Rules Proposed for Consideration at the 2017 Agm

ABERDEENSHIRE CRICKET ASSOCIATION

RULES PROPOSED FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE 2017 AGM

INCLUDING AMENDMENTS– As at 18 November 2017

Note: The undernoted changes do not include the changes to the Constitution of the Association necessitated by its proposed change of status into a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Work on this is ongoing, and will be submitted at a later date.

A)Changes proposedby the Management Committee to support implementation of an on-line registration and result reporting management system, CricketStats.org

Rule 11 (Registration)

A1) For the first two sentences of the existing rule substitute

“It is the responsibility of clubs to ensure that all players [including triallists, guest players, transferees and juniors] are input to the Registration module of the Association’s online management system [CricketStats.org]not later than 11.30p.m. on the day on which they first play for any of their teams; and that all applicable Rules governing eligibility to play are satisfied. Within this, where specific reference is madein the Association’s Rules to an individual player’s current or previous registered Club, except where Rule 13(c) applies, that shall be interpreted as a reference to the Club for which they first played in the relevant season. No professional …” [remainder of Rule as at present]

Note: While players will not require to be registered in CricketStats.org prior to playing, the requirement in the Laws of Cricket that their names be included on the team lists exchanged before the toss for innings will continue to apply in all Grades.

Rule 13 (Players)

A2) In the existing Rule for “A player may be registered at any time for one club only; but …” substitute “A player may be registered in CricketStats.org for multiple Clubs; though …”.

Note: The existing restrictions on playing for more than one Club in a season will continue to apply.

Rule 20 (Results)

A3) For the existing Rule substitute

“Following each matchit is the responsibility of the home team, or in the event of a cup final the winning team, to report firstly, on the day, a summary of the result, and within five days thereafter a full scorecard, into the Association’s on-line results reporting system [CricketStats.org]; and of the other team to check and raise any issues with that. Both teams must also within five days submit a captain’s report. In the event of fixture being scratched both teams must phone the Association Secretary (01224 822835) to confirm.

The details to be included in all reports, and deadlines for submission of them, shall be specified from time to time at the Association Spring Meeting; and annexed to this Rule. Clubs failing to comply with these requirements shall be liable to a deduction of five league points for each infringement. Persistent failure will be referred to the Competitions Sub-Committee, and may result in increased sanctions.”

Rule 22 (Individual Prizes and Averages)

A4) For the final sentence of the existing Rule substitute “Data for the calculation of averages and award of individual prizes shall be derived exclusively from the CricketStats.orgresults reporting system.”

B)Other changes agreed by the Management Committee

Rule 5 (Meetings of the Executive)

B1) To the existing Rule add a new section as follows:

“(e) The Management Committee shall have the power at its sole discretion, before or during each season, to hold Captains’ Meetings, non-attendance at which shall be liable to a deduction of 5 league points for anyClub unrepresented without good cause, of which the Management Committee shall be the sole judge”

Rule 13 e (Players)

B2) For the second sentence of the existing Rule substitute the following:

“The requirements of rule 13 shall not apply to players who are under the age of 16 on April 20th preceding the current season, provided they have not played in the CSL Eastern or Western Premier leagues, who may play for any side within the league competitions of the ACA. They may however play for only one club in cup competitions.”

Rule 17 l (Senior League Fixtures

B3) For “the Laws of Cricket (2000 code – 4th edition 2010)” substitute “The Laws of Cricket (current code)”

Composition of Grades

B4) For the final paragraph of the existing Rule substitute:

“The foregoing composition of grades may be approved at any time up to the start of any season, by or on the recommendation of the Management Committee, where required to reflect entry or withdrawal of teams; provided always that any change which reduces the size of any grade other than splitting the lowest division, and hence would result in the relegation of additional teams, shall take effect only at the end of the following season.”

If the foregoing is approved, the Committee will propose that a short-life Working Party be appointed, with input from a range of clubs, but no more than one representative per club, to consider whether, and what changes, to the composition of grades may be appropriate (a) below Grade 1 in 2018; (b) at all levels in 2019 and subsequently and related issues – in particular possible changes in the format or scheduling of knockout cups in any or all grades, whether entry to these should be voluntary - and to report to the Management Committee by 31 January 2018, and to the Spring Meeting the following month. The option by agreement between teams to apply modified playing conditions in league games, particularly in Grade 3 or below in order to allow for reduced numbers of players or fewer overs will also be considered, as may be the option to reduce the duration of league games from 45 to 40 overs per side in some or all grades.

Should the proposed change not be approved, Grade 2 will remain for 2018 at 8 teams, and all teams remaining below that level [currently 11] will need, in accord with precedent where insufficient teams remain to sustain a viable Grade 4, to compete as a single Grade 3, with clubs likely to play each other only once in league competition [2 to be promoted] (10 games), and the first round of the cup being played for in 2 groups on a round robin basis (4/5 games) prior to a cross-over semi-final and final.

C)Proposals for amendments to Rules 17 and 18 proposed by AGSFPS, Gordonians and Mannofield

Rule 17 (Senior League Fixtures)

C1) Amend Section (c) to read - "The declaration of a team's innings is not permitted."
RATIONALE - We are now effectively playing limited overs cricket but retain a generous bonus points system for the losing side. The use of a declaration has the potential to restrict the ability of one side to earn bonus points. In some matches it may also reduce the potential for junior players to bat and bowl.
C2) Following the existing Section (c) insert a new Rule (with all other rules consequently being re-lettered) - "In Grade 1 only, it is the responsibility of the home side to lay out a fielding circle, and fielding restrictions will apply as detailed in the playing condition annex appended.

PLAYING CONDITION ANNEX
(a) Prior to play, the home side will put in place outer fielding circles which shall have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semi-circles shall be 27.45 metres (30 yards). The semi-circles shall be linked by 2 parallel straight lines. The outer fielding circle shall be marked by white dots approximately 4.5 metres (5 yards) apart, covered by circular white plastic or rubber (but not metal) discs approximately 180 millimetres (7 inches) in diameter.
(b) Throughout an innings, at the instant of delivery, a maximum of 5 fielders can be placed outside the fielding circle area.
(c) In the event of an infringement of (b) above, the striker's end umpire shall call and signal 'no ball'. Where a sole independent umpire has been appointed, they shall also be able to call and signal 'no ball' for this infringement.
(d) In the event of the striker's end umpire failing to call and signal 'no ball' when this fielding restriction has been breached, immediately the ball becomes dead, the striker may draw the matter to that umpire's attention. If the striker's end umpire (or a sole independent umpire if
appointed) is able to verify the breach then they shall call and signal 'no ball'. If the umpire is unable to verify the breach then they shall confirm that the events of the delivery are unchanged."
RATIONALE - We are now effectively playing limited overs cricket, but in theory all the fielders could be placed on the boundary. This is inconsistent with all forms of limited over cricket. The markers required to provide a fielding circle can be purchased by clubs for approximately £25.

Rule 18 (Senior Cup Ties)
C3) To the existing Rule add:

"In the Aberdeenshire Cup only, it is the responsibility of the home side to lay out a fielding circle, and fielding restrictions will apply as detailed in the playing condition annex appended to Rule 17 (c)."

D)Changes Suggested by the Rules Sub-Committee

Rule 13 (Players)

D1) For the existing Rule 13 a substitute the following:

“In League Competitions only, a lower Grade player may play as a guest for two matches for a higherGrade club provided he/she has permission from his/her Club; that the Association Secretary has been previously notified; and provided that the Clubhe/she is registeredwith has a game that day also. No Club will be able to field more than two guest players in any one game. Before he/she may play a third time the player must, if eligible, apply for transfer under Rule 13(c). Clubs may not field any guest players in cup matches. Any team contravening this Rule shall, on protest be adjudged to have lost the match.”

Rule 16 (Fixtures)

D2) To the paragraph stipulating the start time for fixtures add

“In order to start a game there must be a minimum of six players present from both sides at the stipulated start time of the game in order to do so. Should there be less than that the opposition have the right to claim the game.”

Turriff Cup

D3) For the existing Rule 8 substitute

“There must be a maximum of 4 players outside a circle, 25 metres from the stumps at each end, at all times throughout the game, excluding the wicket keeper and the bowler.”

Amendment to D3 proposed by Gordonians, Mannofield and AGSFPs

D3a) For the existing Rule 8 substitute

“It is the responsibility of the home side to lay out a fielding circle, and fielding restrictions will apply as detailed in the playing condition annex appended.
PLAYING CONDITION ANNEX
(a) Prior to play, the home side will put in place outer fielding circles which shall have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semi-circles shall be 27.45 metres (30 yards). The semi-circles shall be linked by 2 parallel straight lines. The outer fielding circle shall be marked by white dots approximately 4.5 metres (5 yards) apart, covered by circular white plastic or rubber (but not metal) discs approximately 180 millimetres (7 inches) in diameter.
(b) Throughout an innings, at the instant of delivery, a maximum of 5 fielders can be placed outside the fielding circle area.
(c) In the event of an infringement of (b) above, the striker's end umpire shall call and signal 'no ball'. Where a sole independent umpire has been appointed, they shall also be able to call and signal 'no ball' for this infringement.
(d) In the event of the striker's end umpire failing to call and signal 'no ball' when this fielding restriction has been breached, immediately the ball becomes dead,the striker may draw the matter to that umpire's attention. If the striker's end umpire (or a sole independent umpire if appointed) is able to verify the breach then they shall call and signal 'no ball'. If the umpire is unable to verify the breach then they shall confirm that the events of the delivery are unchanged.”

RATIONALE - Standardises the size of the fielding circle to reflect that used in other forms of cricket. The existing rule and the amendment, whilst specifying a fielding circle, also fail to specify that an infringement of the rule should be called a 'no ball'.

DMJ 18.11.17.