- The League shall be known as the Lichfield & District Cricket League with the addition of the name of the sponsor.
- Each club shall be required to pay an annual subscription and to pay for a minimum of 4 tickets for the end of season presentation dinner.
- The Committee shall meet at such regular intervals as deemed necessary to conduct the League's business. The Committee shall consist of a representative from each member club, and an elected Chairman. There will be a £10 fine levied on clubs for non-attendance of meetings.
- The Executive Sub-Committee shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and shall consist of the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Fixtures & Results Secretary and Disciplinary Officer with power to co-opt a maximum of 2 others. The League Disciplinary Committee will consist of the Disciplinary Officer who will act as Chairman and a minimum of 2 other members of the Executive Sub-Committee.
- Matches shall be played according to the Laws of Cricket issued by the MCC. The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws of the Game and the Rules of the League.
- Should two or more clubs be on equal on points at the completion of the league programme, the declared winner shall be the club with the highest average of runs scored per wickets lost during the competition.
- Fixtures:
- League fixtures will be issued by October 31st.
- Clubs may rearrange fixtures by mutual consent provided the revised date is on a Sunday before the last round of fixtures for that Division. The Fixtures & Results Secretary must be notified of the rearrangement no later than the Tuesday evening before the earlier of the original date or the revised date.
- If a match is not played or completed on the scheduled date that match will not be replayed.
- Inability to fulfill a fixture will incur a £10 penalty. Maximum points will be awarded to the opposition club.
- Where a club forfeits its 1st XI fixture it must also forfeit the fixtures of any other of its teams scheduled to play on the same day.
- Clubs must give notice of their inability to fulfill a fixture to both the opposition team and the Fixtures and Results Secretary no later than 9.00pm on the Wednesday prior to the match. Failure to give the requisite notice will invoke a £10 penalty and liability to reimburse the home side for the cost of teas and pitch hire where applicable.
- Should any member club (or team) resign from the League during the playing season then no points will be awarded for any matches previously played by them in that season.
- Matches:
- There will be a maximum of 40 overs per innings.
- All matches commence at 2.00pm.
- The Captains shall toss up 15 minutes before the scheduled start. The toss to stand in the event of a late start.
- The side batting first shall receive their full allocation of overs except in the event of rain affected matches. The side batting second shall receive the numbers of overs they themselves had completed by 4.30pm.
- Teams arriving late for matches forfeit the toss and lose the proportional number of overs from their innings.
- The side batting second shall commence their innings no more than 30 minutes after the side batting first has concluded their innings.
- The fielding side must at all times have 4 fielders in addition to the bowler and the wicket-keeper within a 30 yard radius of the wicket (Division One only).
- The maximum number of overs per bowler will be 8.
- The home team must provide;
- A League approved new ball.
- A sufficient number of spare balls of reasonable quality.
- Cricket teas for the opposition at no charge.
- Points awarded will be as follows:
- 7 points to the winning side
- 6 points to each side if the scores are level
- 3 points to each side for matches cancelled or abandoned due to bad weather.
- Bonus points:
4 points for a win by 7 or 8 wickets or over 76 - 100 runs - 1 point to the loser.
3 points for a win by 5 or 6 wickets or over 51 - 75 runs - 2 points to the loser.
2 points for a win by 3 or 4 wickets or over 26 - 50 runs - 3 points to the loser.
1 points for a win by 1 or 2 wickets or over 1 - 25 runs - 4 points to the loser.
- Both clubs must have at least 7 players present at the time of the toss. Any side not fulfilling this requirement forfeits the toss.
- Bad weather:
- Games shall not be called off until 4.30pm on the day of the match unless both captains agree.
- 20 overs per team shall the minimum numbers to constitute a match. A corresponding reduction in overs per bowler shall apply.
- For the purpose of reduced over matches, allow 3 minutes per over.
- Should the team batting second not have the opportunity to complete their overs due to suspension of play and the number of overs has to be revised their target score shall be on the full quota of overs, ie. 40 overs.
- Should the team batting first be all out in less than their full quota of overs, the calculation of their run rate shall be on their full quota of overs, ie. 40 overs, not the number of overs in which they were dismissed.
- Result Details:
- The home team shall be responsible for submitting the result details to the Fixtures & Results Secretary. This may be done by telephone, ansafone message or e-mail. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than 8.00pm on the day after the match. This rule applies equally to cancelled or abandoned matches.
- The home club shall be responsible for sending the completed score sheets to the Fixtures & Results Secretary to arrive no later than first post on the Wednesday following the match.
- Incorrectly or partially completed score sheets will not be included in the circulation of individual performance statistics.
- Fines for not complying with Rule 15;
- Failure to submit result details on time as specified in Rule 15 i) will result in a 1 point penalty for the first offence in a season and a 2 point penalty for each subsequent offence during the same season.
- Failure to send in completed score sheets on time will result in a £5 fine.
- Repeated failure under Rule 15i) and 15(ii) will be referred to the Committee.
- Captains should ensure that all player names are completed properly and in full on the Result Sheet. Where a team consists of less than 11 players the words “No player” should be inserted in place of a name.
- Any dispute that may arise during the course of the season shall be resolved by the Executive Sub-Committee.
- No player may play for more than one club during the course of any one season.
- Overseas professionals are not allowed to play in matches below Division 3 or for their club's 2nd XI or 3rd XI.
- Both captains must be in possession of a copy of the rules at every match.
- Where a club has a material complaint about any decision made by the Executive Sub-Committee, an official letter of complaint must be completed, countersigned by both captain and chairman and sent to the League Secretary.
- Players and clubs must abide by the ECB Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket. Alleged breaches will be dealt with in accordance with the League's Discipline Regulations (see Appendix 1).
- Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 22 a club may be expelled from the League for any one or more of the following reasons;
ii) Repeated breaches of League rules.
iii) Serious or regular breaches of Rule 22 (Code of Conduct).
iv) Repeated failure to fulfil fixtures without valid reason.
v) Actions likely to bring the name of the League and/or its sponsors into disrepute. The following procedure must be followed for any expulsion to be valid; a) A motion must be supported by the Executive Committee and approved at a Committee Meeting by a majority of the constituent member clubs (ie not just a majority of those attending the meeting).
b) Details of the motion and the reasons for it must be put on the agenda for the Committee Meeting with a minimum of 14 days notice given to all member clubs.
c) A club facing a motion of expulsion will be given the opportunity of providing a written and verbal defence at the Committee Meeting.
APPENDIX 1: DISCIPLINE REGULATIONS1. ECB Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket1.1 Code of Conduct1.1.1 The ECB is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. This Code of Conduct incorporates the Spirit of Cricket as set out below. It applies to all matches played under the auspices of the ECB and may be applied to cricket in general.1.1.2 The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.1.1.3 Players and team officials must at all times accept the umpire's decision. Players must not show dissent at the umpire's decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards another player or a spectator.1.1.4 Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator.1.1.5 Players and team officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known as "sledging") nor make offensive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately distract an opponent.1.1.6 Players and team officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members and supporters. Clubs must operate an active open door membership policy whilst respecting palyer qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.1.1.7 Players and team officials shall not use in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.1.1.8 Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and supporters towards players and umpires.1.2 Spirit of Cricket Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Anyaction which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains. 1.2.1 There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team's conduct firmlyon the captain. Responsibility of Captains
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.
Player's Conduct
In the event of any player failing to comply with the instructions of an umpire, criticizing his decision by word or action, showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain requesting the latter to take action.1.2.2 Fair and Unfair Play According to the laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.1.2.3 The umires are authorised to intervene in cases of;
- Time wasting
- Damaging the pitch
- Dangerous or unfair bowling
- Tampering with the ball
- Any other action that they consider to be unfair
- Your opponents
- Your own captain an team
- The role of the umpires
- The game's traditional values
- To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture
- To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
- To indulge in cheating or sharp practice, for instance;
b) advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
c) seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side.1.2.6 Violence There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.1.2.7 Players Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.1.3 Failure to comply with the provisions of Paragraph 1 may lead to disciplinary action irrespective of an alleged breach being relate to a match not under the jurisdiction of the League.
2 Aims and Jurisdiction These regulations shall apply to any player who plays for any club at any level under the auspices of the ECB and are intended to provide assistance and uniformity to all clubs and leagues in dealing with any alleged breach of the ECB Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket (Paragraph 1). It is intended that any breach of Paragraph 1 above should in the first instance be dealt with by the player's club who shall notify the Secretary of the League of the result of any action taken against its player.3 Procedure3.1 Any alleged breach of Paragraph 1 above shall be notified in writing (to be known as "a Complaint") to the League's Disciplinary Officer.3.2 Upon receipt of such complaint and as soon as reasonably practicable the League's Disciplinary Officer shall consider the complaint and resolve either;
- To take no action except to record the complaint and notify the club, or
- To endorse the disciplinary action taken by the club, or
- To refer the matter for a Disciplinary Hearing which shall be convened by the Disciplinary Officer as soon as practicable.
4.2 The Disciplinary Officer shall convene a hearing as soon as is practicable and in any event within 21 days of the decision to refer. Any adjournments may be granted at the discretion of the Disciplinary Officer.4.3 The player and club shall be entitled to attend the hearing, state their case (in the case of a club by its Secretary or other official), to be supported by a colleague and to call witnesses.4.4 The Hearing shall be conducted by the League's Disciplinary Committee which shall consist of not less than 3 persons, none of whom shall be connected with the player, the club or their opponents at the time of the alleged breach.5 Penalties5.1 If at the Hearing the Disciplinary Committee finds the alleged offence proved it shall have the power to impose one or more of the following penalties, together with such order as to costs as it deems appropriate;
5.2 In the case of a player;
- To require the player to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within a specified time.
- To record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct.
- To impose a fine.
- To suspend the player for one or more matches or for a stated period of time.
- To deduct League points from the player's team.
- To expel the player from the League.
- To require the club to submit appropriate letter(s) of apology within a specified time.
- To record a reprimand and to give a warning as to future conduct.
- To impose a fine.
- To deduct League points from the club's team(s)
- To relegate the club's team(s) to any lower division of the League.
- To expel the club from the League.