Competition Rules for Junior Cricket Competition Rules

Junior Competition Rules (North Taranaki)



General

There will be two separate competitions played each year (in the 1st and 4th school terms) for all grades of Junior cricket.  In Junior & Senior Primary (hard ball and incrediball) grades there will be play-offs at the end of each term between the top four teams in each division to determine the winner. Other teams will also play-off against each other (eg 5th vs 6th, 7th vs 8th) to determine their final positions.

Kiwi cricket grades will generally have a round robin only, with the leaderboard points leader for each grade declared the competition winner.

Due to numbers some grades may be run in more than one pool.  In such cases Taranaki Cricket Association (TCA) will determine an appropriate play off format to determine the overall winner of the grade.

Team Registration

Teams must be registered with TCA by the published deadline set prior to each competition, in order to be included in the first week of pool play.  A further and final team registration deadline will be provided for those who miss the first deadline.  These teams will enter the competition from week two and will not receive any points for week one.  Players registered for one team cannot play for another team during the term of registration without dispensation from TCA.



Play-Off Rules

The last two weekends of each season will be reserved for Junior & Senior Primary play-offs.

The top four teams as determined by the website leaderboard for each grade will qualify for semi-finals.  1st will play 4th and 2nd will play 3rd; with 1st and 2nd having home games where possible.  For play-offs coaches must exchange team lists prior to the toss.  Only players who have played for the team at least twice during pool play are eligible for play-offs unless TCA grants dispensation in advance.



Ground Preparation at Neutral Venues

Whenever a pool play game or a play-off game is held at a neutral venue the team designated on the draw as the "home" team is responsible for ground preparation.

This includes: 

- Marking the boundary

- Marking a 20 yard pitch for a Junior Primary game that is played on a 22 yard pitch. These markings must be temporary (ie masking tape or chalk) and be removed at the end of the game.

Each team is responsible for providing their own set of stumps, bails or self standing wickets.



Cancellations

The Junior Cricket website will provide a cancellation notice on the websites Junior Homepage by 07:45 on a Saturday morning. In all cases the website homepage will be your earliest, most reliable and accurate source of cancellation information. Cancellations will be broadcast on Newstalk ZB and Energy FM from approximately 8am each Saturday morning.



Results Notification

Game results must be submitted by both teams to the Points Recorder no later than 5:00 pm on the Monday following the game. NO RESULT – NO POINTS.

Results should be submitted directly through the Junior website by going to "Resources" > "Submit a Result".  Schools and Clubs have all been provided with user name and password details.  To obtain new details or to resolve any queries about the website "submit a Result" feature contact the Points Recorder.   

Alternatively, you may submit your result by email to the Points Recorder. Results must contain the following information: 

o Date of the game

o The grade, division and names of the teams

o State the winning team (as a minimum) or preferably the full team scores (noting which team batted first) for a more indicative result to be displayed on the website.

o provide “Honours Board” details (including full name of player) for your team. (See criteria below)

Optionally:

- provide “Scorebook” details (individual batting and bowling figures in JP and SP grades) of players. Kiwi cricket teams may submit a weekly “Player/s of the Day” to be entered into the website Scorebook.



Honours Board Criteria 

These vary from grade to grade but are specified on the honours board for each grade.

Points Allocation

Points in pool play of the Junior Competition are allocated and posted on the Junior Cricket website as follows:

• Win or Bye                5 points

• Tie                          3 points

• Draw or Cancellation   3 points

• Loss                        1 point

A team who defaults will be deemed to have lost that game and is allocated 1 point. Their opposition is allocated 5 points.

The onus is on team coaches to ensure that their points have been allocated correctly on the Junior website Leaderboard.  Any errors in points allocation must be reported to the Points Recorder no later than 5:00pm on the Friday following a pool game and 7:00pm on the Wednesday prior to scheduled semi-final play-off games.



Teams Changing Grades

Teams that change grades either voluntarily or at the discretion of the Points Recorder will lose all their competition points up to that point. The onus is on the coaches to grade their team correctly upon registration. The Points Recorder has the discretion to re-grade teams up or down within the first 3 weeks of pool play.



Teams on Equal Points After Pool Play

Where play-off qualifying teams finish pool play with equal points on the website leaderboard, the higher qualifier will be assessed by the following:

• Firstly, the team who beats the other during pool play

• Secondly, the team who has the most “wins” during pool play

• Thirdly, the team who has the least “losses” during pool play

• Forthly, the team with the highest ratio of net runs per wicket throughout pool play

If further distinction is required to determine play-off qualification or ranking, TCA will make the final decision in each case.



Weather Disrupting Play-Offs

Semi-Finals

Weather permitting, the semi-finals will be played on the 2nd to last Saturday of the season and the finals on the last Saturday of the season.



Finals

If any final or semi-final is cancelled or abandoned the team who qualified highest after completion of pool play shall be deemed to be the winner.  

Umpires for Finals

Where possible, neutral umpires will be provided for play-off finals.



Tied Match in Play-Offs

In the event of a tied game in the semi final play-offs; the winner will be determined by the team that has lost the least wickets, then by the team who has the best runs per over rate and if these do not separate the teams then the team the team who qualified highest after completion of pool play shall be deemed to be the winner.

If the final play-off is tied – both teams will share the winners trophy for that competition.



High School Teams

High schools teams that are provided dispensation by TCA to play in the Junior Cricket competition are NOT eligible to participate in the Junior competition  play-offs.



Complaint/Protest Procedure

Any complaint or protest for breach of game rules must be submitted in writing to the TCA Director of Primary School Cricket within 48 hours of the incident or issue occurring.  Where possible the issue will be considered within 48 hours of receiving the complaint and a response provided in writing. 

The “game rules” for each grade of cricket is posted on the Junior Cricket website.



Director Primary School Cricket:                           Russell Wilson                         rwilson@xtra.co.nz                                              Ph: (06) 758 9587        

Points Recorder:

Craig Sorensen

craig@tccl.co.nz

ph (06)753 7500