RULES

1. GENERAL 1:1 The League will organise Kwik for Under 10's and competitions for age groupings, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17. Players to be under the appropriate age at midnight on 31st August prior to the playing season. N.B. Eligibility can be equated to school years. Kwik, year 5 and below; Incrediball and Hard Ball, year 6 and below; U13s year 8 and below; U15s, year 10 and below; U17s, year 12 and below. Where a player is not in their appropriate school year, then their date of birth will always take precedence over their school year. a) When a club enters two or more teams in the same age group, those teams must play their matches on the same night/day. b) Where clubs have entered two or more teams in one age group, they must nominate, on their Player Registration Form, six players (four players in eight-a-side games) to play in the 'A' team i.e. their best team, and those six / four players may not then play for any other side at that age group. 1:2 Whenever possible, matches shall be played on good grass pitches. Where an artificial pitch is used only occasionally, the home team manager must notify the opposition manager on a match by match basis. Where a club plays only on artificial pitches, this fact must be notified to the League for inclusion in the Annual Handbook. Spiked boots may not be worn on artificial pitches, except, should the home team manager fail to notify their opposition, the opposition shall be allowed to play in spiked boots. 1:3 The county's representative team for each of the national competitions shall be the winners of the Under 13's and Under 15's competitions. 1:4 Leicestershire age group players shall not be eligible to play in the Kwik or Incrediball competitions.

2. OVER AGE PLAYERS 2:1 No over age male players shall be permitted to play in any team, except that girls are allowed to play two years over age. a) Any team found to have included an over age player in their side shall suffer the same penalty as contained in Rule 6:1a re ineligible players, in cases of dispute the Central Council shall request the production of a birth certificate.

3. PLAYING RULES 3:1 Except where otherwise provided for in these rules, all matches shall be played in accordance with the MCC Laws currently in use, except that for all age groups other than Under 17's, two runs shall be the penalty for a wide ball and a no ball and no extra delivery shall be bowled, except in the last over of an innings when the two run penalty shall still apply, but additional balls shall be bowled and four fielders must remain within a 30 yard circle at all times once competitions have reached District Final stage. 3:1a Any delivery, regardless of pace, which passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the , shall be called and signalled as a no ball, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker. 3:2 In the first two weeks of the season, matches shall be of a maximum of 18 six ball overs per side. Thereafter, except as provided for in Rule 3:8c and 3:9b, all matches shall be of a maximum of 20 six ball overs per side. In both instances, the maximum number of overs may be reduced to a minimum of 12 six ball overs per side, through negotiation between the two managers. 3:3 The 20 overs must be completed within one and a quarter hours, subject to interruption by the weather. If a team fails to comply with this requirement it shall be reported to the Central Council, which may take any action considered appropriate. 3:4 Each bowler may bowl a maximum of four overs and no keeper shall be allowed to bowl except in the case of injury to another bowler, during the game. This number shall be reduced pro-rata if the length of the game is reduced. If a bowler is unable to complete an over due to illness or injury, another bowler, who has not completed his quota, may complete the over. The number of balls left to be bowled shall count as a complete over for the replacement bowler. 3:5 A county wide cup competition with a group format shall precede the League competition at ages Under 13, 15 and 17. The draw for the cup will be made by the Central Council. a) The League competition will be played on a District basis with District winners playing for the county championship on a knock-out basis. b) Match days shall be decided at District level. Evening matches to start as soon as possible after 6.00pm., but no later than 6.30. Morning matches to start no later than 10.00am. 13 3:6 In the Under 13 competitions the following special regulations shall apply:- a) At the discretion of the home team, the pitch may be reduced in length to 21 yards. b) A 4¾ oz. Ball shall be used. c) No fielder, except the wicket keeper shall be allowed to field nearer than 11 yards, measured from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side. d) Managers/Umpires shall be allowed to assist the captains on the field of play with tactics and field placing. e) A batsman must retire on having scored 25 runs. Once the competition reaches county semi-final stage, a batter must retire having scored 30 runs and may not return. 3:7 In the Under 15 and under 17 competitions, the following special regulations shall apply:- a) No fielder, except the wicket keeper shall field within eight yards of the batsman on strike except behind the wicket on the off side. b) The League competitions shall be played on a District basis with District winners playing for the county championship on a knock-out basis. c) A batsman must retire on having scored 50 runs and may not return. 3:8 In Kwik cricket, the following regulations shall apply:- a) Teams shall consist of eight players of Under 10 years of age. b) The pitch shall be eighteen yards in length. c) Matches shall consist of eight overs per innings and each player shall bowl one over. Both over arm and under arm shall be permitted. d) Players will bat in pairs for two overs regardless of the number of times they are dismissed. e) Teams shall start with 200 runs. Five runs shall be deducted for each dismissal; batsmen will change ends so that a dismissed batter shall not face the next delivery. (If bowling takes place from one end only, the batters shall change ends at the end of an over). f) All methods of dismissal, excluding LBW, shall apply. g) The side scoring the most runs, after deductions for lost, shall be the winner. In the event of a tied score, the team losing the fewer wickets shall be the winner. h) Only Kwik cricket equipment shall be used, except that a Reader's Windball shall be used at all times. 3:9 For Incrediball and Under 11 Hardball, the following special regulations shall apply:- a) Each team shall consist of eight players of Under 11 years of age. b) Each game shall consist of one innings per side. Each innings shall be of sixteen overs. c) The side shall be divided into pairs. Each pair shall bat for four overs. Pairs shall change at the end of the fourth, eighth and twelfth overs. d) Batsmen shall have unlimited 'lives' but each 'life' shall result in five runs being deducted from the total. No batsman who is out for any reason shall face the next ball. Batsmen shall change ends at the fall of each wicket, except on the last ball of an over. e) Each player except the wicket keeper must bowl. No player may bowl more than 3 overs. A player who keeps wicket for some of the innings shall be limited to 2 overs only. f) Each team shall commence its innings with a total of 200 runs. g) The winning team shall be the team scoring the higher number of runs after deductions for the fall of wickets is made. During the League programme, if a match ends with the scores equal, the result shall be called a tie and 3 points awarded to each team. In the knockout stages of the competition, in the event of scores being equal, the eight players from each side shall take it in turns to bowl at the wicket from the bowlers' end and the team scoring the most hits is the winner. h) In the event of the umpires being satisfied that a player is incapacitated, his place may be taken by a reserve who shall bat and bowl in his place. If no reserve is available, any overs due to be bowled by the injured player shall be bowled by another player without exceeding the quota. The captain of the side shall choose one of the players in the first three pairs to bat a second time for the fourth pair. i) Matches must be played on a pitch which is 20 yards in length, though it is acceptable for the stumps to be of the spring back variety to avoid damage to a full size pitch in its playing area. j) Where a hard ball is used, all players must wear the appropriate protective clothing, which must include an abdominal protector (box), batting or wicket keeping gloves, batting or wicket keeping pads and a cricket helmet with visor. In Under 11 Incrediball matches, pads, gloves and a box must be worn and a pink Hunts County Bomber ball must be used. k) No fielder, except the wicket keeper may field within eleven yards of the batsman on strike, except behind the wicket on the off side. 3:10 Incrediball and Hard Ball Finals In Under 11 finals, the manager of the fielding side shall umpire at square leg in order to be able to guide his/her team. The bowler's end umpire shall be a neutral umpire appointed by the League. 14 4 RE-ARRANGEMENTS 4:1 Fixture lists are issued in February each year but up to two re-arrangements may be agreed between the respective managers before 1st May (and notified to the League Administrator). Any further re-arrangements must be approved by the League Chairman. If managers cannot agree, then the fixture as arranged shall stand. After 1st May no re- arrangements shall be allowed. See Rule 5:1 4:1a The home team shall be then sole judge of the fitness of the ground for play. 4:2 If a team cancels a match for any reason other than the weather, the points shall be awarded to the opposition and the home team must notify the result. 4:2a Matches cancelled must not be cancelled by a message left on an answer machine or text message but a discussion between managers should take place in all cases where not impossible. 4:3 Teams are at liberty to re-arrange cancelled matches on a 'friendly' basis. 4:4 Where a club's match day / evening is different from that decided by the District Council, the club's manager is required to contact the opposition at least six days before the scheduled date, to confirm the fixture. Failure to do so will result in the opposition being entitled to claim the game should it not take place. A mutually agreeable re- arrangement may be made only in exceptional circumstances. 4:5 Teams shall be permitted to change their playing day / evening, but only in respect of their home games.

4. RESULTS 5:1 Results, even when the game is not completed or did not commence due to weather or bad light intervening, 2 points will be awarded to each team. 5:2 If teams fail to submit the result within the five day window, an automatic one point deduction will occur for each transgression. A further punishment of a £10 fine will be levied for each offence after the first transgression. Unpaid fines shall be added to the Club's Annual Subscription for the following year. 5:3 Match winners shall be decided as follows:- a) The team scoring the higher number of runs shall be the winner. b) If the scores are equal in a League competition, the result shall be a tie. In a Cup competition, the side losing the fewer wickets shall be the winner. c) If, after the application of Rules 5:3 and 5:3b, sides are still equal in a Cup competition, then the side with the most runs after one less than the maximum numbers of overs, and counting back, if necessary, shall be the winner. d) Where inclement weather prevents the completion of the match a result shall be obtained provided 50% of the overs have been completed in the 2nd innings. The match will be won by the team with the highest average run rate calculated over the total number of overs bowled (or if the side batting first is dismissed, the scheduled number of overs), the rate to be calculated at the end of the last completed over. This rule will not apply to under 11 age group fixtures. 5:4 Four points shall be awarded for a win and three for a tie.

REGISTRATION 6:1 All players shall register annually by 19th May each year, via the website. After 19th May unregistered players shall be ineligible to play. Teams found to have included an ineligible player in their side shall forfeit the game and, if winning, any points awarded to the opposition. If th team breaking the rules loses the game/s in question, four points shall be deducted for each offence. New players may be registered via the website. 6:2 Subject to the agreement of both clubs, a player may play Hard Ball for his main club and if, and only if, his main club do not run an Incrediball team, he may play Incrediball for another club and vice versa. 6:3 A player may register to play with one club only, except that if the player wishes to play in two or more age groups and his main club do not run teams for the other age group/s, a player may register to play for a different age group for another club. This intention must be clearly stated by e-mail to the League Administrator. 6:4 A player may transfer from one club to another during the season, provided that the 'receiving' Manager has notified the previous Manager and that six days notice has been given to the League Administrator of the receiving club and that he/she has sanctioned the transfer.

CHAMPIONSHIPS 7:1 If two or more teams finish a Competition on the same number of points and the championship of the Division is at stake, every effort must be made to play a Test match to determine the winners. If this is not possible, then the following regulations shall apply:-

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