BORDER LEAGUE RULES 2007 (Note: These Rules only apply to league and cup matches played under the auspices of the BL; rules for national cup competitions are likely to be different and are available at the time of entry)
Note: changes to rules for 2007 season are highlighted in red italics
	Abbreviations	Border League (BL) Border League Secretary (BLS) Fixture Secretary (FS) Results Secretary (RS)
1.	SPIRIT OF THE GAME	The Border League fully embraces MCC/ECB ‘Spirit of the Game’ and our rules have been drafted accordingly. All of us should ensure that our officials, captains, and teams conduct themselves properly, respecting opponents, umpires, and the game’s traditional values.
		Managing a cricket, or any sporting, activity in the hurly burly of modern life is no easy matter. Most of us have busy jobs and families and we are unpaid volunteers. We often find it to be more time consuming and stressful than we imagined at the outset. In being part of the Border League, what we do expect is a friendly, cooperative atmosphere in order for the spirit of the game to flourish and be passed on to the next generation -after all this is supposed to be enjoyable experience! When someone in a club has a concern or problem with another club's approach, say in a match, then it should be resolved between the two parties at the time, face-to-face using the normal courtesies: there are often two sides to any story and often no single opinion is sacrosanct.
2.	RULES	The object of the Border League is to facilitate the playing of high quality youth cricket and promote a love for the game. The purpose of these rules is to ensure that all those who participate, captains, teams, umpires, scorers, coaches, and managers are clear about their roles and responsibilities.
		The BLS will ensure that these rules are issued to each club before the start of the season. Each Club will confirm in writing (preferably by email) that they have received the rules which de facto is agreement to operate under the rules at all times.
3.	PLAYER ELIGIBILITY	U11	team players to be under 11 on September 1^st 2006
		U13	team players to be under 13 on September 1^st 2006
		U15	team players to be under 15 on September 1^st 2006
		In a season: · No player can play for more than 1 Border League club in a season without the consent of the BLS. · A player may play for any Border league team fielded by his/her club in a given season.
4.	UMPIRES & SCORERS	Each team shall supply an umpire & scorer who, as arbiters of the match on the day, must have a sound understanding of these rules. Umpires/scorers may be the officials of the teams involved.

5.	FIXTURES	Fixtures are prepared at the start of the season and should be adhered to. Once these fixtures are announced, rearrangement can be agreed to the mutual satisfaction of both Managers provided that no disruption is caused to other fixtures announced. The season has a nominal end date set at 29^th July 2007. League matches postponed from earlier in the season may still be played after this date provided that both sides are in agreement. However, if one side is not able to play after this date that side is not penalised and the RS shall award 9 points to each team. See also rule 17.
6.	EQUIPMENT & PITCH	Pitch	As specified below. However, for U11/13 matches, if the placing of one set of stumps will potentially damage a full-sized pitch, (due to batsmen’s foot marks) then managers of both teams can agree (prior to match day) to increase the length of the pitch.
			U11	20 yards
			U13	21 yards
			U15	22 yards
		Ball	Wherever possible a new ball (provided by the home side), should be used at the start of the match, unless by prior agreement before the toss.
			U11	weight 4 ¾ ozs
			U13	weight 4 ¾ ozs
			U15	weight: 5 ½ ozs
		Stumps	As specified below. However, U11/U13 can use full-sized stumps if agreed by managers of both teams (prior to match day).
			U11	youths sized (27 inches)
			U13	youths sized (27 inches)
			U15	full size (28 inches)
7. 7	EQUIPMENT –PLAYERS (Helmets etc.)	Players should wear whites At the beginning of 2007 the ECB clarified the guidance relating to young players in all junior and adult matches, played with a hard cricket ball: All young players who have not reached their 18th birthday must wear a helmet with a faceguard when batting and when standing up to the stumps. Parental consent not to wear a helmet should not be accepted. 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.

8.	FIELDING RESTRICTIONS	No fielder U11 or U13 (other than the wicket-keeper) shall stand closer than 11 yards in front of the wicket to the ‘striking batsman’. It is at the discretion of either umpire to tell the fielding captain to move a fielder placed in a ‘dangerous’ position.
9.	MATCH FORMAT	innings: overs	U11	20 x 6 ball overs
			U13	22 x 6 ball overs
			U15	22 x 6 ball overs
		Bowlers: overs	U11	4 overs maximum - all may be bowled in 1 spell
			U13
			U15
		Batsmen: innings	As specified below. However, a retiring batsman may resume his/her at the fall of the 9^th wicket (or earlier equivalent if the team does not have 11 players at the start of their innings).
			U11		Retire on reaching 25 runs
			U13		Retire on reaching 50
			U15		Retire on reaching 50
		‘Wides’ & ’No balls’	Normal rules of cricket apply in judging whether a wide or no-ball is called – not ‘1-day rules’. Although we want to keep the rules as simple as possible, the following ‘local rules’ which apply to address the issue of ‘prolonged’ matches: For all under 11 matches only, 6 balls will be bowled in any one over (‘wides’ and ‘no balls’ will count as 2 runs, plus any additional runs scored), except in the 20^th over of an innings (the last over), where the over must continue until the umpire judges that 6 legitimate deliveries have been bowled. (The purpose of this rule is to prevent an undue spotlight falling on a youngster who is having difficulty. For all under 13 & 15 matches, ‘wides’ & ‘no balls’ count as 1 run, plus any additional runs scored, and an extra ball must be bowled. However, no more than 8 balls can be bowled in any one over (regardless of the number of ‘wides’ and ‘no-balls’), except in the 22^nd over of an innings (the last over) where the over must continue until the umpire judges that 6 legitimate deliveries have been bowled.
10.	DRINKS BREAKS	At the start of a match, managers may agree to a break for drinks after say, 10 overs of each innings due to prevailing weather conditions. Such breaks must be taken on the field of play and last for a few moments only. Helmeted batsmen/wicket keepers may call for a drink to be taken to the wicket during their innings. This can only be brought out by another player.
11.	MATCH CONFIRMATION	Home manager must contact opposition manager a minimum of 72 hours before a match to confirm details. If either believes they may have difficulty in raising a team, then this should be discussed at the time. Notification of withdrawal from a fixture should be made no later than 48 hours, (but as early as possible), before the scheduled start (e.g. for a Sunday morning match, up to 10.00 on the previous Friday). Penalty for non-compliance: deduction of 9 points.

12.	RESULTS	Winning team should place the result on the BL website no later than 2 days following the day of the match (e.g. Sunday matches by Tuesday latest). Penalty for failing to comply: 5 points deducted from winning team. Matches not played e.g. rain: Home team to advise RS.
13.	POINTS	Result	Match winners: 10. Tie: 5 each Irrespective of number of wickets that have fallen. Plus bonus bowling & batting points.
		Bowling bonus	4 wickets = 1 6 wickets = 2 8 wickets = 3 10 wkts or ‘all out’ = 4 (a team is all out when no more players are available to go to the wicket).
		Batting bonus	U11	50 runs = 1 75 runs = 2 100 runs = 3 125+ runs = 4
			U13	75 runs = 1 100 runs = 2 125 runs = 3 150+ runs = 4
			U15	75 runs = 1 100 runs = 2 125 runs = 3 150+ runs = 4
14.	CAPTAIN	A captain Is responsible for: · All on-field decisions e.g. bowling changes, field positioning · Conduct of his team · Liaison with umpires where required
15.	PLAYER CONDUCT	All players must behave within the ‘spirit of the game’ and the responsibility of the captain (on field) and the captain/manager/coach off it. Players may encourage each other but not so as to upset the concentration of members of the opposition ‘in play’. ‘Sledging’ of the opposition is not allowed (includes cynical innuendo).
16.	COACHING ADVICE	During the normal course of a match, a manager/coach may offer advice. However, there should be no captaincy by proxy. If the coach/manager is umpiring no coaching intervention of any sort is permitted A coach/manager can only come on to the field of play: · At an agreed drinks break · To assist an injured player Only a player may come onto the field of play: · To bring a drink to a batsman requesting it · To bring a piece of cricketing equipment to a batsman requesting it. Umpires may consult with the Manager: · To agree a change of ball

17. 17	MATCHES NOT PLAYED OR FINISHED	The overall object of the BL is for boys to play cricket. The only circumstances in which a match may be postponed are: · Bad weather · When one of the teams is engaged in an ECB sponsored national cup match which by its nature requires teams to play matches by a date specified by the KCB. (Border League teams so participating have always endeavoured to play such matches in midweek, but some opposition teams insist on their tie being on a Sunday; these matches are often only fixed at short notice when winning teams from previous rounds become known). The finals, organised by the KCB are all day on a Sunday which may also necessitate a BL postponement · When a club does not have 9 players available from its membership of the right age group. It is not permitted to postpone simply because a club cannot field its strongest side. If a club has what it considers a different and highly compelling other reason for a postponement then it must seek permission from the BL Secretary.
		Therefore, where matches are lost/halted due to bad weather, every effort should be made to reschedule: · The home side shall offer the opposition 2 ‘reasonable’, alternative dates · If no agreement is reached, the RS will award either 9 points to each team or a maximum of 18 to the team willing/able to play and none to the other team
		If a team fails to complete at least 50% of its league fixtures, all its results shall be expunged from the league table.
18. 18	LACK OF PLAYER AVAILABILITY	When a club cannot field a minimum of 9 players (‘postponing team’), it is allowed one postponement of the fixture if a new date is agreed with the other team at the time that the request to postpone is made. The ‘other’ team offers 2 reasonable, alternative dates and if this isn’t acceptable to the ‘postponing team’ then the RS will award all the points (18) to the ‘other’ team.
19. 19	BORDER LEAGUE CUP BOWL OUT	Each team will nominate 4 players who will each bowl one ball at a wicket (on the appropriate pitch length depending on age, see above) alternating between the 2 teams. The team with the most hits wins. If necessary, the process is repeated until one team wins (there is no ‘sudden death’ and no substitution of nominated players at any time). Two umpires will stand in the normal positions. Only the bowler in play may stand on the wicket; the next bowler, should stand by the square-leg umpire.
20. 20	NEW CLUBS ‘OUT OF AREA’	Occasionally, a new club from outside the immediate geographical area of the BL may be invited to join the league, and special rules apply to fixture venues and start times: Venues: Fixtures will be prepared in the normal way with every club getting a fair share of home and away fixtures. A club scheduled to travel to a new club should plan to do so if at all possible. However, it is recognised by the new club at the time of joining the BL that an ‘existing’ club may not be able to travel to the new club for a variety of reasons (e.g. where the manager plays in the afternoon). In which case the new club should travel. The onus is on an ‘existing’ club to contact the new club to request that the fixture be changed and held at the ‘existing club’. This should preferably happen soon after the fixtures are published but no later than 14 days before the fixture is due to take place. Start times: Recognising journey times, start times should be agreed between the 2 clubs, preferably 14 days in advance. Clubs must recognise that as much notice as possible is needed in order that parents have adequate notice and can make the necessary plans.