GUIDANCE ON SAFETY MATTERS CONCERNING YOUNG PLAYERS The League Executive Committee recommends that members should implement this guidance as failure to do so may render clubs liable in the event of a young player being injured; in addition as the guidance comes from cricket’s governing body failure to follow it may also render club insurance policies void in the event of a claim. SAFETY GUIDANCE ON THE WEARING OF CRICKET HELMETS BY YOUNG PLAYERS In law a young person is deemed to become an adult at age 18. The law also imposes a duty of care on those responsible for minors (ie those under the age of 18). The ECB is recommending that this guidance is followed by all players up to the age of 18. It applies to young players in adult cricket as well as to all junior cricket played with a hard ball. 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 to 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. The ECB is requesting that the new guidance is communicated to the parents or guardians of all young players through clubs and schools, and that parental consent is always obtained before young people are allowed to bat or stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard ball without wearing a helmet. RECOMMENDED PLAYING CONDITIONS FOR YOUNG PLAYERS ECB Fast Bowling Match Directives
Age Up to 13 U14, U15 U16, U17 U18, U19	Max overs per spell 4 5 6 7
For the purposes of these Directives a fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball. Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell has 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 has 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 over 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 has been bowled from the 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. Captains, team managers and umpires are asked to ensure that these Directives are followed at all times. Any reference to he/his should be interpreted to include she/her. Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31 August in the year preceding the current season. ECB FIELDING REGULATIONS FOR YOUNG PLAYERS The ECB has also extended the existing regulations covering the minimum fielding distances for young players in all matches where a hard ball is used. No young player in the Under-15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 8 yards (7.3 metres) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batsman has played the ball. For players in the Under-13 age group and below the distance is 11 yards (10 metres). 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 Under-16 to Under-18 age groups, who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a helmet and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 6 yards (5.5 metres) 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. These fielding regulations are applicable to all cricket in England and Wales. Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31 August in the year preceding the current season.

DUTY OF CARE TO PLAYERS

To ensure a duty of care to all players, the League has adopted and is implementing the ECB ‘Safe Hands – Welfare of Young People in Cricket’ policy and any future versions of it.

Each club (including those without junior sections) is required to:

· adopt the “Safe Hands” policy into its constitution, including the policies for transport, changing and photography;

· appoint a welfare officer;

· have a Criminal Records Bureau check of the welfare officer, team captains and regular umpires and scorers; and

· complete self disclosure forms for all its members.

Clubs with junior sections must also have coaches and team managers CRB checked, and sign up for and achieve Clubmark.

Full details of the ECB’s “Safe Hands” policy can be found on their website www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/child-welfare/saf-hands,445,BP.html.