:: Kids Cricket League ::

Number of Players per Team: To increase participation, and provide more opportunities for individual coaching, while we have limited each team to 11 children there will be a team or two which will have twelve. We realize that not every child will be able to attend every game. Nevertheless, we encourage children and parents to participate actively and regularly, so we have a successful and fun season.

Reporting Time: The reporting time is 8:15 AM. The game will begin promptly at 8:30 AM.

Game Format and Timing: Each team will play one innings and each inning will last approximately an hour and fifteen minutes, for a total of approximately two and a half hours of play.

Number of Overs Played: Each innings will last 15 overs for Div1 and 20 for Div 2 & 3. We should be able to get through at a rate of 4 minutes per over. Coaches to ensure that we meet this general guideline.

Last Batter: Normally in cricket the last batter does not continue batting when she/he runs out of partners. However, to give the kids a fair chance at enjoying the game, the last batter can keep batting even after her/his teammates are all out, until she/he is out or the innings is complete as per the rules or completes 30 runs. There is no runner with the last batter.

If the Teams are uneven in number or if there are a number of absentees: Normally, once all the players are out (including the last batter ), the innings is over. However, if one team’s attendence is lesser than the other then the smaller team can have that extra turn in batting as the number of players in the larger team. ie the coach can ask a player or players to bat again provided he has not reached 30 runs and during the second round of batting if he reaches 30 runs including his first round batting then he must be retired. Please note that a player retiring at 30 constitutes a batting turn. The players coming in for the second time will be decided by the coach/manager by ballot when the last player is batting and will include the name of the last batter in the draw.

Maximum/Minimum # of Overs per Bowler: Every kid must bowl at least one over unless they specifically decline the opportunity or do not have a bowling action. To allow for some competitiveness in the game, we are not limiting when each kid gets their turn to bowl, as long as they get the opportunity to bowl their one over. This way the captain/coach can bring in a skilled bowler when a skilled batter comes to bat. However, to minimize skilled bowlers from dominating the game, each kid will be allowed to bowl at most 4 overs in both the divisions.

Maximum Number of Runs/Balls Faced by Batter: To prevent skilled players from dominating the batting, we will mandate that the coach has to retire a batter at 30 runs.

Rotation of Batting: The coach can call a batter back and send in another , in case the batter has played for a couple of overs and more and is not really scoring. But the batter who has been called back should be sent back to complete his/her turn unless the overs are over. Here the coach has to use his discretion in recalling the batter which should only be with the weaker kids who must get a proper opportunity to bat.

Type of Ball: The “Incrediball” seems to be an incredibly good compromise between a tennis and cricket ball. We know some parents want their kids to be exposed to playing with a cricket ball (and some kids are keen too). We will consider arranging this in the nets after the game, if there is sufficient demand.

Ways of Going Out: Besides being bowled and being caught out, we will have stumpings and run outs as played in regular cricket. However, the LBW rule will not be implemented, since we do have beginners and many kids do not know what this means.

Extras:

a.Byes and leg-byes will be implemented as in regular cricket.

b.No-balls are to be penalized for front foot over the line and for Chucking. The penalty for a no-ball is an extra run to the batting team, an extra ball and the batter won’t be out (except be run out). Umpires(Coaches), please not that the Chucking no-ball penalty is to be used with discretion, and only against better, faster bowlers; it is specifically not to be used against kids who are just learning to bowl, but is meant to encourage the better, faster bowlers to bowl properly, and to prevent “Fast Chucking”. Fast Chucking is extremely disadvantageous to the batting team and this rule is meant to dissuade this practice.

c.We will implement Wides but with discretion to avoid discouragement. Only an extra run and not a bowl will be awarded to the batting side. Umpires (Coaches) please note, just going down leg-side doesn’t make a bowl a wide, but a ball that is simply unplayable ought to be ruled as a wide.

Umpires: We are mandating that two umpires be present on the field –the main umpire will be external and a leg umpire will be one of the parents.

Scorer: There will be an external scorer. The coordinators of each division to see that the score sheets reach Bhanu Sundra by every Tuesday

Captaincy and Field Placement: Captaincy will rotate between games. Each kid ought to be given a chance to be captain. The coach/assistant coach can help with field settings and batting placements, and to ensure players get shifted around.

Length of pitch: this is a tradeoff between giving too much advantage to the bowlers who are already good and fast, and making it too difficult for those who are just learning how to bowl. Also bear in mind that we will be playing on grass, in some fields, which slows down the ball. We suggest 19 yards, with the discretion of umpire/coach to allow smaller kids to bowl from closer, if they cannot generate sufficient pace to reach the other end.

Change of Ends: Bowlers and field placement are not required to change ends, as in normal cricket, to prevent loss of time and so that the younger kids do not get tired.

Wicket Keeping: Last year this was a position the kids loved, and which they sometimes fought over. Since we’re not playing with a cricket ball, no gloves are needed, but yet last year the kids insisted on wearing keeping gloves. Hence, we will provide a set of keeping gloves for each team, though pads are not necessary. If required, and there is popular demand the coaches can rotate the keeper every 2-3 overs, so that most kids get a chance at keeping wickets .

Points: This is a competition, though a friendly one. Teams will get 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, and 0 for a loss. There are 10 teams and each team has been slotted into one of three Divisions. Each team will play three matches in the first round and then again three matches in the second round. The finals will be played between the first and second; third and fourth based on their total points tally.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DECISION OF THE UMPIRES ARE FINAL IN ALL CASES. FURTHER ,SINCE THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES AND PITCH MARKINGS , THE SAME ARE TO BE FIXED BY THE UMPIRES BEFORE THE START OF THE MATCH PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE BEST BATSMAN AND BOWLER OF THE LEAGUE IN EACH DIVISION. MEDALS AND CERTIFICATES WILL BE GIVEN TO ALL PLAYERS