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The
Rules
RULE
1. FIELDING A TEAM
- A game is played with
two teams, each with a maximum of 8 players or, in some rare cases,
6 (though 6-a-side centres are uncommon, they do exist - usually where
the playing area isn't big enough to construct a full-sized court).
- Each
team must have a nominated captain. The captain must be one of the
players.
- The
minimum number of players in an 8-a-side game is 6. Consult individual
centre rules for 6-a-side centres, but I would suggest 4 would be
the minimum in that case.
- A
game must proceed when scheduled, if a minimum of 6 players for each
team is present (again, consult individual centre rules for 6-a-side
centres).
- To
Play, a player must be able to both bat and bowl, except as in Rule
8 (Substitutes).
RULE 2. THE GAME
- The
game consists of 1 batting and 1 bowling innings per team.
- Each
innings consists of 16 overs, except for 6-a-side centres - they play
12 overs. Most centres, in their normal domestic competitions, play
6-ball overs. In Australia, most National Championships play 8-ball
overs.
- Each
dismissal will result in the batting side losing 5 runs, and other
penalties (ie misconduct, uniform penalties etc) will be 5 runs or
multiples of 5 runs, or as specified in individual centre rules. In 6-a-side games, it is usual for
only 3 runs to be deducted for a wicket.
NOTE: In South Africa, the standard is 3 runs deducted
for a wicket, not 5. I think this is far too advantageous to the batsmen,
and gives scant reward for bowlers, but that is apparently how the
South Africans prefer it.
- Every
player must bowl 2 overs except in the case of Rule 8 (Player
Short/Substitutes/Injured Players) . The umpire is to be informed of the bowler's name before
the commencement of each over.
- A
bowler must not bowl 2 consecutive overs. The fielding side will be
penalised 5 runs for each over offended. This means that captains
must ensure that with only 2 overs remaining, they DON'T have a bowler
who has not yet bowled an over - I have seen it happen only once.
- A
delivery commences at the moment a bowler (with the ball in their
hand) starts their run up, and ends at the moment the next delivery
of the over commences. This means that a wicket which occurs before
the commencement of the next delivery (as per this definition) counts
against the delivery in which it occurs. Sometimes runs have been
scored, but while the batsmen are preparing for the next delivery,
and before the bowler commences the next delivery, a wicket occurs
(for example, while waiting for the bowler to commence the next delivery,
the non-striker wanders out of his/her crease and the bails are broken
at the non-striker's end. Regardless of how many runs were already
scored on that delivery, the score for that delivery becomes minus
5) This rule also
has implications for judging how many fielders are in each half of
the court - there must be no more than four in either half of the
court at the moment the delivery commences, as per this rule. But
be warned, most players are not aware of this one.
- Each
innings is divided into 4 sections of 4 overs each, refered to by
players as "partnerships". Except for 6-a-side centres -
their innings are divided into 3 sections.
- Teams
bat in pairs, with each pair batting for 4 overs. Before the commencement
of their 4 overs, each pair of batsmen must inform the umpire of their
respective names.
- Batsmen
continue batting for the entire 4 overs, whether they are dismissed
or not. When a player is dismissed, 5 runs are deducted from their
team's score. .. unless it's a 6-a-side centre (see above) or a South
African centre (see above again).
- At
the completion of each over, batsmen must swap ends.
- No
batsman may bat more than once, except in the case of Rule 8 (Player
Short).
- A
team may not declare an innings closed.
- The
team compiling the higher number of runs is the winner of the game.
RULE
3. UNIFORMS
- Teams
must be dressed in matching coloured shirts/tops.
Pants: Males can wear long or short sports pants. I'm a strong
advocate of all players wearing long track-suit pants. Carpet-burns
on the knees are not funny. Females can wear long or short sports
pants, or sports skirts.
Jeans are not permitted in any centre I've ever visited.
Footwear: Rubber soled sports shoes that will not mark the
court surface. No player can play if he/she has no suitable footwear
- leather-soled shoes are also not allowed (they are too slippery).
- A
5 run penalty will be deducted from a team's score for every unacceptable
item of apparel. The team batting first will have any uniform penalties
deducted at the start of the offending player's partnership. The team
batting second may have uniform penalties deducted at the commencement
of the second innings. Umpires are not to allow the uniform penalties
of one team to "cancel" the uniform penalties of the other.
In other words, if both teams have a player in incorrect uniform,
you can't just call it equal and deduct no runs from either team.
Total runs scored can figure in determining where a team stands on
a league ladder, and if they have to lose runs, they lose runs.
- The
maximum team penalty for incorrect uniforms in any match will be 20
runs.
- In
some centres, Captains must appeal for uniform penalties to be applied
to their opponents. Other centres, to avoid trouble between
teams, make it a condition that team Captains cannot appeal
against incorrect uniforms. They make the umpire the sole arbiter,
and compel the umpires to deduct any penalties automatically. In my
experience, this is a common-sense approach.
- The
umpire should be the sole judge of the correctness of a uniform. However,
in the event of a dispute, particularly with regard to colour, centre
management is often involved. A well run centre will not allow any
dispute, placing their faith in well-trained umpires. In official
championships, disputes are often allowed, to be artbitrated by the
tournament management.
RULE
4. THE TOSS
- The
umpire will toss a coin or similar to determine the order of
the innings.
- Teams
may however negotiate the order of innings prior to the toss, and
inform the umpire.
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