RULES FOR WEST DORSET YOUTH LEAGUES 2022
Normal cricket laws will apply except for the following:
Player Qualification and age
1. Players should be under the relevant age on 1st September of the previous year. Girls can be one, or even two years older than the specified age group, again using the 1st September criteria. (See Summary of Match Format page) During the 2022 season managers/coaches should make contact about a week before a fixture to discuss the number of players each has available. If the opposition manager/coach agrees, over-age players will be allowed to play BUT managers/coaches should take necessary steps to ensure that over-age players do NOT dominate a match in terms of performance. Managers/coaches should act in the best interests of ALL players in the match and not use over-age players with the sole intention of ensuring a win by doing so. NB This does NOT apply to County Cup matches where over-age players are strictly forbidden.
2. Evidence of date of birth of any individual player must be provided to the West Dorset Youth Cricket Association Committee, if requested.
3. No player may play for more than one club in a season, within an age group.
4. Cup Competitions are considered separate to the League matches, but a player must only play for one team in each Cup competition.
5. It shall not be permissible for a team to retain points won by including an ineligible player. At the discretion of the West Dorset Youth Cricket Association Committee, either points may be awarded to the opposing team or the match replayed.
General Rules
6. All complaints/ protests relating to rules of the competitions or the eligibility of players must be e-mailed (or sent via Whatsapp) to the Chairman (Herbie Swann) of WDYCA within seven days of the match being played.
7. Matches will be played on the following days and times:-
- U9 and U10 - Any day by agreement of both teams
- U11 –Tuesday
- U13 – Thursday
- U15 - Monday
N.B. Teams can rearrange matches for any age group for any day and time if both teams agree.
All matches should aim to start at 18:15hrs (or 09.30hrs weekends) but must start by 18:30hrs irrespective of the number of players present.
8. The Home team must supply a match ball. U15 full size 5 ½ oz. For U11 and U13 age groups this should be a youth ball (4 ¾ oz). U9s and Under 10s to use an ‘incrediball’ or AllStars ball.
9. Each team should endeavour to provide an umpire and a scorer.
10. Helmets are mandatory for all batsmen, and for all wicketkeepers when standing up to the stumps.
Match Formats
11. Team numbers. During 2022 coaches/managers should agree several days before a match, if they wish to vary these numbers, either upwards or downwards.
(a) The following matches will be 6-a-side pairs (or 8-a-side if both teams agree):-
1. U9 Friendlies
2. U10 Softball League
(b) The following matches will be 8-a-side pairs:-
1.Under 11 League (Hardball by default, but softball by agreement of both managers)
(c) The following matches will be 9-a-side, standard cricket:-
1. Under 11 Archie Masters Trophy.
2. Under 13 League and Dave Cheffey Cup
3. Under 15 League and League Cup
(d) The following matches will be 11-a-side:- No variation allowed
1. Under 13 County Cup
2. Under 15 County Cup
12. Pitch lengths (Refer also to recommendations on Match Formats page) :-
(a) U9s- 15 yards
(b) U10s and U11s – 17 yards
(c) U13s – 21 yards
(d) U15s – 22 yards
13. Fielding Restrictions :-
(a) U9s, U10s, U11s, U12s & U13s: No player is allowed to field within 11 yards of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side.
(b) U15’s: No player is allowed to field within 8 yards of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side.
14. Format of games :-
(a) U9 & U10 Matches
i. Each team to have one innings of 12 six-ball overs for 6-a-side, 16 overs for 8-a-side.
ii. The batting side shall be divided into pairs, each pair batting for 4 overs and changing at the end of the 4th and 8th overs (and 12th over if 8-a-side).
iii. No bowler may bowl more than 3 overs whether 6 or 8 a side.
Both ii and iii can be varied during 2021 by agreement of both managers/coaches
iv. Each team shall start with a score of 200 runs and accumulate runs as in normal cricket. Every time a wicket falls, 6 runs shall be deducted from the total.
v. If a team is one player short, the lowest scoring batsmen from the first pair, taking into account wickets lost, will bat again in the last pair.
vi. When a batter is out, he/she shall not face the next delivery, swapping ends if necessary
vii. A wide delivery will incur a penalty of 2 runs, plus any runs scored, but no extra ball shall be bowled, except in the last over when 2 runs and an extra ball will both apply.
viii. A no-ball will incur a penalty of 2 runs, plus any runs scored, but no extra ball shall be bowled, except in the last over when 2 runs and an extra ball will both apply.
ix. Under 10 games use a softball which may be an incrediball or AllStars ball.
x. For Under 10 matches the maximum length of the boundary (measured from the middle of the pitch) will be 35 metres.
(b) U11 League
i. Each team to have one innings of 16 six-ball overs.
ii. The batting side shall be divided into pairs, each pair batting for 4 overs and changing at the end of the 4th, 8th and 12th overs.
iii. No bowler may bowl more than 3 overs.
Both ii and iii can be varied by agreement of both managers/coaches
iv. Each team shall start with a score of 200 runs and accumulate runs as in normal cricket. Every time a wicket falls, 6 runs shall be deducted from the total.
v. If a team is one player short, the lowest scoring batsmen from the first pair, taking into account wickets lost, will bat again in the 4th pair. If a team is 2 players short, they must play the entire game with only 6 players, batting for 12 overs with 3 pairs.
vi. When a batter is out, he/she shall not face the next delivery, swapping ends if necessary
vii. A wide delivery will incur a penalty of 2 runs, plus any runs scored, but no extra ball shall be bowled, except in the last over when 2 runs and an extra ball will both apply.
viii. A no-ball will incur a penalty of 2 runs, plus any runs scored, but no extra ball shall be bowled, except in the last over when 2 runs and an extra ball will both apply.
ix. For Under 11 matches the maximum length of the boundary (measured from a line between the stumps) will be 40 metres.
(c) Under 13 and Under 11 Archie Masters Cup
i. Each innings will consist of 18 six-ball overs in April and May and 20 in June and July. If both teams agree, half of the overs in each innings can be bowled from the same end consecutively, with batters changing ends for the start of each new over as necessary.
ii. The umpires will decide on any adjustment of overs in the event of inclement weather or bad light. In a match subject to a late start or interruption in the first innings, each innings will be reduced by one over for each full 6 minutes lost. In a case of interruption in the second innings, that innings is reduced by one over for each full 3 minutes lost. The minimum number of overs for a result to be obtained must be 10 complete overs for each side, unless a team is all out, or the side batting second exceed their target score. In the case of a side batting second and the innings being curtailed after 10, or more, overs, the match is decided on average number of runs scored per over.
iii. No bowler may bowl more than 4 overs in a match.
iv. Each batter will retire when their score reaches 25 and may not return to the wicket, even if the remainder of the side is out. If the last two batters are at the wicket and one reaches 25, he/she must then act as a runner until either, the other batter is out, or the team wins. If either batter is run out, the innings will end with the remaining batter being deemed as the one run out.
v. A retirement does NOT count as a wicket to the bowling team and therefore does not gain a bowling point. The batting team however, does gain a batting point, as long as they've not already gained 8 batting points. Not applicable in 2021.
vi. A wide delivery will incur a penalty of 2 runs, plus any runs scored, but no extra ball shall be bowled, except in the last over, when 2 runs and an extra ball will both apply.
vii. No balls will be bowled again throughout the innings and one extra run shall be added to the score for each no ball bowled, plus any other runs scored.
(d) Under 15s
i. Each innings will consist of 18 six-ball overs in April and May and 20 in June and July. If both teams agree, half of the overs in each innings can be bowled from the same end consecutively, with batters changing ends for the start of each new over as necessary.
ii. The umpires will decide on any adjustment of overs in the event of inclement weather, or bad light. In a match subject to a late start or interruption in the first innings, each innings will be reduced by one over for each full 6 minutes lost. In a case of interruption in the second innings, that innings is reduced by one over for each full 3 minutes lost. The minimum number of overs for a result to be obtained must be 12 overs for each side, unless a team is all out, or the side batting second exceed their target score. In the case of a side batting second and the innings being curtailed after 12, or more, overs, the match is decided on average number of runs scored per over.
iii. No bowler may bowl more than 4 overs in a match.
iv. Each batter will retire when their score reaches 35 and may not return to the wicket, even if the remainder of the side is out. If the last two batters are at the wicket and one reaches 35, he/she must then act as a runner until either, the other batter is out, or the team wins. If either batter is run out, the innings will end with the remaining batter being deemed as the one run out.
v. A retirement does NOT count as a wicket to the bowling team and therefore does not gain a bowling point. The batting team however, does gain a batting point, as long as they've not already gained 8 batting points. Not applicable in 2021.
vi. Normal rules apply regarding the bowling of no balls and wides i.e. that a penalty of 1 run is added to the score, plus any other runs scored, and an extra ball is bowled. However, if both teams agree before the start of the match the same rules as apply for wides in Under 13 matches can be adopted.
At ALL age groups:
i. A ball bouncing twice or more is a no-ball, but umpires should please exercise discretion at Under 9 and Under 10 level to encourage players learning.
ii. A reminder that once a bowler enters his delivery stride then he cannot stop and run out a batsman backing up.
iii. Balls passing the batter on the full above waist height should be deemed a no-ball, irrespective of the speed of the bowler.
iv. Any delivery passing the batsman at the crease above shoulder height after bouncing, should be called a no-ball.
15. Awarding of points for league games It has been agreed that for 2022, two points will be awarded for winning a match, one point each in the event of a tie. No bonus points shall be awarded.
16. Where a match is abandoned without a ball being bowled, or where fewer than ten complete overs are bowled both teams will be awarded 1 point. These points will only be credited and shown in the league table after BOTH teams have reported to the results secretary that an agreement has been made not to rearrange the match on another date before 24th July.
19. The final League positions will be decided by accumulated points scored. Postponed games and games where fewer than 10 overs have been completed can be re-arranged if both teams can agree on the new date on or before 24th July.
20. If Knock-out Cup matches are tied, the team losing the fewer wickets will be the winners. If the number of wickets are equal, the team bowling the fewest number of wides will be the winners.
Notes for Managers
- It is the responsibility of umpires and managers to ensure that all games are played to the spirit and letter of the laws. Any incidents of poor behaviour should be reported to the Chairman of WDYCA and the matter will be dealt with as soon as possible.
- Managers must be familiar with the rules of the league for their age-group and must agree on the number of batting and bowling points awarded at the end of each game, according to the guidelines set down by the League.
- Results can be submitted through Play Cricket online scoring, by manually adding the result on Play-Cricket, or via the WDYL Whatsapp group.
- Results and league tables will be displayed on Play-Cricket
- It is vital that the Results Secretary is informed of Cup Matches postponed due to the weather and the planned date to play the match so that future opponents can be informed.
- The League hopes that where possible matches are played on grass wickets but understands that this is not always possible. It is in the interest of the league and the players that managers make every effort to play as many matches as possible.