Leagues

DORSET CRICKET LEAGUE REGULATIONS
1. TITLE
The name of the League shall be the Dorset Cricket League (hereinafter called 'the League'), and may be modified to include the name of any sponsor, as and when appropriate.
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the League shall be to provide the highest possible standard of league cricket throughout Dorset, in accordance with the objectives of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
3. LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership, shall be open to all clubs, whose constitution includes the following statement: 'Membership shall be open to all, irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, creed, colour, social status, sexual orientation'.
3.2 The League shall consist of separate Saturday and Sunday competitions and shall be set up in divisions, and be open to such teams as are approved by the Management Committee of the Dorset Cricket League.
3.3 Any team applying for membership must be required to demonstrate its ability to meet certain criteria set by, and regularly reviewed by, the League Management Committee.
3.4 Any team wishing to join any of the competitions shall apply online, not later than the 7th January of the year in which entry is to be operative. Such entrants, to either of the League Competitions, shall be placed in the lowest division, unless a special case is made and is approved by the League Management Committee.
3.5 All league clubs must have in place Public and Employers' Liability Insurance. A copy of this insurance must be displayed in the clubhouse. Cover is mandatory and clubs may be approached from time to time for proof of such.
3.6 Each club must maintain a bank account in its own name.
4. MANAGEMENT
4.1 The League shall be played under the auspices of the Dorset Cricket League. The management of the league shall be vested in the Management Committee, which shall be elected at the AGM and shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture & Results Secretary, Player Registration Secretary, DACO Representative, League Welfare Officer, County Club Representative, Premier League Players Representative, County Divisions Players Representative, plus 7 general committee members to sit on sub-committees, and TT25 representative. The Cricket Development Manager shall be invited to attend as an ex-officio member.
4.2 The Management Committee may appoint Sub-Committees and will have powers to co-opt other persons as necessary.
4.3 The Management Committee will meet as and when necessary (five persons are required to form a quorum), to ensure the proper control and management of the League and to hear any protest or breach of the rules which come to its notice. The Management Committee shall also be responsible for administering the funds made available and the Treasurer shall deposit such funds in an approved bank account and be responsible for keeping all records of the League's financial transactions. The Management Committee should act in the best interest of cricket in Dorset at all times.
4.4 All committee members shall normally receive at least 14 days notice of Management Committee Meetings and special meetings.
4.5 Decisions of the Management Committee shall be carried by a simple majority.
4.6 Decisions made by the Management Committee, in the course of managing the League, shall be final and binding on all member clubs.
5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
5.1 The Annual General Meeting of the League shall take place in the month of November, in each year, at a venue, date and time to be decided by the Dorset Cricket League.
5.2 Member clubs wishing to propose changes to the regulations and playing conditions must notify the League Secretary, in writing, of such proposals, not later than 30th September.
5.3 Nominations for the posts of Officers of the league must be received by the League Secretary, in writing, not later than 30th September. In the absence of nominations, the existing committee may put forward recommendations.
5.4 Notice of the AGM will be on the website, at least 3 weeks before the date of the meeting.
5.5 All clubs must be represented at the AGM. This also applies to clubs who are the subject of any 'special' meetings called. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £50.
5.6 The quorum for the AGM shall be one third of the League member clubs.
5.7 All AGM motions will be deemed to be carried if supported by at least two thirds of the bona-fide Club representatives present and voting. Each club shall have one vote. If a proposal relates to a particular Division, or Divisions, only those clubs with a team participating in those Divisions, in the following season, will be allowed to vote.
5.8 Voting shall take the form of a ballot slip, unless the Chairman deems otherwise.
5.9 The following business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting:
a. Approve the minutes of the last AGM.
b. Receive a report from the League Secretary on the previous season.
c. Receive a report from the Treasurer on the accounts, for the year ending 30th September.
d. Elect the following Officers and Management Committee members – Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture & Results Secretary, Player Registration Secretary, DACO Representative, League Welfare Officer, County Club Representative, Premier League Players Representative, County Divisions Players Representative, plus 7 general committee members to sit on sub-committees, and TT25 representative.
e. Consider any rule changes, proposals and arrangements for the forthcoming season, from member Clubs or the Management Committee, of which notice shall be sent out with the AGM agenda.
6. EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS
An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by the Management Committee or by not less than 30 Member Clubs, in writing to the League Secretary, setting out the reason for such meeting. The League Secretary shall call the Extraordinary Meeting within three weeks of such a requisition. No other business may be transacted at the meeting, other than that set out in the Agenda. The regulations contained in sections 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 will apply.
7. FINANCE
7.1 The Annual Subscription to the League shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting of the Dorset Cricket League.
7.2 Any club which has not paid its Dorset Cricket League Subscription by 7th January shall incur an automatic fine of £20 immediately and a 10 points deduction applied to every team participating in league competitions. An additional 10 points per team deduction will be applied for each weekend of the League season, until such time as a payment is received by the Treasurer.
7.3 Payment of DACO expenses must be made by 30th June. Failure to pay will result in a 5 points deduction. An additional 5 points deduction will be applied for each weekend of the League season, until such time as a payment is received by the Treasurer. Refunds due to clubs, for matches not played or where less than 10 overs are bowled, will be made by Bank Transfer, by the end of October.
8. PROTESTS
All protests by member clubs must be made in writing/email and lodged with the League Secretary, within 7 days of the alleged breach of rules.
9. ALTERATION OF REGULATIONS AND PLAYING CONDITIONS
Regulations and Playing Conditions may be altered at the AGM (see 5.2). The Management Committee is authorised to deal with any matters which may arise, not covered by the Regulations and Playing Conditions.
10. LEAGUE ENTRY
Member clubs will be invited to enter the League for the subsequent season and provide details of their ground availability, by submitting an online form and entry fee (as decided from time to time by the Management Committee). This form must be lodged with the League by 7th January. A club withdrawing a team from the League after the fixtures have been made will be subject to a fine of £50.
11. AFFILIATION FEE
Clubs will be invoiced online, in conjunction with their League entry form, for their affiliation fees to the Dorset Cricket Board, which must be paid by 7th January. Failure to do so will result in a £20 fine and a 10 point penalty for all teams within the club.
12. AVERAGES
Only averages appearing on play-cricket will be included in the Handbook.
13. TROPHIES
Perpetual trophies shall be returned to the League Secretary, by the 30th September each year. Trophies are to be returned in the same condition as received and any loss or damage to such trophies shall be the responsibility of the club holding the trophy.