League Rules

1. NOMENCLATURE

The League shall be known as the “[sponsors name] ALLIANCE MIDWEEK CRICKET LEAGUE”. Where no sponsor exists, the League shall be known as the “Sheffield Alliance Midweek Cricket League”.

2. SUBSCRIPTIONS

An Annual Subscription shall be paid by the last Wednesday in April (ie the Handbook Distribution Meeting) before the commencement of the season. The subscription shall include entry into the League and appropriate Cup competition and two tickets to the Annual Social Function (as per rule 31). Clubs not financial shall be fined. Any club which has not paid by the commencement date of the season shall not be allowed to play any matches and shall be deemed to have not complied with rule 12. Any club not financial with the League by 30th November of the current year shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.

3. APPLICATIONS TO JOIN, WITHDRAWALS

Any club desirous of joining the League must be a member of an appropriate County Board and must make an application to the League Secretary by the 30th November of the current year. Any club which withdraws from the League after this date shall be fined.

4. OFFICERS

The League shall be governed by a Committee known as the Management Committee made up of the President, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Officer, Umpires Appointments’ Secretary, Child Welfare Officer and 8 elected members. Two of the elected members shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Five to form a ‘quorum’.

5. MANAGEMENT

The League shall be conducted on the same principal as similar competitions and any dispute arising shall be referred to the Management Committee whose decision shall be final.

6. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

Management Committee meetings shall be arranged when necessary by the League Secretary and all Committee members will be notified.

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General meeting shall be held on the last Wednesday in January commencing at 7.30 pm and a Handbook Distribution Meeting on the last Wednesday in April commencing at 7.30 pm. Each club is allowed one voting delegate and any club not represented shall be fined.

8. FEES, FINES, NON PAYMENT OF FINES

All fees and fines within these ruless shall be agreed at each Annual General Meeting and published in the League Handbook. All fines shall be paid to the League Treasurer within 21 days of receipt of notice. Failure to do so will result in the fine being doubled.

9. CLUB OFFICERS/DIRECTORY FORM

Each club must nominate to the League a Club Secretary who shall be responsible for all official correspondence with the League and who shall ensure that all the League rules are applied correctly by their club. The name of the Club Secretary shall be nominated on a Directory form which is sent out by the League each year and which must be returned to the League Secretary by the second Saturday in December prior to the new season. Failure to do so will result in a fine. The form will contain details of Club Secretary – including name, address and telephone numbers – ground details, names of two contacts in case of cancellation (one of whom may be the Club Secretary), and any other relevant information. Should any information that is normally supplied be changed, the League Secretary must be informed in writing immediately. The League reserves the right to publish the information in whatever way the Management Committee requires for the smooth administration of the League including the Annual Handbook and official League Website. This list is not exhaustive.

10. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS

No player shall be allowed to play for more than one club in one season without both club and League Secretary’s approval and then only if he is financially up to date with the Club he is leaving. To transfer from one club to another, then an official transfer form must be completed containing the signatures of both Club Secretary’s. The transfer will then take effect from 7 days of receipt by the League Secretary. The player shall not play for any club in the League during this period. No transfers are allowed for fixtures on or after 18th July in each season unless in accordance with rule 25 (iv). Any club or player in default of this Rule must be reported to the League Secretary. Each team shall give to the neutral umpires before the commencement of the game a list of players who will be participating for their side in accordance with ECB guidelines.

11. CLUBS WITH TWO TEAMS

A club may have no more than two teams in the League, with the second team being designated the “A” team. The “A” team shall not play in the same division as the first team. Should the “A” team finish in a position that would normally gain them promotion to the same division as the first team, then the team finishing immediately below shall, in the normal course of events, gain promotion. If the first team is relegated into the same division as the “A” team shall also be relegated and the divisions adjusted accordingly with the promotion of a team from the lower division. After 1st July in the season, the “A” team shall field no more than two players who have played on four or more occasions for the first team.

12. ARRANGEMENT OF FIXTURES

Fixtures shall be arranged in December prior to the start of the season, and the opening fixture shall be on the first Wednesday in May and the closing fixture on the first Wednesday in August. All matches shall be played on Wednesday evenings, except under special circumstances when another evening may be arranged subject to the League Secretary’s permission. Each clubs fixtures shall be sent out in December and any club wishing to change dates must do so with the mutual agreement of their opponents and the League Secretary, with the new dates notified before 31st January. After this time, no fixture shall be allowed to be rearranged unless exceptional circumstances prevail, and then subject to the League Secretary’s discretion. All rearranged games must be played within 28 days of the original fixture, and no game shall be played after the official last day of the season.

13. NON FULFILMENT OF FIXTURES/POSTPONEMENTS

(i) Clubs failing to fulfill fixtures shall be fined for each offence and the defaulting club shall have 3 points deducted.

(ii) Both teams in all cases must go to the Ground or Club House, unless mutual agreement to abandon the game has been reached, but not earlier than 3.00 pm and not later than 5.00 pm on the day of the match or 4.30 pm where neutral umpires are appointed.

(iii) The home club must make contact with one of the contacts provided if a game is liable to be postponed.

(iv) If neither of their contacts is going to be available for any reason to receive a phone call on the day of the match, the away club must make contact with the home club ahead of the game and provide the name of an alternative contact.

(v) If the home club is unable to make personal contact with either of the contacts then the League Secretary must be informed immediately and the offending club shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee.

(vi) An answer phone or similar contact with the opposing club is not acceptable.

(vii) If it is mutually agreed to abandon the fixture of if prior knowledge exists of an unfulfilled fixture, then the home side shall be responsible for informing the appointed neutral umpires. Failure to do so will result in the offending club being required to pay the umpires half of the match expenses.

14. MATCH OFFICIALS

Each club shall provide a scorer. Both scorers must be in close proximity to each other at the specified scoring point as defined by the home club. Where the League does not provide neutral umpires, each club shall provide its own umpire. Neutral Umpires shall be paid an expense, the amount of which shall be decided each year by the clubs at the Annual General Meeting or General Meeting of club, the cost being divided equally between the two clubs. All umpires must be paid before the game commences. The game cannot commence until the umpires have been paid. Where only one neutral umpire is in attendance, the umpires shall stand at both ends with the clubs mutually agreeing to the second umpire. The neutral umpires shall then receive expenses equivalent to one and a half the normal expenses. In all cases other than rule 13, where the neutral Umpire attends the ground but play is prevented from commencing, then the neutral umpire shall be paid half th normal expense.

15. BALL

The batting side shall provide its own balls which shall not be new and must be a quartered leather balls mutually acceptable to both Captains and, where appointed, neutral umpires. Two balls must be presented to the neutral umpires, or opposing captain if no neutral umpires are appointed, before the commencement of the game.

16. CONDITIONS OF PLAY

(i) The visiting team shall bat first.

(ii) All matches shall commence at 6.15 pm or earlier by mutual consent of both sides.

(iii) If a match is started later than 6.15 pm due to the fault of one team, a specified number of overs may be deducted from the batting period of the offending team. Such deductions shall be accordance with the reference table printed in the League Handbook and must be arranged before actual play commences and if neutral umpires are present then they shall adivse the club captains of such deductions.

(iv) Players must have arrived and on the field of play by the completion of the 8th over to either bat or bowl in a game. The captain must inform the opposing captain and umpires of any late players arrival.

(v) No player may bowl than 3 overs in a game except as follows: In games of 13 overs per side one player per side may bowl a maximum of 4 overs In games of 14 overs per side two players per side may bowl a maximum of 4 overs In games of 15 overs per side three players per side may bowl a maximum of 4 overs In games of 16 overs per side no player may bowl more than 4 overs.

17. DURATION OF GAME. LATE STARTS

Each side shall bat a maximum of sixteen 8-ball overs and a minimum of twelve 8-ball overs. In the event of a late start due to inclement weather, a minimum of ten 8-ball overs may be played. No game may start after 6.45 pm.

18. LAWS OF THE GAME

Except where alternative provisions are made within the rules of the League, all games shall be played within the MCC Laws of the Game. Laws 42.3, 42.5, 42.4, 42.9, 42.10, 42.13 and 42.14 will only apply in games where neutral umpires appointed by the League are present.

19. FALL OF WICKET

The incoming batsman shall meet the outgoing batsman and there shall be not more than 10 minutes interval between innings.

20. BOWLING ATTIRE

No player shall be allowed to bowl unless in suitable cricketing costume. This rule will be strictly enforced.

21. SUITABILITY OF PLAY

Unless neutral umpires are provided by the League, the Captains shall decide as to the suitability of the weather conditions being fit for play. If the captains are unable to agree, the then present state of the game shall continue.

22. UNSPORTING BEHAVIOUR

All games should be played in accordance with the ECB Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket which is published in the League Handbook each year.

23. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

A Disciplinary Committee consisting of three members of the Management Committee shall consider all matters of misconduct. Any club or player found guilty of misconduct shall be punished in accordance with guidelines issued by the Management Committee. Any appeal against a decision made by the Disciplinary Committee shall be made in writing to the League Secretary within 7 days of the decision and shall be accompanied by an appeal fee. Three different members of the Management Committee will hear the appeal and their decision shall be final. The appeal fee will be forfeit if the original decision is upheld.

24. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS

A representative team shall consist of a minimum of eight players.

25. RESULT REPORTING/REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

(i) All clubs are required to be registered with the ECB Play-Cricket system.

(ii) They must use this system to register all players used in their team through the season using parameters set by the Management Committee.

(iii) All players must be registered by no later than 12 noon on the day following a match.

(iv) No player may be registered for any game on or after 18th July of the current season unless special dispensation is given by the League Secretary and any such player shall not be allowed to paly in any game that may affect a league title, promotion or relegation issue.

(v) The home side must submit all details of games played, including the names of all players on both sides, together with details of scores and minimum criteria set out by the Management Committee using the Play-Cricket system. This must be completed by no later than 12 noon on the Friday following the game.

(vi) The away side must then confirm the details submitted by home side using the Play-Cricket system by no later than 12 noon on Saturday following the game, ensuring its own scorecard is complete in accordance with the minimum criteria set out by the Management Committee.

(vii) Failure to submit or confirm a resultm or to incorrectly submit a result in accordance with rule 25 (iii), (v) and (vi) shall result in a fine.

(viii) If the details of a game as outlined in rule 25 (vii) have still not been completed to the total satisfaction set of the minimum criteria set out by the Management Committee by 14 days after the fixture, then the offending club shall be deducted 2 points. An additional point will also be deducted for each subsequent 14 days that the criteria has not been met.

26. POINTS

Points are awarded as follows:

Win – 3 points

Tie – 2 points

Draw – 1 point

27. DIVISIONAL SET UP

The League shall consist of four divisions known as Premier, (a), (b) and (c). Each club shall provide a home ground and this ground should consist of suitable changing facilities. Where a club fails to provide such facilities, the game should still go ahead but the club must be reported by the opposing team and/or neutral umpires to the League Secretary within 5 days of the game and this club shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. The Premier Division shall be considered as reserved for clubs of the highest playing and ground standards. Membership of the Premier Division shall be made up of either clubs promoted under the rules of the League or such other clubs as may be invited by the Management Committee to join the Premier Division. In all cases, the Management Committee reserves the right to decline Premier Division membership where ground standards are considered not suitable.

28. AWARDING OF DIVISION TITLES/PROMOTION AND RELEGATION

The leading two clubs shall in the normal course of events be promoted to the next division above and the bottom two clubs be relegated to the next division below. In the event of clubs tying, the score book will decide on the basis of runs for, divided by runs against.

29. PROTESTS

All protests shall be notified in writing to the League Secretary within three days of the match concerned and be accompanied by a fee which shall be forfeit if the Management Committee considers the protest frivolous. If considered reasonable, the fee shall be refunded. The reporting club must send a copy of the objection to the other Club concerned. 30. TROPHIES/INSURANCE The top club in each division shall be presented with a trophy. These trophies cannot be won outright and must be insured by the Management Committee for a minimum sum agreed by the League Brokers. All trophies must be returned to the League Secretary by 15th July each year. Failure to comply will result in a fine.