SUMMARY OF GUIDANCE ON HELMETS, CLOSE FIELDING AND FAST BOWLING
Helmets
ECB in 2000 issued new safety guidance on the wearing of cricket helmets by young players. This guidance has not changed and states:
It is recommended that a helmet is worn by young players when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice. A young player should not be allowed to bat or stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket without a helmet against a hard ball except with written parental consent. Coaches, teachers, managers and umpires should always ensure that a young player wears a helmet if this written parental consent has not been received. Players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting against a hard ball, together with pads, gloves, and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box). There is a British Standard (BS7928:1998) for cricket helmets and it is in the best interests of players to ensure that their helmet conforms to this standard.
Close Fielding Regulations
No young player in the U15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 8 yards from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batsman has played the ball. For players in the U13 age group and below the distance is 11 yards. These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet. Should a young player in these age groups come within the restricted distance the umpire must stop the game immediately and instruct the fielder to move back.
In addition any young player in the U16 to U18 age groups, who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a helmet and, for boys, an abdominal protector, when fielding within six yards of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side. Players should wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position where they feel at risk
Particular attention should be paid to these regulations where a boy or girl is playing outside his normal age group. The age of the player is the key criteria, and not the level of cricket being played.
ECB Fast Bowling Directives
DIRECTIVES FOR MATCHES:
AGE: | MAX OVERS PER SPELL | MAX OVERS PER DAY |
Up to 13 | 5 overs per spell | 10 overs per day |
U14, U15 | 6 overs per spell | 12 overs per day |
U16, U17 | 7 overs per spell | 18 overs per day |
U18, U19 | 7 overs per spell | 18 overs per day |
DIRECTIVES FOR PRACTICE SESSIONS:
AGE: | MAX BALLS PER SESSION | MAX SESSIONS PER WEEK |
Up to 13 | 30 balls per session | 2 sessions per week |
U14, U15 | 36 balls per session | 2 sessions per week |
U16, U17 | 36 balls per session | 3 sessions per week |
U18, U19 | 42 balls per session | 3 sessions per week |
These figures are based on players bowling in no more than 3 matches or practice session per week for age groups up to and including U15, and 4 matches or practice sessions per week for age groups up to and including U19. Players can play in other matches provided they do not bowl.
Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. If play is interrupted, for any reason, for less than 40 minutes any spell in progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate age group. If the spell is not continued after the interruption the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell before the interruption have been bowled from the same end. If the interruption is of 40 minutes or more, whether scheduled or not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately.
Once a bowler covered by these Directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the maximum number overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls spin. He can exceed the maximum overs per spell if bowling spin, but cannot then revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from he same end. If he bowls spin without exceeding the maximum number of overs in a spell the maximum will apply as soon as he reverts to bowling fast.