South Wales Cricket Association
Established 1926

Association Rules

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1. Title and Constitution

This Association shall be called "The South Wales Cricket Association".

2. Management Committee

The entire management of the Association shall be vested in a Management Committee consisting of the Officers (President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman. Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary. Honorary Assistant Secretary), Umpires Administrator, Team Manager, Life Members, three representatives from each division plus one from the Association’s South Wales Premier Cricket League (SWPCL) clubs, nine to form a quorum. No person shall be nominated to act as a Representative of a particular Division where such a person is more actively involved in a Club currently in another Division.

All Officers of the Association are ex-officio members of all Sub Committees.

The Management Committee shall meet on such occasions as it may be called together by the Chairman or the Honorary Secretary.

The Management Committee shall nominate three of its members to represent the Association on the Management Committee of the SWPCL, one of whom shall be the SWPCL representative.

The Management Committee shall have the power to appoint the Umpires Administrator and the Team Manager and to co-opt a member from any member Club to fill a vacancy.

The election of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Auditor. Hon. Secretary, Hon. Assistant Secretary and Division Representatives shall be made at the Annual General Meeting.

The Chairman and Secretary, plus any three members of the Management Committee, may act as an Emergency Committee when necessary.

A Special Meeting shall be called on receipt by the Hon. Secretary of a written request signed by the Secretaries of not less than five Clubs. Each request shall state clearly the nature of the business to be discussed. and shall be accompanied by a payment of £60 to cover the expenses of such a meeting.

In cases of protests against results of matches or any matter in dispute, the Club or Clubs concerned must be represented by their official representatives. These representatives shall not be allowed to be present or to vote while the Committee are arriving at a decision.
Day to day operation of the Association shall be the responsibility of the Chairman and the Honorary Secretary whose decisions shall be ratified or otherwise at the next Management Committee Meeting.

3. Finances

The monies and funds of the Association shall be dealt with by and through an account with a Bank in the names of the Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer of the time being, and all cheques shall be signed by them. The financial year shall end on the 30th September in each year. All monies which have become due to the Association may be sued for in the name of the Hon. Secretary.

The Association may invite companies, organisations or individuals to become vice-presidents on payment of an annual donation. Such vice-presidents would not have any voting powers in the affairs of the Association.

4. Levy on Clubs

The Association has the power to raise an annual levy on all Clubs, the amount to be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

5. Subscriptions

Clubs elected to membership of the Association shall pay an Entrance Fee of £60 and an Annual Subscription to be determined by the Management Committee. Clubs must also purchase two tickets for the annual dinner which will be held on the 1st Friday in October of each year (when possible).

All dues must be paid not later than 31st May in each year. Failure to do so will result in the Club being fined £10.

6. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the second week in December in each year, when each Club in membership of the Association, the Officers, members of the Management Committee and Life Members shall be entitled to vote. The following business shall be transacted:

(a) The accounts of the Hon. Treasurer, duly audited, shall be submitted. A copy shall be sent to each Club at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting.

(b) Any alteration or revision of these Rules, notice of which must have been sent to the Hon. Secretary at least twenty-eight days before a General Meeting, and to Clubs at least fourteen days before a General Meeting. No alteration or revision of these Rules shall be made without a clear majority of those present and voting except for rules 7 and 15 where a three quarters majority is required.

(c) Election of new Clubs to membership - Applications for membership must be received by 31st July in each season. No application for membership of the Association shall be accepted unless, before the AGM at which it is scheduled to be considered, the Grounds Sub-Committee has inspected the facilities proposed to be used and confirmed that they meet the standard required to play in Division 3. A new club accepted into Division Four is deemed to be 'on probation' for its first year and will not be eligible for promotion during that time.

(d) Except in the cases of the Umpires Administrator and the Team Manager, Nomination of a sitting member of the Management Committee shall be automatic unless the member signifies otherwise.

(e) Election of Officers and Representatives on the Management Committee. Nominations must be sent to the Honorary Secretary twenty-eight days before the Annual General Meeting.

(f) Election of New Life Members shall be made at the Annual General Meeting, following a recommendation from the Management Committee.

In the event of a ballot necessary for Representatives in any Division, only member Clubs of that Division shall be allowed to vote. The Chairman shall exercise a casting vote.

A Special General Meeting shall be called on receipt by the Hon. Secretary of a written request signed by the Secretaries of not less than five Clubs, or by the Chairman or by the Management Committee. Each request shall state clearly the nature at the business to be discussed and shall be accompanied by a payment of £60 to cover expenses of such a meeting. The rules for the conduct of such a meeting shall be the same as the rules of the Annual General Meeting.

Any Club failing to send a representative to a properly constituted general meeting of the S.W.C.A. must send an acceptable written explanation to the Hon. Secretary within 7 days, otherwise the Management Committee shall impose a £60 fine.

7. Power of Expulsion from Membership

(a) Subject to 7(b), a Club may be expelled from membership of the Association for any reason sufficient to a majority of three-fourths of those present and voting at a General or Special General Meeting summoned by a circular issued not less than seven days before such meeting, such circular to state the name of the Club against which the motion of expulsion is desired. Any Club so expelled shall be held to have forfeited all rights to participate in the assets of the Association.

(b) No Club shall be expelled from membership of the Association only by reason of it participating in the South Wales Premier Cricket League (SWPCL) as a Club nominated by the Association to play in the SWPCL.

8. Clubs to send Names and Addresses of Secretary etc.

Each Club must send to the Honorary Secretary before the 14th January of each year, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of its Secretary, Umpire Nominees and all other material for inclusion in the Handbook.

9. Protests

The Management Committee shall have power to adjudicate in all disputed matters in the competitions, or any affairs of the Association, and their decision shall be final. Any Club protesting against another Club must, within seven days of the alleged offence, lodge its protest, together with a deposit of £60 with the Hon. Secretary of the Association and must also enclose at the same time a duplicate copy of the protest which the Hon. Secretary must immediately send to the Club protested against. Unless the above mentioned deposit be made, the protest will not be entertained. Any Club failing to sustain its protest may have its deposit with-held at the discretion of the Association.

10. Penalties

The Management Committee shall have power to inflict such penalties as they may determine for violation of the Rules, except such as have the penalty already stated, including increase in fines, doubling fines, and/or points deducted if considered appropriate with regard to late payment of monies due to the association.

11. Acceptance of Rules

Membership of the Association shall imply agreement by every Club and it's players, officials and Members to abide by the Associations rules and to accept the jurisdiction of the Management Committee and it's Sub Committees.

12. Rescinding Previous Resolutions

No resolution of the Management Committee shall be rescinded at any subsequent meeting without ten days notice having been given to the Hon. Secretary and the proposal circulated amongst the Management Committee at least seven clear days before such meeting.

13. Matters Not Provided For

Should any matters arise affecting the Association not provided for in these Rules, the Management Committee shall have the power to deal with these.

14. Match Rules

All matches must be played under the Laws of the M.C.C. with the exceptions listed below and the mode of play as set out in rules 17, 18 and 19.

(a) Law 42.6(b) - The bowling of a FAST high pitched delivery. To be worthy of a caution such a delivery must be bowled AT the striker. If such a delivery is bowled away from the direct line of the striker then a penalty of a NO BALL is sufficient.

(b) Law 42.6(a) - The bowling of fast short pitched deliveries. Any delivery whatever its direction, which, after pitching PASSES ABOVE head height of the striker standing upright at the crease is to be called NO BALL with no caution to the bowler.

(c) The Home side shall provide two new balls, one for each innings of the match.

(d) Only official S.W.C.A. stamped balls to be used as approved by the Management Committee.

(e) The Association will implement fully all ECB playing guidelines.

15. Premier League Participation

(a) The Association will nominate Clubs to participate in the SWPCL, subject to them paying the Association’s annual subscription and any other fees levied on all members. Clubs so nominated will remain full members of the Association and by playing in the SWPCL shall be deemed to comply with these rules in relation to participating in the Association’s Championship.

(b) These rules shall apply to Clubs participating in the SWPCL to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the rules of the SWPCL.

(c) For each season only one Club will be nominated by the Association to play in the SWPCL. The Club nominated will be the most successful Club in the Championship.

(d) Clubs relegated from the SWPCL shall in the following season play in Division One of the Championship.

16. Championship Structure

(a) The Management Committee shall determine the structure of divisions for playing the Championship during each season. The structure will take into account the number of Clubs in membership of the Association not playing in the SWPCL and will be based as far as reasonably possible on the principle that each division should comprise ten Clubs.

(b)  Subject to 16(c) below there shall be promotion and relegation between the various divisions in accordance with the table annexed to these rules. Should any team eligible for promotion belong to a club which already has a team in the Division immediately above, that team shall not be promoted. Should any team liable to relegation belong to a club which already has a team in the Division immediately below, both teams shall be relegated.

(c)  No Club may be promoted to a higher division unless it meets the standard required for that higher division as determined by the assessment of the Grounds Sub Committee in its routine assessments of all Clubs undertaken from time to time.
From July 1st 2012 only clubs holding a current ECB Clubmark Accreditation shall be eligible to play in Division One.

(d)  In addition to the routine assessments undertaken as in (c) above a Club may in any particular season require the Grounds Sub Committee to undertake a further assessment of its ground provided the request is made before the 31^st July in that year and provided also the Club pays to the Association in advance a fee of £60.

(e) The Management Committee will issue a fixture list for every season to reflect the structure determined under 16(a) above. All matches must be played on Saturdays unless in exceptional circumstances the Management Committee directs otherwise but in any event before 1^st September in that year.

(f) The champion Club in each division each season will be the Club that scores the highest number of points in that season after deducting points as a consequence of penalties imposed on the Club during that season.

(g) When more than one Club in a division scores the same number of points the following, in order, shall determine which Club has the higher position: the Club winning the greater number of matches; or, if they are still equal, the Club losing the fewer number of matches; or, if they are still equal, the Club winning the greater number of bonus points; or, if they are still equal they shall be considered to have finished in an equal position in their division unless an issue of promotion or relegation arises, in which event the Management Committee will arrange a play off, such play offs being the only matches that may be played after 31^st August in any year.

(h) The champion Club in each division will be presented with the trophy for the relevant division together with a sum of money to assist in the purchase of mementoes for the Club’s players.

(j) All trophies presented as above may be retained by the relevant Club provided that the Club (in writing and signed by an appropriate official of the Club) accepts full responsibility for the trophy whilst in its possession, indemnifies the Association against its loss or damage and undertakes to return it to the Secretary on or before 31^st July of the following season. Failure to return a trophy by this date will result in a fine of £60.

17. Mode of Play

The period of play in all League matches shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:

(a) All matches must start at 1.30 p.m. and the team batting first, hereafter known as Team A. must close their innings after 50 overs unless bad weather interferes - refer to Rule 18(c).

No bowler may bowl more than 15 overs in an innings.

For division 3 & 4 2^nd XI matches only, all references to 50 overs in this rule shall be changed to 40 overs, 2 hours 45 minutes shall be changed to 2 hours 15 minutes and 15 overs shall be changed to 10 overs

(b) It Team A are "all out" or declare their innings closed in fewer than 50 overs, then the remaining overs must be added to Team B's normal entitlement of 50 overs.

(c) A "freak declaration" with the deliberate intention of losing a match and limiting the number of points which can be won by the opposing team, will be dealt with by the Management Committee as it sees fit.

(d) In order to obtain a definite result, Team B must be "all out", or pass Team A’s total, within the prescribed number of overs as mentioned above. If Team A are the winning team they shall be awarded 18 points. If Team B are the winning team they shall be awarded 16 points.

(e) If Team B are not "all out" and have failed to reach their opponent’s totals at the end of the appropriate number of overs, then the result shall be a draw. The allocation of points shall be in accordance with the following fable:

BATTING DIFFERENTIAL

If Team B are not "all out" but score the same number of runs as Team A then 5 points shall be awarded to each Team.

(f) In an interrupted match where the result is a draw, the batting differential shall only apply if Team B has had the opportunity to bat for the number of overs allocated to them at the start of their innings.
If not, then if 70 overs or more have been bowled, 5 points each will be awarded for the DRAW plus bonus points. Otherwise 4 points each will be awarded for the DRAW plus bonus points.

(g) If Team B are all out  for exactly the same total runs as were scored by Team A, the result shall be a tie and 8 points awarded to each team.

(h) If no play at all is possible due to weather or ground conditions, then both teams to be awarded 4 points.

(i)   Bonus Points will be awarded throughout the innings thus:

Batting Bonus Points: One point will be awarded for every 40 runs scored up to a maximum of 200 runs (5 points).

Bowling Bonus Points: One point to be awarded for every two wickets taken throughout the innings.

Bonus points gained in any match shall stand regardless of the result. This also applies in the case of abandoned matches.

If Team B wins the match they shall be awarded 1 additional batting bonus point for every 2 wickets in hand (The maximum total batting points shall be 5).

(j) If at the fall of a wicket no further batsman is available to come in, the innings of a team shall be deemed to be complete and their opponents will be awarded 5 bowling points.

(k) There shall be one interval of thirty minutes duration between innings, during which tea may be taken. If, because of rain, tea has already been taken, the interval shall be ten minutes.

(l) Unless an innings closes earlier, Team A and Team B must bowl their allocation of fifty overs within a period of two hours forty-five minutes, or the appropriate number of overs in the stipulated time in a curtailed match. If they fail to do so, the umpires must note the number of overs which they are short and allow the innings to proceed to its conclusion.

(m) The following restriction relating to the placement of fielders shall apply in 1^st and 2^nd division 1^st XI matches. At the instant of delivery, a minimum of four fielders (plus the bowler and the wicket-keeper) must be within an area bounded by two semi-circles centred on each middle stump, each with a radius of 30 yards, and joined by a parallel line on each side of the pitch. In the event of an infringement, the umpire at the striker’s end shall call and signal ‘No Ball’

(n) A player (even if nominated on the Team Sheet) who fails to appear until after the first innings has been completed (whatever the duration of that innings) shall not be permitted to take part in the match other than to field.

Captains of Clubs failing to bowl their overs in the stipulated time must send a written report to the Association Hon. Secretary within four days if they feel that there were extenuating circumstances.

Fines for not bowling the overs are automatically charged at the rate of £5 per over, pending an appeal by the offending Captain.

In the event of a Club, without reasons acceptable to the Management Committee, failing to bowl their overs within the appropriate time. either on THREE occasions during the Season or failing by more than FIVE overs on any occasion or when accumulation of overs not bowled exceeds 5 in total then thereafter fines shall automatically be doubled and points deducted as follows:

First & Second overs  -  one point each

Third & Fourth overs  -  two points each

Fifth & Sixth overs  -  three points each and so on.

18. Disqualified Club’s Points

In the event of any Club disbanding or being disqualified from taking part in the competition, all matches such Club has played, no matter what the result has been, shall he considered void, and all matches such Club is engaged in shall be considered void, as League matches.

19. Bad Weather and Abandoning Matches

(a) In the case of bad weather, the Umpires shall decide as to the fitness of the ground before commencement of a League match. They shall also be the sole arbiters on all aspects of play throughout the duration of the match and of bad light. If a substitute Umpire has to be used. Rule 32 is to be implemented.
When assessing the fitness of the ground the umpires must inspect the conditions without the interference or involvement of any other persons.

(b) Should the unfit state of the ground preclude any chance of play, the match may be abandoned by mutual consent provided that it is not before 10-30am or after 12-00pm on the day of the match and that consent has been obtained from the appointed match day contact. Only after such consent has been given should the home team inform the umpires. An away club who insist on travelling when a home club wishes to call off a match due to bad weather must pay ALL umpires costs if no play is possible.

(c) Late Start or Interruption in the first innings:

If a game cannot be started at the right time, or if bad weather causes an interruption of the side batting first (Team A), then the number of overs to be bowled by each side shall be reduced by one per Innings for every six minutes or part thereof of playing time lost (see Table 1).

When the amount of time lost results in the match being reduced to one of less than 60 overs, then the match shall not be allowed to commence.

(d) Interruption during the second Innings:

Once the innings of Team A has been completed, then the match shall be allowed to run its course, although the total number of overs constituting the match may be less than 70,

If bad weather delays the start or causes an interruption of the side batting second (Team B), then the number of overs shall be reduced by one over for every three minutes or part thereof of playing time lost (see Table 2).

If bad weather during the second innings causes that innings to be interrupted for no more than five overs then the innings shall continue until those overs have been bowled. However, if more than five overs are lost then the overs to be deducted are shown in Table 2.

20. Covering of Pitch

Complete covering of the pitch shall be allowed during every S.W.C.A. match, should bad weather so demand.

21. Late Start

A match shall not start until both sides have seven or more players present and ready to play.

A team not having 7 or more players present fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match shall be deemed to have lost the toss.

If either club is not ready to commence at the time appointed in Rule 17(a), such club or clubs shall be liable to a fine of not less than £10.

22. Club Breaking Engagement

Any Club failing to fulfil a League engagement in any Division shall be fined £60 to be paid to the Association Treasurer within 14 days of the date of the fixture. If the offending club is the away side, the Treasurer will forward the £60 to the home club. If the offending club is the home side, the Treasurer will reimburse travelling costs to the away club, upon appeal to the Management Committee. In either case, the non offending club will be awarded 26 points.

The Club breaking the engagement shall be liable to expulsion from the Association, at the discretion of the Management Committee Rule 7 shall then apply.

23. Results

The competing Clubs shall appoint their own scorers, and the home Club must send the result of each match, even if the match is cancelled, to the Results Secretary within four days. It is the duty of both Umpires to agree the respective scores at the end of each innings with the scorers. The scorers result of the match must be confirmed by both Umpires signatures. Any Club failing to submit a fully completed Result Card to the Results Secretaries within 4 days will be fined £10 and if not received by either within 14 days will be fined £20 and the offending Club will forfeit all points in the match concerned.

In addition to all its other duties in relation to results every home FIRST team must notify the result before 8:30pm on the day of the match to the telephone number designated for that purpose. Failure to do so will result in a £10 fine.

Clubs failing to provide a scorer in three or more matches during a season will be considered not entitled to have points awarded for this feature under the standards contained in the Grounds Committee assessment. Such points would only be regained in the season following that in which the Club concerned had provided a scorer for every match.

TABLE 1

Number of overs and the closing time for the innings of each side when time is lost because of bad weather before the start of the match or during the innings of the side batting first.

Latest time for starting a match - 3.42 p.m. or 4.02 p.m. if tea has been taken.

Number of overs to be deducted because of time lost through bad weather during innings of the side batting second.

TABLE 3

This table is to assist only with the calculation of Target Finishing Times and is complementary to Tables 1 & 2.

RULES OF THE S.W.C.A. LEAGUE K.O. CUP

24. Administration Rules

The full Association Rules apply to all matters within the Cup Competition unless a variation is included within these specific Administration Rules.

The S.W.C.A. League KO. Cup is open to all member clubs of the S.W.C.A. Matches will normally be played on Sundays.

Entry to the Cup Competition is open to all clubs.

Clubs to advise the Hon. Secretary by the 1st January if they are not entering the S.W.C.A. K.O. Cup Competition that coming Season. The principle of seeding shall apply to allow First Division Clubs to join the Competition at an appropriate point.

As soon as the draw for the Competition has been made, the Secretary will arrange to send to clubs details of the draw, together with the ‘Nominated Sundays’ on which matches in the various rounds should be played.

The ‘Nominated Sundays’ are mandatory unless both clubs agree to play under the same match rules before the Nominated Sunday.

If bad weather prevents play on the Nominated Sunday, then clubs will agree to play a match on the following Sunday or the next available Sunday or then on any day up to and including the Friday before the Nominated Sunday for the next round. The HOME side must offer at least two dates during this period and the AWAY side must choose one of these dates. If bad weather on this date forces the match to be abandoned again, then if time permits, the Home Club must offer another two dates to the Away Club, who must choose one of the dates.

If a team travels to their opponents ground and play starts but then bad weather prevents the match from being completed, the game must be replayed on the ground of the team who had travelled.

If bad weather prevents a match of even the minimum of overs being played, then the tie may be decided by the bowling and fielding competition (details of which may be found in the Match Rules section). Finally, if all these alternatives fail, then clubs will toss up for the right to continue in the competition.

The results of each match and other required information needed to operate the competition must be conveyed to the Secretary by telephone and confirmed in writing, by WINNING clubs IMMEDIATELY after the match has been played. Only those results and performances received in writing by the Secretary within 5 days of the match will be considered, and clubs failing to submit results may be removed from the competition.

Except during the months of April and May, all players must have played in at least four League matches for the club during the current season, or the season immediately prior to the current season. They must be bona fide members of the club.

No player may play for more than one club in the competition in any one season.

Only players eligible under Rule 25 will be allowed to play.

Clubs are responsible for ensuring that all players participating in the competition are eligible to play.

S.W.C.A. is entirely responsible for the organisation and administration of the competition.

In the event of any dispute arising during and affecting the course of the competition, clubs must contact the Secretary and/or Chairman, by telephone, within 1 day of the dispute, confirming the protest in writing within 3 days. and also sending a copy of the protest to any other club involved within 3 days.

Following any response from the other club, the Secretary will refer the matter to the Emergency Committee of S.W.C.A. who will come to a decision which shall be binding on participating clubs.

The S.W.C.A. will arrange Umpires for each match.

The costs of travel, subsistence and other out of pocket expenses incurred by the Umpires, shall be shared equally between the two Clubs, and paid at the end of the match, except in the final when the Association will pay the costs.

Any Club failing to fulfil a Cup fixture shall be fined £60 to be paid to the Association Treasurer within 14 days of the date of the fixture and will be suspended from participation in the Cup competition for the following season. If the offending club is the away side, the Treasurer will forward the £60 to the home club. If the offending club is the home side, the Treasurer will reimburse travelling costs to the away club, upon appeal to the Management Committee.

Match Rules

1. All matches shall commence at 1.30 p.m. (with the exception of the final which shall begin at  1.00pm), with subsequent times mentioned in these rules being adjusted by ½ hr) with a target finishing time of 7:30 p.m. There will be a tea interval of a maximum of 30 minutes to be taken between innings but the timing and length of the tea interval may be varied by the Umpires in matches affected by the weather.

2. Each team shall bat for 45 overs unless they are all out or a result has already been achieved before the 45 overs have been bowled. The bowling side is expected to bowl its overs in a maximum of 2 hours and 30 minutes and if they fail to do so the Umpires may where they think it appropriate report any shortfall to the Management Committee.

3. If bad weather causes the start of a match to be delayed the following provisions will apply in calculating before the match has started the number of overs to constitute a match:-

(a)    All calculations for determining the number of overs to be deducted in the event of a delayed start shall be based on the assumption that overs are bowled at the rate of 18 per hour.

(b)    If the start of the game is delayed for up to 30 minutes - that is until up to 2.00 p.m. - the game will still be played as a match of 45 overs per side.

(c)    If the start of the match is delayed until after 2.00 p.m. the number of overs shall be reduced so that the number of overs to be played will be calculated by reference to the playing time available until 7.30 p.m. with overs being bowled at the rate of 18 overs per hour.

(d)    If in their absolute discretion the Umpires reduce the interval between the innings so that it is less than 30 minutes the time saved shall be added to the playing time available for the purpose of calculating the number of overs to constitute the match provided that the interval between the innings shall never be reduced to less than 10 minutes.

(e)    No game shall start unless it is possible before 7.30 p.m. for both sides to bowl 20 overs with a minimum interval between innings  of 10 minutes i.e. 5.08 p.m.

(f)    If the calculation of the number of overs to be bowled results in a fraction of an over then the figure shall be rounded up.

4. In a match interrupted by weather after it has started the following provisions will apply:-

(a)    Total interruptions of up to 30 minutes including any time already lost because of a delayed start will not alter the provision of 45 overs per team.

(b)    If during the first innings additional time is lost over and above 30 minutes then the number of overs for the first innings shall be reduced on the basis of the average over rate of 18 overs per hour to allow the team batting second to start its innings setting out to bat the same number of overs as the team batting first in the time available until 7.30 p.m.

(c)    A series of interruptions during the first innings will require a recalculation of the number of overs to be batted after every disruption but always with the intention of the team batting second setting out to bat the same number of overs as the team batting first in the time available before 8.00 p.m.

(d)    If in their absolute discretion the Umpires reduce the interval between innings so that it is less than 30 minutes the time saved shall be added to the time available for the purpose of calculating the number of overs to constitute the match provided that the interval between the innings shall never be reduced to less than 10 minutes

(e)    If during the first innings so much time is lost that even allowing for a minimum interval between the innings of 10 minutes it is not possible for the team batting first to bat for 20 overs then the game shall be abandoned and the provisions of Rule 10 shall apply.

(f)    Subject to 4 (a) above if there is a delay because of weather in starting the innings of the team batting second or having started its innings it is then disrupted because of bad weather the number of overs to be batted by the team batting second shall be reduced on the basis of the average over rate of 18 overs per hour.

(g)    If because of weather the innings of the team batting second is shorter than the innings of the team batting first the target to beat for the team batting second to win the match will be the number of overs available for the team batting second to bat multiplied by the average run rate per over of the team batting first and the target so calculated will be revised after every weather disruption to the innings of the team batting second provided that a result based on run rates can only be achieved if the team batting second has batted at least for a full 10 overs unless before the 10 overs has been bowled the team batting second passes the total number of runs scored by the team batting first.

5. The Umpires shall be the sole judges of the fitness of the ground, weather and light.

6. Except for the Final when the Association will provide a new ball for each innings the Home team must provide 2 balls in good condition although not necessarily new and the visiting Captain shall choose which ball his team shall use to bowl.

7. No bowler shall bowl more than 9 overs. In an innings curtailed by the weather, no bowler shall bowl more than one-fifth of the total number of overs agreed at the start of the match, except that when the total is not divisible by five, an additional over shall be allowed to the minimum number of bowlers necessary to make up the balance.

8.  In the event of a tie, the team losing the least number of wickets shall be the winners. Should these be equal, the team with the least number of extras in their innings shall be the winners. Should these be equal, then the team with the highest run rate in runs per over shall be the winners.

9. The following restriction relating to the placement of fielders shall apply. At the instant of delivery, a minimum of four fieldsmen (plus the wicket-keeper) must be within an area bounded by two semi-circles centred on each middle stump, each with a radius of 30 yards, and joined by a parallel line on each side of the pitch. In the event of an infringement, the umpire at the striker’s end shall call and signal ‘No Ball'.

10. When, because of bad weather, it is impossible to play a match of even 20 overs per side on the last scheduled day, then the match may be decided by a Bowling/Fielding competition, thus:

Bowling: Five bowlers shall each bowl one fair delivery over-arm at the wickets pitched normally as for a match with no batsman in front of them. For every ball which first pitches and then hits the wickets, two points shall be scored, but only one point if the stumps are hit by a ‘full toss’.

Fielding: The other five players and the wicket-keeper shall take part in the fielding competition. From directly behind the wickets (in the long-stop position), a marker shall be set 50 yards or so from the stumps. In turn, five fielders shall throw a ball from behind this marker to the wicket-keeper standing at the wicket, who may not ground any part of his person outside the rectangle enclosed by the popping crease, bowling crease, and the forward extensions of the return creases. Two points shall be scored for every ball which is caught by the wicket-keeper full pitch and one point if it is caught by him after bouncing once only.

The winning side shall be the one which scored the highest total aggregate of points in the two events. In the event of a tie, the competition shall continue, one player at a time, until one side is ahead.

Umpires: The umpires appointed for the match shall supervise the running of the competition.

As an alternative to the Bowling and Fielding competition, clubs may mutually agree to toss a coin for the right to proceed to the next round of the Cup Competition.

25. Player’s Qualification

(a) No player shall play in one cricket season for more than one club in a match or matches to which the Association’s Rules apply unless the player has the consent of the Management Committee.

(b) No player shall make a first appearance of the season in a match to which the Associations rules apply after the end of June unless:-

(i)  They are appearing for the Club they last played for in any League match or

(ii)  Application is made in writing to the Hon. Secretary and the players appearance is sanctioned in advance by the Honorary Secretary who may in consultation with the Chairman refer any particular case to the Management Committee for approval provided that for applications received after June 30th in any season a player whose appearance is approved may only play for the 2nd XI of his new club for the remainder of that season.

(c) No player shall play in a match to which the Associations Rules apply if during that season they have already played in a Saturday league match for another club not being a member of the Association without the consent of the Management Committee. Short term 'holiday' transfers would not be allowed unless they are students/H.M. Forces returning home.

(d) No player who is currently fully contracted to play first class cricket in UK or elsewhere shall play in any match to which the Association’s Rules apply unless they have been registered with the Associations Secretary before that season commences, provided that no club may register more than one such player. This does not apply to players who are only engaged by County Cricket Clubs on development contracts.

(e) No player shall play in a match to which the Association’s Rules apply if they have played in an official Test Match during the current or previous calendar year. For the purposes of this rule ‘Test Match’ is any match played between test playing countries over one or more days.

(f) No player shall play in any match to which the Association’s Rules apply if he is not qualified to play for England under the provisions set out by the England and Wales Cricket Board in its Regulations relating to such qualification unless,

1. the player’s sole residence is and has been for the last 18 months in this locality, and..

2. he requires no visa or other similar permission to be resident and provided also that he is entitled to work in the UK without requiring a work permit or similar permission, and..,

3. the player has not played first-class cricket in the last three years. and...

4. application has been made in writing to the League Management Committee not later than June 30th in the year to which the application refers and providing all the relevant documentation necessary to validate the application.

This rule shall not apply to players who are under 16 on 31^st August of the previous season

(g) No player shall play in any match to which the associations rules apply if they are currently in dispute with any previous Club or Association until such dispute has been resolved e.g. a suspension has been lifted or monies owed paid.

26. Transfer Application

The procedure to be adopted in regard to the transfer of any player shall be as follows: The person desiring transfer must send written application to the Hon. Secretary of the Association, together with a written statement from the Secretary or other competent official of his present club, giving consent or otherwise. If the consent of his present club is not with-held, the Hon. Secretary shall, unless in consultation with the Chairman of the Association it is agreed that there are reasons why such transfer should be considered by the Management Committee, duly sanction such transfer. If such consent be not given, or the Hon. Secretary and Chairman agree as aforesaid, the Management Committee shall adjudicate on the matter at its next meeting and its ruling shall be final.

For applications received after June 30th in any season a player whose transfer is approved may only play for the 2nd XI of his new club for the remainder of that season.

27. Disciplinary Procedures

(a) The Management Committee shall appoint a disciplinary Sub Committee comprising a Disciplinary Sub Committee Chairman and four Members of the Management Committee. The disciplinary Sub Committee shall deal with all complaints received by the Association concerning the conduct of any player, official or Member of any of it's Clubs. At least three Members of the disciplinary Sub Committee must be present before a complaint can be dealt with.

(b) A complaint must be notified in writing to the Hon. Secretary and may relate to conduct in or at any match played under the Associations rules or any match involving an Association representative team or any other match or to any matter affecting the interests or reputation of the Association.

(c) The disciplinary Sub Committee shall deal with complaints as speedily as possible and in the manner it thinks appropriate to each complaint. It may consider evidence in written form or in person from such witnesses as it decides necessary in order to deal properly with a complaint but in any event the person against whom the complaint is made shall be entitled to a personal hearing if he requests it and provided a personal hearing does not cause any undue delay to the complaint process.

(d) If the disciplinary Sub Committee decides on the balance of probabilities to uphold a complaint it may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate taking into account the seriousness of the misconduct and the individuals previous conduct. The sanctions available to the disciplinary Sub Committee include the power to suspend a player from playing in any of the Associations matches.

(e) Any person against whom a decision is made by the disciplinary Sub Committee shall have the right to appeal against that decision. The appeal must be notified in writing to the Hon. Secretary within 7 days of the original decision and must be accompanied by a payment of £60 to cover the cost of the appeal which sum may be refunded.

(f) Appeals will be heard by the Management Committee (but excluding the members of the disciplinary Sub Committee) and will be dealt with as speedily as possible and in the manner the Management Committee deems appropriate to each case. Except in the case of an appeal that relates only to the sanctions imposed, no appeal will be permitted unless it is supported by new evidence that was not taken into account by the disciplinary Sub Committee when it made the original decision.

(g) The Management Committee when dealing with appeals may vary the decision of the disciplinary Sub Committee in whichever way it deems appropriate including increasing the severity of any sanction imposed.

(h) Any player suspended by the Association shall be ineligible to play in any form of cricket for the period of the suspension.

28. Ineligible Players

Any Club playing an ineligible player in any Association Match shall in the case of a League Match be subject to a deduction of 26 points and a fine of £60, and in the case of Cup Matches shall be expelled from the competition and fined £60.

29. All South Wales Cricket Association Member Clubs must be affiliated to the Welsh Cricket Association.
All Member Clubs of the Association must have Public Liability Insurance Cover and must provide evidence of the same to the Management Committee when required.

30. Umpires’ Sub-Committee

The selection and control of umpires shall be through a Sub-Committee elected by and from the Management Committee.

They may receive nominations of suitable umpires from all clubs in the Association, and may also appoint other suitable umpires not connected with Clubs in the Association. The Committee must satisfy themselves of the ability of the nominees to officiate as umpires.

Match Appointments shall be made by the Umpires Administrator subject to the supervision of the Sub-Committee. Due consideration must be given to the equal distribution of appointments.

31. Responsibilities & Duties of Umpires

All Umpires must give a telephone number to which late cancellation messages may be sent. The Umpire must make arrangements to call for such messages.

An Umpire unable to fulfil a league appointment must notify the Umpires Administrator at least seven days before the date on which the match is to be played.

Umpires must be at the ground at least 45 minutes before the agreed time for play to commence. In the case of a Nominated Umpire failing to fulfil his engagement, the two captains shall agree on a substitute with priority given to a League Umpire if available. This must be done no later than 10 minutes before the appointed time to commence play. The substitute umpire must officiate fully, and not merely stand at square leg, unless no suitable person to act as umpire is available, and the duties are shared by players in turn.

Umpires must also report any team which fails to follow the mode of play detailed in Rule 17 regarding the number of overs to be bowled.

No officially appointed League Umpire shall play for a club in the League without the permission of the Management Committee.

Umpires must send their reports on misdemeanours to the Hon. Secretary within seven days of the match.

At the conclusion of each innings, Umpires must check the scores, and must sign the Result Card at the end of the match, after checking that the scores and points shown are correct.

Umpires must bring to the attention of both Captains any reports which they are going to make, e.g. failure to bowl overs, late start no scorer, etc.

32. Umpires Expenses

Umpires will be paid a match fee as determined from time to time by the Management Committee. Subject to Rule 19(b) the fee shall be paid by the home club.

33. Complaints Regarding Umpires

Complaints against Umpires will only be considered when made in writing by any Captain, or on behalf of the Committee of a Club, and must be sent to the Hon. Secretary. Such complaints must state full particulars. They will then be dealt with by the Committee concerned and will be treated as strictly confidential, except when accumulated complaints against an Umpire render action necessary.

34. Inefficiency and Misconduct of Umpires

The Umpires Sub-Committee shall have power to deal with and suspend any Umpire found to be guilty of inefficiency, persistent late arrival or non attendance at any matches during the cricket season. Umpires are allowed the right of appeal to the Management Committee.

35. Umpires will enforce the "Code of Conduct".

36. All umpires must have Public Liability Insurance cover. Non-members of the ECB ACO must send a copy of their current certificate to the Hon. Secretary before the start of each season.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ALL CLUBS

1. This Code of Conduct applies to all matches played under the control of the South Wales Cricket Association, and is intended to assist in maintaining HIGH STANDARDS.

2. Clubs shall be responsible for the behaviour of their Officials, Members and Players. The role of the Captain is ensuring that high standards are established and maintained is emphasised. The Captains are responsible for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws.

3. Intimidation, aggressive behaviour and deliberate distraction of opponents are unacceptable, Examples of misconduct include but are not limited to:

(i) Any show of dissent.

(ii) Any unacceptable comment or gesture.

(iii) Swearing, Spitting or Sledging.

(iv) Any action which could be construed as unfair play.

(v) Any violent conduct.

4. The Umpires decisions are final - any aggressive questioning, show of dissent, or failure to comply with Umpires instructions are unacceptable. Attention of all Clubs and Umpires is drawn to Rules 27 and 35.

5. Each player has a duty to observe the Laws of Cricket and behave in a manner which complies with the spirit of the game, however, the ultimate responsibility lies with the Captain, who should deal promptly and effectively with any misconduct, or indeed with any circumstance which may lead to misconduct. The Captains responsibility in this area relates to the periods prior to, during and after the game.

6. Clubs are encouraged to take action against members for failing to comply with this Code, but this will not prevent the Management Committee, in accordance with Rules 27 and 35, taking whatever steps it considers necessary.

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. Any action which is seen to abuse the spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the Captains.

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