LEAGUE RULES
1. (a) That this combination of Cricket Clubs be called “THE HARROGATE AND DISTRICT AMATEUR EVENING CRICKET LEAGUE”
1. (b) Membership shall be open to all irrespective of age, disability, race, origin, colour, social status or sexual orientation.
2. (a) The league shall be governed by a Committee consisting of not more than five members plus league officials to be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations for Life Members, Officials and Committee Members must be received in writing by the League Secretary not later than the 30th November each year. All nominations received shall be circulated to clubs in the notice convening the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall administer the league and meet as often as business requires.
2. (b) The Committee shall have the power to appoint a Disciplinary Sub-Committee consisting of not more than 5 league officers or committee members.
3. (a) The Annual General Meeting of the League shall be held in the month of January to which each team shall send one delegate. At all General Meetings the voting shall be one vote per club. No Officers or Life Members may vote, unless representing their clubs, save the Chairman, who in the case of a tie, shall have the casting vote. Clubs not represented will be fined £20.00 unless a satisfactory explanation is received by the Committee. Representatives from 12 clubs to form a quorum. A General Meeting may be called by the Committee at any time or on written application to the League Secretary by 12 clubs. The object of the General Meeting shall be fully stated in the application and in the note convening the meeting. The General Meeting shall be held within 28 days of the League Secretary receiving such application. Alterations to rules must be submitted in writing to the League Secretary not later than the 30th September each year. The League Secretary shall
circulate all clubs of all proposed rule alterations no later than the 31st October each year. Amendments to these proposed rule alterations must be made in writing to the League Secretary not later than the 30th November each year.
3. (b) The League’s strength of clubs shall be at the discretion of the Annual General Meeting. Promotion and relegation to be at the discretion of the Committee No club shall be allowed to have more than two teams in the League and no club shall have two teams in the same division. If a club’s B. team is due for promotion into a higher division where its A. side already is, it shall not be promoted but the next eligible team in that division can be promoted in its place.
If a club’s A. team is due for relegation and its B. team will be in that division it shall be relegated and its B. team will fall into the next lower division being replaced by the next eligible team of that division. In the case where two teams of a club are due to play in the lowest division then the Committee shall recommend to the Annual General Meeting the procedure to be followed.
3. (c) Any club, which intends withdrawing any of their teams from the League or changing the ground for their home fixtures, must notify the League Secretary by November 30th each year. Any club wishing to join the League or a club wishing to enter an additional team must make a written application to the League Secretary by November 30th each year.
4. The Annual Subscription shall be £30 for one team and £15 for each additional team and each club shall receive 12 handbooks. Subscriptions must be paid by 31st May in each year. Clubs not paying subscriptions will be fined £10. In the event of the Annual Subscription proving inadequate, the Committee has power to call upon the League clubs to make a donation to the League funds.
5. The matches shall be played in competition form. The scoring shall be by points: Two points for each game won and one point for each game drawn or tied. A draw to be defined as follows: a game not played owing to weather conditions; bad light or atmospherical conditions making continuance of the game impossible.
6. (a) If in the opinion of the home club the ground is unfit for play they may, with the approval of the opposing team, cancel the game no later than 4pm on the day of the match, otherwise both teams must be on the field of play in accordance with Rule 9 when the umpire(s) if appointed by the League management committee, or the captains in their absence, shall be the sole judges of the fitness of the ground for play. Teams failing to fulfil any fixture for any cause except weather conditions shall forfeit two points and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £10.00 subject to League Rule 8. Special permission may be granted from the Committee for a club to re-arrange a fixture under exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances to be as defined by the Committee.
6. (b) Any club failing to follow the above procedure may forfeit the match.
6. (c) Any team failing to fulfil a fixture for any cause, except weather conditions, on four or more occasions, may be expelled from the League and their record expunged.
6. (d) Any player not on the ground by 7pm may not bat or bowl for his team.
7. (a) Matches shall be played on Wednesday evening each week, except under Rule 8 or Rule 6. Each side shall bat 20, six ball overs unless an innings is completed or a declaration is made except on the first two Wednesdays and the last Wednesday of the season when the number of overs shall be reduced to 18. A bell must be rung or “Last over” called by the scorers at the commencement of the last over. The team having scored the most runs in the overs played shall be the winning team. All boundaries to count as four and six runs. 7. (b) Prior to the toss being made, the match may, with the agreement of both captains, be reduced by a maximum of 4 overs per side. No match shall start later than 7.00pm.
7. (c) In any division in which there are more than 8 teams the dates of any fixtures which have to be mutually arranged between club Secretaries must be done so by 31st May and both club Secretaries must inform the Hon. Assistant League Secretary by that date. The dates of these fixtures must be before the last full fixture list of the
season. Failure to comply with this rule will render clubs liable to a fine not
exceeding £5.00.
8.
9. Unless Rule 7(b) applies, times for commencing matches shall be 6.30pm. The pitch shall be rolled and the toss made by 6.25pm. Any teams arriving at the ground after 6.25pm shall be considered to have lost the toss. The interval between innings shall not exceed 10 minutes when the pitch may be rolled. This rule must be strictly adhered to.
10. All games must be played on an enclosed ground with a boundary line marked at ground level, the home team to prepare a properly marked pitch and to provide umpire coats; each fielding side to provide a suitable ball, to be approved by both captains.
11. (a) All Home clubs shall phone the result of their League match to Ackrills before 10.15pm on the evening of the fixture. Any team failing to telephone results to Ackrills may be fined a sum not exceeding £10.
11. (b) Both Club Secretaries shall send to the Assistant League Secretary the result of each match, including those abandoned or postponed, time of commencement and full details of batting and bowling of each team on the Official Result Sheet. All players. names must be included even if they have not batted or bowled. In the case of matches cancelled without a ball being bowled, only the home team is required to
send a Result Sheet. The returns will be accepted as final in compiling League Tables and Averages. Returns should be despatched to ensure receipt by the Assistant League Secretary on the Monday following the scheduled date of the match. Abandoned or postponed matches must be reported on an Official Result Sheet. Failure to comply with this rule will render Clubs liable to a fine of £10.00. Clubs, at the end of the season, must send in individual averages for batting and bowling, noting that scores from abandoned matches still count in the compilation of division averages, but excluding any scores from Cup games. Any average received later than August 31st each year shall not be considered.
12. (a) Players shall not receive monetary rewards in consequence of their participation in any game which comes under the jurisdiction of this League. This does not preclude a player from receiving insurance benefits in the event of such a player sustaining injury during the course of a game. Clubs and players proved guilty of the violation of this rule shall be liable to a fine or expulsion at the discretion of the Committee.
12. (b) No Club shall include in any team more than two overseas players. An overseas player, for the purposes of this rule, shall be defined as any player not eligible to play for
13. (a) A player is deemed to be registered for the season with the first club he plays for and his name must be entered on the Results Sheet following any match he partakes in. No player may play for a club for the first time that season after June 30th without the consent of the Committee.
13. (b) Any player who has played in more A team games than B team games may not play for the B team in the final four matches of the season unless special permission be given by the Assistant League Secretary.
14. Clubs proved guilty of playing ineligible players shall be liable to a fine of up to £20 for each ineligible player, the match may be awarded to the non-offending side and points may be deducted.
15. A player desiring his transfer must make application to the Assistant League Secretary who has power to transfer a player from one club to another but two clear days must elapse before he is eligible to play with his new club. Each player must discharge his obligations to the club from which he desires his transfer and that club’s written confirmation must be forwarded to the Assistant League Secretary before the transfer becomes effective. No player shall be transferred more than once during the same season without the consent of the Committee. Transfers will not be granted after
June 30th without special permission of the Committee.
16. (a) Any protest or appeal must be in writing and shall be sent, together with a Postal Order or Cheque for £20 to the Assistant League Secretary not later than 72 hours from such time as the protest or appeal arises. An exact copy of the protest or appeal shall be sent to the club or individual against whom the protest or appeal is made, also not later than 72 hours from such time as the protest or appeal arises. The ground of protest or appeal shall be fully stated, and in case the protest or appeal is not upheld the deposit shall be forfeited at the discretion of the Committee. Representatives of interested clubs shall not be allowed to remain on the Committee during the hearing of disputes, objections or protests.
16. (b) Any club or umpire who alleges that a player or club has committed a disciplinary offence may so state in writing to the Assistant League Secretary. Such notification shall be sent within 72 hours of the alleged offence. The Assistant League Secretary shall refer the allegation to the Disciplinary Sub-Committee which may, if it thinks fit, proceed to investigate it in accordance with Rule 27.
17. All fines imposed by the Committee must be paid within 14 days of notification of the decision, and if not paid the club in default may be struck out of all competitions administered by the Committee.
18. Neutral umpires shall be appointed for all First, Second and Third Division matches, if practicable. The umpires fees shall be £12.00 each for each match, to be paid before the commencement of the second innings, costs to be defrayed between competing clubs, unless the umpires have been informed that the match is cancelled in accordance with Rule 6. In the event of an appointed umpire being the only official
present, then the fee shall be £18.00, to be shared by the competing clubs. Where no play is possible, umpires who arrive at the ground shall be paid half their fee. The Umpires Secretary must be notified by the home club in the event of the cancellation of a fixture.
19. (a) Bowlers must wear white shirts or sweaters, and umpires must see this rule is carried out.
19. (b) The following ECB directives will apply: All players up to the age of 18 must
(i) wear a helmet when batting against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice games and net situations.
(ii) when wicket keeping wear a helmet when standing up to the stumps.
20. (a) No bowler may take more than a 12 yard run up, marked from the middle stump. In the event of the bowler contravening this rule, the umpire at the bowler’s end shall, at the instant of delivery, call and signal no ball.
20. (b) No bowler may bowl more than 4 overs in any one innings. In the event of a bowler being unable to complete an over for any reason, the Captain of the fielding side shall depute another bowler to complete the over, provided that the normal laws of cricket are not contravened.
20. (c) The following ECB directives will apply:
(i) all players under the age of 13 years old may bowl only 4 overs per spell.
(ii) all players under the age of 15 years old may bowl only 4 overs
per spell.
20. (d) Any short-pitched delivery which bounces above the shoulder height of a batsman in his normal stance shall be called a “no ball”.
21. Funds permitting, suitable prizes shall be awarded to League Champions, and winners of individual batting and bowling averages, a minimum of 6 innings and 200 runs for batting, and a minimum of 18 wickets for bowling.
22. (a) In the event of two or more clubs tying for championship, promotion or relegation, final positions shall be determined on the basis of most wins. A win to include matches claimed by forfeit under Rule 6A.
22. (b) If championship, promotion or relegation are unresolved by 22a then final positions shall be determined on the basis of total runs scored per wickets lost. Match returns as received by the Assistant League Secretary to be taken as final (see Rule 11). For the purposes of this rule all matches that commence will count towards the total runs and/or wickets. In the case of a team failing to fulfil a fixture for any reason other than atmospheric conditions or by prior arrangement with the League Committee they shall be deemed to have lost 10 wickets for No runs.
23. League Trophies shall be handed to the winning clubs in exchange for a document signed by three responsible officials, promising to take proper care of these and return them in as good a condition as when received, also undertaking to make good to the League Committee the amount of any damage or loss. The trophies must be returned by the holders before the 31st May, to the Assistant League Secretary. Winning Clubs shall be responsible for engraving and cost. Any Club either failing to return the
League Trophy by 31st May or failing to have the Trophy engraved will automatically be fined £20.00.
24. The Committee has power to call upon clubs or players to play in any
match for the benefit of the League funds.
25. Each home club shall provide a First Aid Kit.
26. M.C.C. Laws will be adhered to on matters not covered by the Rules
of the League.
27. The League Committee shall have power to deal with any matter not dealt with in these rules in accordance with the rules and directives of the Yorkshire Cricket Association, Marylebone Cricket Club, Yorkshire Cricket Board and English Cricket Board. The rules and/or directives of the Y.C.A., M.C.C., Y.C.B. and E.C.B. are specifically incorporated into these rules and shall be binding on all members of the League to the extent that they do not conflict with these rules. Entry into the League, or any competition governed by the League committee, is an acceptance of these rules.
28. Discipline
(1) It shall be a disciplinary offence
(a) for any player in the course of, or in connection with, a match to misconduct himself or to act at any time in a manner calculated to prejudice the good name or interests of the League, and
(b) for any club to fail properly to control or discipline its players or to act in a manner calculated to prejudice the good name or interests of the League,
and the player and club committing an offence shall be liable to penalties in the manner as described hereafter.
(2) For the purposes of this rule the expression the player. shall throughout be deemed to mean and include not only any player, but also any member or official of any club or if appropriate any person involved in any incident of possible misconduct occurring on the field of play, or on the premises of the club, as may be appropriate in the
particular circumstances.
(3) Before any penalty is imposed there shall be a disciplinary hearing before the Disciplinary Sub-Committee. At least 7 days notice in writing of the hearing and of the offence alleged shall be given to the player or club who shall be entitled to attend the hearing (in the case of a club by its Secretary or other official), to be legally or otherwise represented and to call witnesses.
(4) If, at the hearing, the Disciplinary Sub-Committee finds the alleged offence proved it shall have the power to impose one or more of the following penalties:
(a) In the case of a player, official or supporter (being a member of a League club)
i to require the person to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within a specified period of time;
ii to record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct;
iii to impose a fine;
iv to suspend the player for one or more matches or for a stated period of time;
v to ban an official or supporter from attending one or more matches, or for a stated period of time;
vi to deduct League points from the player’s, official’s or supporter’s team;
vii to expel the player, official or supporter from the League.
(b) In the case of a club
i to require the club to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within a specified period of time;
ii to record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct;
iii to impose a fine;
iv to deduct League points from the club’s team(s);
v to relegate the club’s team(s) to any lower division of the League;
vi to expel the club’s team(s) from any competition of the League;
vii to expel the club from the League.
(c) The Disciplinary Sub-Committee shall have the power to suspend the operation of any part, or all, of the penalty it imposes for such period of time and subject to such terms and conditions it deems appropriate. Save that a club for the same offence may be subject to both deduction of points and a fine.
(5) A player or club found by the Disciplinary Sub-Committee to have committed an offence or upon whom the Disciplinary Sub-Committee has imposed a penalty shall have the right of Appeal to the Committee. Notice of the Appeal, setting out the grounds, must be given in writing to the Assistant League Secretary within 7 days of the decision of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee, together with a deposit of
£20. Upon giving notice of Appeal, the penalty shall not take effect pending the hearing of the Appeal. The deposit may be forfeited at the discretion of the Committee.
(6) The Appeal shall be by the way of rehearing. The player or club shall have the same rights of attendance and representation, and to call witnesses as they had before the Disciplinary Sub-Committee.
(7) The Committee may confirm, vary or reverse the decision of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee, save that it shall not have the power to increase the penalty. The Committee shall have the power where it considers the appeal to be without merit to order that the deposit be forfeited.
(8) The decision of the Committee or if no appeal of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee shall be final and binding. There shall be no appeal to Yorkshire Cricket Association except for the expulsion or suspension of a player and then only if the player wishes to transfer to a club in another league.
(9) The person charged has, at all times, the right to object to the independence of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee as constituted and, if this is accepted, the Disciplinary Sub-Committee shall be made up of such independent members of the Committee. If the Disciplinary Sub-Committee cannot be fully constituted due to any such conflict, it shall be made up by such independent persons as shall be agreed between the Committee and the parties concerned. This shall apply also to the constitution of the Appeals Panel.
(10) When considering sentencing, the Disciplinary Sub-Committee and any panel of Appeal shall give due consideration to the sentencing guidelines issued from time to time by the E.C.B.