WOMEN’S CRICKET SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Basic Rules for 2015
MCC Laws 2000 Code 5th Edition 2013 apply except where modified in the Playing Conditions (Section B) of the Full Rules.
These Basic Rules give what Captains need to know (and a bit more).  They are set out in a different (less formal) layout.  What is omitted from the Full Rules is, on the one hand many but not all organisational matters and, on the other hand, the fine detail that the umpires need in order to administer various procedures.
Each Captain must ensure that a copy of Section B (Playing Conditions) of the Full Rules is available to the umpire (and remember to retrieve the copy after the match).
Below is a list of Headings for the Rules herein
 1.	Dates and rearrangement of fixtures
 2.	Registration of players
 3	Restricted Players
 4	Eligibility to play
 5.	ECB Directives for young players.
 6.	Artificial pitches
 7.	Fielding Restrictions 
 8.	Duration and timing
 9.	Slowness of Play
10.	Reduction of overs for adverse conditions, or in exceptional circumstances
11.	Curtailed matches
12.	Tea Interval
13.	Drinks intervals
14	Officials
Umpires
Scorers
15.	Scoreboard
16.	Non-participants
17.	Balls
18.	Wides
19.	Limitation of overs by any one bowler. 
20.	Special conditions
21	Result in an uninterrupted match; No-result matches
22.	Reporting results
23.	Points system.
24.	Ranking
25.	Promotion/Relegation  
26.	Breaches of Rules;  disputes;  grievances

WOMEN’S CRICKET SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Basic Rules for 2016
Some Rules state the penalty incurred if that Rule is breached.   Many do not.  It should be noted that this apparent lack is covered by the first paragraph of Rule 26.
Clubs can report any perceived problems to the Administrative Organiser  by email..
1.	Dates and rearrangement of fixtures
The Committee will lay down the schedule of matches and which is the home club for each match.  Clubs may rearrange fixtures, either as to dates or as to which is the home club, as long as matches are completed on or before 18th September.  The Administrative Organiser must be notified by both clubs as soon as the revised date is known and in any case before the match actually takes place.  She must be satisfied that any rearrangement is acceptable to both clubs.
No-result matches (see Rule 21) may also be rearranged.  Permission, which will not be granted to a Premier Division Club, must be obtained to rearrange a defaulted match.
2.	Registration of players
         Clubs will be asked to register their players on play-cricket before the first match of the season. Any additional players must be registered before the match that they play in.
NOTE that ECB directives on bowling, wearing of helmets and fielding distances for young players, together with ECB guidance on under age players in ‘open age’ matches, are to be observed.  The age groups of all players in age groups up to and including Under 19 must be entered on the list of nominated players given to the umpire before the toss.  The captains are responsible for the accuracy of this information.
3	Restricted Players
Overseas Players and Restricted Players (Overseas and England) are defined in the Full Rules.
A Club may not register a Restricted Player in addition to any player registered with the Club as a Restricted Player in 2014 or in 2015.  If the Club does not register any former Restricted Players from these years, one Restricted Player may be registered in 2016
4.	Eligibility to play
Only players registered by a club with WCSL may play in Competition matches.  They may not play for any WCSL club in the same season except the one for which they are registered, irrespective of division.  
	A player becomes an illegal player as soon as she plays for a WCSL club other than the one for which she was originally registered.  This first WCSL club other than her original one, and any subsequent WCSL clubs for which she plays, including her original one, will be fined 20 points for each occasion.  
An illegal player may apply to the Committee to have her illegal status revoked.  The Committee may grant or refuse the request as it sees fit.
For those clubs with two or more teams entered, movement between teams must be restricted to genuine need.  The Committee may, as it sees fit, impose penalties on any club found to have breached this restriction.
5.	ECB Directives for young players.
These are to be observed.  In particular, a young fast bowler’s overs must be taken only in spells 
not exceeding the laid down maximum length and restricted to the permitted daily totals.  The directives are summarised below 
Summary of restrictions for young players
A player’s age group is her age on 31 August in the preceding year i.e. 31 August 2015 for 2016 season.
  Distances given for close fielders are measured from the striker’s middle stump
Age
Group	All
Batsmen	Fast bowlers	Close
Fielders	Keepers up
to stumps	

U13	Helmet	5/spell  10/day	11 yards	Helmet	
U14	Helmet	6/spell  12/day	8 yards	Helmet	
U15	Helmet	6/spell  12/day	`8 yards	Helmet	
U16	Helmet	7/spell  18/day	#	Helmet	
U17	Helmet	7/spell  18/day	#	Helmet	
U18	Helmet	7/spell  18/day	#	Helmet	
U19	##	7/spell  18/day	##	##	
# No restriction on how close they can stand BUT if it is less than 6 yards, must wear a helmet
Younger age groups are simply not allowed nearer than the laid down minimum even if they 
wear a helmet.
## Requirement for helmet disappears on her 18th birthday but bowling restrictions apply until she is too old to be in the U19 age group
6.	Artificial pitches
If conditions are wet, an artificial pitch may be used but only if both teams agree beforehand.  Captains should note that they will need to agree before the toss with the umpires and the other Captain, on 
      balls pitching on the edge of the concrete,
      the problem of no studs on the artificial ;pitch, but needed for running between the wickets off the
      pitch
      difficulties with spring-back stumps.  
Details of the basis on which agreement to use an artificial pitch should be made, and how to approach the three problems listed above, are in the Full Rules.
7.	Fielding Restrictions
As well as ECB fielding requirements for young players there are fielding restrictions for all players in Premier Division matches.  
Two circles define an inner Restriction area and an outer Restriction area.  Details of the circles are in the full Rules.  Players are restricted thus:
At the instant of delivery, 
(a)	there must be no more than 5 fielders on the leg side.
(b)	for the first fifteen overs in an uninterrupted innings
	(i)	no more than two fielders are permitted outside the outer fielding restriction area
	(ii)	there must be at least two stationary fielders inside the inner fielding restriction area.
As an exception, when a fast bowler is bowling, stationary fielders at slip, leg slip or gully may stand further back than the 13 yards.
(c)	For the remaining overs, no more than five fielders are permitted outside the outer fielding restriction area.
No ball is to be called if these restrictions are not complied with.

In a curtailed innings the restrictions will apply as follows

Total overs for innings	20-23	24-26	27-29	30-32	33-35	36-38	39-41	42-44	45-47	48-50	
Overs for restrictions to apply	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	
 8.	Duration and timing    

	Premier	Championship	Wostrack	Whitehorn	 
  Advised start times	12-45 p.m.	1-00 p.m.	1-00 p.m.	1-00 p.m.	
  Number of overs	50	45	40	40	
  Max overs per bowler	10	9 	 8	 8	
  Limit for 1st innings	3 hr	2 hr 40 min	N/A	N/A	

Start times may be adjusted, either on the day by agreement of both captains, or by prior agreement between club secretaries or other appropriate officials.  Early and late in the season teams rearranging the start time must allow for it getting dark earlier.  
Rearrangement by captains on the day does not mean adjustment because of rain, bad light etc.  
That remains the responsibility of the umpires.
 9.	Slowness of play
For Premier and Championship Divisions, if side A’s innings is not completed within the respective specified playing times, the innings shall continue until the allotted number of overs is completed.  Side B will then receive only the number of overs (rounded up to the next whole number (where applicable) actually in the first innings within the specified time limit.
The umpires are, however, empowered to restore some or all of the overs thus deducted from Side B’s allocation, if they consider that the delay is not, or is only partly, B’s fault.  How many overs are to be restored is to depend on what proportion of the delay they consider not to be the fault of the fielding side.
NOTE that a drinks interval is not playing time and is extra to the time allowed for the innings.  
10.	Reduction of overs for adverse conditions or in exceptional circumstances
The number of overs set out in the schedule above is in each case a maximum.  If adverse conditions of ground, weather or light, or exceptional circumstances, interfere with the progress of play, the umpires have the power to reduce the number of overs from this maximum.  If playing time is lost for other reasons, the overs shall not be reduced unless the umpires consider that the circumstances are sufficiently exceptional to warrant this.
Umpires are reminded, however, that it is illegal for umpires to allow play to continue in dangerous or unreasonable conditions and could mean severe penalties in the courts..
In reducing the overs, calculations should be based on how much playing time could reasonably be expected, having regard to the conditions, after the resumption of play.  The number of overs that could be bowled in this time, taking an over rate of approximately 17 overs per hour, should be allocated so as to give the two sides equal overs as far as this is possible.  One extra over may be considered as available, if necessary to avoid half overs.  Detailed examples are set out in the Full Rules.
If the number of overs for an innings is reduced, a new time limit must be calculated (for relevant divisions) as the time required at 17 overs per hour, rounded up to the next exact five minutes.
The number of overs for side B is not to be reduced merely because side A has been dismissed in fewer than its allotted number of overs.
11.	Curtailed matches
If a match is curtailed, either for conditions of ground, weather or light, or in exceptional circumstances, changes will be required to the following.  Details are set out in the Full Rules.
Number of overs for each side - to be equal where this is possible
Restriction on individual bowlers: - some matching of numbers for both sides.
How the result is to be decided – in general on run rate
Timing of tea and drinks intervals
Time limit for 1st innings in Premier and Championship Divisions and Division 1
Number of overs for fielding circle restrictions to apply for Premier Division 
12.	Tea Interval
There is to be a 30 minute break for tea between innings, unless this is impracticable.  In exceptional circumstances a longer tea interval may be agreed, before the toss, by captains and umpires.  After the toss, although the starting time for tea can be adjusted, the agreed length cannot be altered unless there is loss of playing time.  Even then it must remain at 30 minutes after an innings of 45 overs or more.  The tea interval must not in any case be less than 20 minutes.
13.	Drinks intervals
Drinks intervals are permitted only in an innings scheduled to be at least 24 overs.  Captains must agree before the toss whether or not they wish to have drinks.  If agreed, the interval shall be after half the number of overs have been bowled, rounded up to the next whole number if necessary.  In exceptionally hot conditions, the umpires are empowered to permit a second drinks interval, in an innings of 36 overs or more, provided the two captains agree to it before the toss.  The two intervals should be after one-third and two-thirds of the overs, calculated to the nearest whole number.
If a wicket falls in the over immediately before a drinks interval is due, drinks will be taken immediately.
If an innings is interrupted before drinks have been taken, there shall be no drinks interval in that session.  However, in very hot weather, if at least 24 overs are scheduled for play after the interruption, the umpires and captains can arrange to take drinks halfway through the remaining session.
14.	Officials
Umpires; In the Premier Division, the Home team is to provide both umpires.  In all other Divisions, two persons must be appointed (one by each club) to act as umpires throughout.  A succession of players from the batting side is not acceptable.  In the Premier Division, the umpire should have some level of qualification. In the Premier Division, the HOME side is responsible for providing both umpires.   In Championship Division and Division 1, the umpire should if at all possible have some level of qualification.  In any case, the persons appointed should be of as high a level of competence as the club can obtain.  At the very worst, in lower divisions only, the person appointed must be at least an adult with reasonable knowledge of the game.  
Failure to appoint an umpire will incur a fine of:
10 points in Premier Division
5 points in Championship Division and Divisions 1 and 2
3 points in Division 3
Scorers  In ALL Divisions, clubs must appoint an adequate scorer.  
15.	Scoreboard
In all Competition matches, the batting side is responsible for seeing that the scoreboard is brought up to date at least at the end of every over.  The necessary details of score, wickets and overs are to be ascertained from the scorers.
16.	Non-participants
Non-participants include everybody except the batsmen at the wicket and the current fielders.  During a session of play (which includes drinks intervals) the only non-participants allowed on the field of play are
the umpires
a physio or other medical personnel (if need arises) 
other members of the batting side (at a drinks interval only)
ground staff, if the umpires require the creases to re-marked during the session.
Moreover, non-participants (which includes the umpires), whether on the field or beyond the boundary, must not coach or advise the on-field players in any way whatsoever, during a session of play.  
17.	Balls
Each club must provide a new ball for its fielding innings. 
Each club must also provide at least one used ball in reasonable condition, in case a replacement is needed during play. 
Balls must conform to Law 5.6(i).   They are to be approved by captains and umpires and handed to the umpires before the toss.  
18.	Wides
Law 25 will apply, not the much closer definition used in top level one-day matches.  A delivery will not be a Wide merely because it passes the striker on her leg side, or passes on the leg side of the wicket.  A ball pitching outside leg stump and moving further away is to be regarded as a Wide, unless the striker moves so as to bring it within reach.  Further notes on judgment of Wides are in the Full Rules.
19.	Limitation of overs by any one bowler. 
For uninterrupted matches these are set out in Rule 8.  If the umpires reduce the number of overs, the limit for each bowler will also be reduced.  Details are set out in the Full Rules.  If some first innings bowlers have already bowled more than the revised limit, there are arrangements for some matching by the second side.  If an interruption is part way through an over, the same bowler will complete it even if she has already bowled the new maximum number of overs or more.
20.	Special conditions
1.  A captain may not declare her side’s innings closed.
2.  The (imaginary) lines bounding the protected area will be 4 feet in front of each popping crease, rather than 5 feet.
3.  A substitute may act as wicket-keeper if the umpires are satisfied that the opposing captain has freely given her consent.
21.	Result in an uninterrupted match
The side with the greater number of runs at the conclusion of both innings wins.  If the scores are equal at the conclusion of both innings, the side having lost fewer wickets is regarded as having a Winning Draw, the other side as having a Losing Draw.  The result is a Tie only if the number of runs is the same and the number of wickets is the same.
For a valid result both sides must bat for a specified minimum number of overs, unless 
	either 	one side is all out
	or	side B passes side A’s total
in fewer overs than this minimum.  The minimum number of overs is 20 for Premier Division, 15 for Championship Division, and 10 in all other Divisions.  If the specified minimum is not achieved, or if there is no play at all, the match (if not a default) will be designated a No-result match.
22.	Reporting results
         Home team is to enter the scorecard on to play-cricket no later than 10pm on the Tuesday following the match.
        Away team is to confirm the results on the site by 10pm on the Friday following the match.
        All players are to be identified correctly, there must be no ‘unsures’ on the scorecard.
        Typos  to be sorted between the two clubs. Any other disagreements to be reported to the Administrative Organiser 
  
23	Points system
Match points	A Win	12 points
	A Winning Draw	8 points
	A Losing Draw	4 points
	A Tie	6 points to each side.
Defaults	Zero points to the defaulting side, who will be deemed to have played the match (thus reducing their average points score).  Additionally a fine of 5 points will be levied for a first default, 10 for a second default, 15 for a third and so on.  For a Premier Division team only, the first default will register a 10 point fine, the second 15 and so on, it will forfeit £50 of its deposit for a first default, for a second default it will lose the remainder.  Detailed 

examples of points fines are in the Full Rules

A defaulting team must notify its opponents before 10 p.m. on the preceding Friday that it is unable to raise a team.  If it fails to meet this deadline, the fine imposed will be double what it would otherwise have been.

The team defaulted against will be awarded 20 points, and the match will be counted as played.

No-result
No points will be awarded for a No-result match. 
If a club withdraws from the Competition, any points from matches already played against this side will be deleted from the records. 
Bonus points
	batting 	Run rate per over (corrected to 1 decimal place).  Maximum of 6.  
Run rate per over is the number of runs scored divided by the number of overs (including part overs) faced, in decimal form – e.g. 2 overs and 3 balls is 2.5 overs
	bowling	1/2 point for each wicket taken.  5 points if opponents are all out, even if they have fewer than 11 players in their side. If a player does not bat because they were injured or became ill during  the game it shall not be counted as a wicket.
24.	Ranking
At any one moment during the Competition, a club’s average points score will be calculated as the total number of points gained at that date, divided by the number of matches played, or deemed to have been played, at that date.
Teams tied:	If after ‘No-result adjustments’ have been made for the relevant teams, the top teams or the bottom teams in a Division cannot be identified, because clubs have equal points, there are detailed criteria for distinguishing between teams.  They are set out in the Full Rules.  
Note - The calculations will be taken to as many decimal places as practicable. The published lists will show total points corrected to 1 decimal place and Average Points Scores corrected to 2 decimal places.
25.	Promotion/Relegation  
The Committee has the right to vary the following, where circumstances demand it.
Subject to this proviso, Promotion and Relegation will be
1. Clubs will be ranked within their Divisions by their final average points scores
2.  Promotion and relegation will be determined by final rankings. Note, however. that the Committee is empowered to vary the details below if circumstances require it.
3.  Subject to the proviso in 2 above,
(a)	Premier Division.  The  lowest ranked club will be relegated to the Championship Division
(b)	Championship Division. The highest ranked club will be promoted to the Premier Division.The lowest ranked 2 clubs will be relegated to the regional leagues. 
(c)	Divisions  Wostrack and Whitehorn, the highest ranked club from each of those divisions will be promoted to the Championship Division. 
 
26.	Breaches of Rules;  disputes;  grievances
1. Except where a specific penalty is stated, breaches of the Rules, or of the Spirit of the Game, will be dealt with by the WCSL Organising Committee, who shall take such action as it considers appropriate.  This action may include referring the complaint to the Rules Arbitration Panel.  Any decision of the Committee or the Panel will be binding.
2.  If any club considers that the opposing side has acted unfairly by breaching either the letter or the spirit of any of the Rules, or has committed breaches of the Spirit of the Game, the aggrieved club must submit written details of its complaint to the Administrative Organiser within one week of the date on which the alleged unfair act took place.  
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