JUNIOR PLAYING REGULATIONS 2010

1.             PARTICIPATION IN ADULT CRICKET
                NOTE – 1 -  This paragraph must be read in conjunction with the League Rules relating to minimum age
                NOTE – 2 – The ECB have agreed that this applies to District squad players in Yorkshire due to the size of the county
                Players who are selected in a County U12 squad in spring for a summer squad or in another squad deemed by ECB Performance Managers to be of a standard above 'district level' for that season are eligible to play open age cricket. This is providing they are at least 11 years old, are in School Year 7 on 1st September in the year preceding the season, and have written parental consent to play. In allowing these players to play in open age cricket it is essential clubs and coaches recognise the 'duty of care' obligations they have towards these young players ECB Guidelines for Junior Players in Open Age Group Cricket.
                The ECB has issued guidance covering the selection and participation of young players in open age group cricket. This is to help clubs decide when to select young players in open age group cricket and how best to help their cricketing development when they play within
open age groups. The ECB keeps these guidelines under review and, following feedback from clubs and leagues, has revised these guidelines for the 2011 season. The ECB will continue to monitor the impact of these guidelines and you are invited to feedback your thoughts and comments in writing to the ECB Non-First Class Cricket Department.
                This means boys and girls who are county squad and area squad players, are able to play open age group cricket if they are in an U12 age group and are a minimum of 11 years old on 1st September of the year preceding the season. District and club players who are not in a county or area squads must wait until they reach the U13 age group, be in Year 8 and be 12 years old on 1st September of the preceding year before being able to play in any open age group cricket. As before written parental consent is required for these players.

2.             FIELDING REGULATIONS
The ECB has regulations covering the minimum fielding distances for young players in all matches where a hard ball is used.
                • No young player in the Under 15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 8 yards (7.3 metres) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batsman has played at the ball.
                • For players in the Under 13 age group and below the distance is 11 yards (10 metres).
                • These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet.
                • Should a young player in these age groups come within the restricted distance the umpire must stop the game immediately and instruct the fielder to move back.
                • In addition any young player in the Under 16 to Under 18 age groups, who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a helmet and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 6 yards (5.5 metres) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side. Players should wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position where they feel at risk.
                • These fielding regulations are applicable to all cricket in England and Wales. Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31st August in the year  preceding the current season.

3.             ECB FAST BOWLING DIRECTIVE
The Fast Bowling Directives are designed to raise awareness of the need to nurture and protect our young fast bowlers through their formative years, and have been welcomed by a significant number of coaches and managers.
Under the new directives, which came into effect at the start of the 2010 season, bowlers at under-16 and under-17 level are now permitted to bowl an extra over per spell, but those in the under-18 and under-19 category have had the total number of overs they can deliver per day reduced from 21 to 18.
The fast bowling directives are designed to raise awareness of the need to nurture and protect young fast bowlers through their formative years. Research has shown that fast bowlers are by far the most likely players to be missing playing and training time due to injury.

Ages refer to the previous 1st September

For these purposes a fast bowler should be defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball
NOTE:-  The Umpires are deemed to be the sole judges of whether a player is regarded as a fast bowler. Their decision within the context of the game shall be final.

4.             ECB SAFETY GUIDANCE ON THE WEARING OF CRICKET HELMETS BY YOUNG PLAYERS
In February 2000 the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued safety guidance on the wearing of helmets by young players up to the age of 18. In brief, the guidance recommends that:

HELMETS with a faceguard or grille should be worn when batting against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice sessions.
Young players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting, together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box).
YOUNG WICKET KEEPERS should wear a helmet with a faceguard, or a wicketkeeper face protector when standing up to the stumps. With the assistance of schools, cricket clubs and leagues, the wearing of helmets by young players is now standard practice in cricket throughout England and Wales. Helmets are widely available and are covered by a British Standard (BS7928:1998). A face protector represents an alternative head protection system for young wicket keepers. Face protectors are, at the time of publication of this guidance, a relatively new innovation. Wicketkeeper Face Protectors are covered by a new British Standard (BS 7928 – 2 :2009).
The original guidance allowed parents or guardians to give their written consent to allow a young player not to wear a helmet. However now parental consent not to wear a helmet should not be accepted in any form of cricket.
This guidance applies to all players up to the age of 18, both in adult cricket and in all junior cricket played with a hard cricket ball.
The guidance also applies during all practice sessions. Any individual taking responsibility for players should take all reasonable steps to ensure that this guidance is followed at all times.
The ECB asks that the guidance is communicated to the parents or guardians of all young players through clubs and schools, and that young players are not allowed to bat or stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard ball without wearing appropriate protection.

5.             SPECIFICATION OF BALLS, STUMPS, PITCHES ETC FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS

6.             IMPLEMENTATION OF JUNIOR REGULATIONS
                a.             Clubs are responsible for ensuring that their junior players comply with the above regulations
                b.             Captains must indicate the age group of all players under the age of 19 on the team card which must be handed to the umpires prior to the commencement of the match
                c.             These regulations apply to ALL league matches, games in the Premier, Readman and Frank Piercy cups, the Intermediate League, representative matches and any other cricket undertaken within the auspices of the York & District Senior League.

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