled by any player in any 1st XI game and eight overs in any 2nd XI game.
8. In a delayed start match, five bowlers must still be used in one innings and their allocation of overs proportionately reduced. In a match where the innings of either or both sides is reduced after the start, the maximum number of overs per bowler shall remain as allocated at the start of the match.
9. Normal start time for all League games to be 2.00 pm. In a weather delayed game, play must start by 5.00 pm.
10. The side batting first must receive a minimum of 20 overs (unless bowled out in less) or the game is deemed abandoned.
11. In the event of the ground, weather or light conditions interrupting play in the second innings, one over will be deducted for every three and a half minutes spent off the field. The result of the match will then be decided by the faster scoring rate, provided the side batting second has received 20 overs or more. If they cannot receive 20 overs by 8.00 pm and do not win or lose the game in fewer than 20 overs it shall be deemed abandoned.
12. lf both sides have scored the same number of runs off their allocated overs regardless of wickets lost, the game is tied.
13. Points awarded for results of both first and second eleven games Win 6, Tie 3, Abandoned 1, Lose 0.
14. Covering of pitches is permissible at any time.
15. The final decision on the ground fitness to be made by the home person responsible for the ground.
16. Non-turf pitches to be used if both captains agree and provided that the grass is unfit.
17. Short-pitched deliveries rising over the batsman's shoulder height will be limited to one per over. Further deliveries of this nature during any over will be adjudged a no-ball.
18. Two cricket balls of similar/identical condition must be offered to the away captain by the home captain before the toss takes place.
19. The toss should take place 15 minutes before the specified commencement time. Should a team not have EIGHT players to take the field, that toss shall be forfeited. Delayed rules will apply where necessary. All sides are expected to bowl at an average rate of 17 overs per hour and captains and umpires are asked to take every possible step to ensure that this rate is achieved.
20.The League encourages the following of the E.C.B. guidelines in respect of the wearing of helmets by players under the age of 18.
21. All Clubs are expected to abide by the E.C.B. Fast Bowling Directives for Young Cricketers, as follows. A Fast Bowler is defined as a Bowler to whom a Wicket Keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.
Having completed a spell, a bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end.
22. Second Xis must wherevver possible field at least 5 players under the age of 17 (as at September 1st of the previous season)
Administration
1. Each Member Club shall pay an Annual Subscription, based on the number of teams it enters in the League, at the rate to be agreed at the A.G.M. Clubs will be invoiced and the Subscription shall be paid by no later than May 1st together with any outstanding monies owed to the league or other member clubs.
2. No points will be awarded to any club whose debts, referred to in rule 1, remain outstanding until those debts have been cleared.
2a. Member clubs must send a delegate to each and every meeting of the league. Non-attendance will result in a 6 point penalty for the offending club, increasing to 12 points, then 18 points for any continuing non-attendance.
3. The maximum charge to be made for tea for the eleven players of the away team, plus the scorer and umpire, is £30.
4. All Clubs are expected to make every effort to fulfil their fixtures. A Club conceding a fixture, whether it be home or away, after 10.00.p.m on the Wednesday evening before the Sunday of the due fixture, will pay its due Opponent Club the sum of £40. This payment is to be made within 14 days of the date of the conceded fixture. As well as notifying the Opposing Club, the Conceding Club must notify at the same time the League Chairman by e-mail (preferably) or by telephone. When a Club concedes a fixture, it forfeits the right to play the remaining fixture at home.
5. Where a Club has to cancel a fixture because of its involvement in either of the two National Club Knockout Competitions, it is the First XI fixture that is considered to be cancelled.
6. It is against the spirit of the League that, when a First XI fixture is cancelled, First XI players are then switched into the Second XI to strengthen it. One of the purposes of the Second XI Competition is to encourage the development of Under 13's to Under 17's and they must not be out of their depth.
7. When adverse weather occurs, Clubs are to make every effort to stage a match. Matches should be cancelled only prior to the appointed start time if there is no possibility of staging a match by reducing the number of overs to be bowled.
8.Cancelled matches which are not due to ground conditions and failure to fulfil matches will lead to the non-offending club being given 6 points which are appropriate for a win.
9. If a fixture is cancelled, for whatever reason, it cannot be rescheduled without the permission of the Executive Committee.
10. In the event of the League being tied between two teams, the team taking the most number of wickets during the season shall be judged the winner. In the event of this still being equal each will share the trophy for the year.
11. If a Club withdraws a team from one of the Competitions after the Competition has started, then all of the matches involving that team will be declared void, with no points being awarded to any of the teams involved, and the League Tables will be recalculated accordingly.
12. The Executive Committee will be comprised of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer, all of whom are appointed ex-officio, and one other member of the General Committee, who will be elected by a simple majority of the members of the General Committee present at the A.G.M.
13. Results must be sent to the Results Service by email or text by 10pm on the sunday of the match.
Disciplinary Code
1. Code of Conduct. The Worcestershire Sunday Club Cricket League is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct as set out in the "Code of Conduct" issued by The England and Wales Cricket Board; viz: "The Captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws if the game. Players and officials must at all times accept the Umpire's decision. Players must not show dissent at the Umpire's decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards an Umpire at any time. Players and Team Officials shall not intimidate; assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an Umpire, another player, or a Spectator. Players and Team Officials shall not use crude or abusive language (known as "sledging") nor make abusive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately distract an opponent. Players and Team Officials shall in any way be concerned in the use of distribution of illegal drugs. Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and supporters towards opposing players and to the Umpires".
2. A complaint may be made by an umpire, captain, player or an official. This can be against a player, a club or other person connected with a member club.
3. All complaints should be made as soon as possible by phone directly to the League Disciplinary Officer and be confirmed in writing within seven days.
4. Offences. Copies of the appropriate correspondence shall be sent to the club(s) involved in the alleged offence. The club(s) must give a written reply within seven days of receipt of the correspondence. The individual and/or club shall be told prior to the hearing of the charge being made. The charge shall be one of the following: (a). Gross misconduct, (b). Misconduct, (c). Abusive behaviour.
5. Definition of Offences.
Gross Misconduct. The type of offence shall include actual violence and repeat offences dealt with under other headings.
Abusive Behaviour. This type of offence shall include threatening behaviour, bad language, and crude gesticulations directed at players, umpires or spectators.
Misconduct. This type of offence shall include "Unfair Play" as described in Law 42.
6. Hearings shall be held within three weeks of the complaint and preferably as soon as possible. The clubs and individuals have the right to attend the hearing, to be represented and to call witnesses. Non attendance shall not stop the hearing taking place and where appropriate, disciplinary action being taken. Individuals or clubs who do not attend the hearing shall have no right of appeal.
7. Appeals. Where disciplinary action is taken, the individual club has the right of appeal. This shall be heard within three weeks of the appeal being lodged before the full Executive Committee which shall have the authority to vary the verdict penalty.
8. Penalties for Clubs may vary from expulsion from the League to fines or deduction of points.
9. Penalties for individuals may vary from banning sine die or suspension for specific periods or formal reprimand.
