Royal City Cricket League Rulebook
V1.1
Communication
Each club must designate two official contacts: a primary contact and a secondary contact.
The League Executives will direct all communication to the designated primary and secondary contacts, with the primary contact being the preferred point of contact.
The preferred method of communication will be via email and other electronic correspondence.
Player Registrations
All players of participating clubs must be registered with the League as part of their respective teams. Umpires reserve the right to verify a player's identity at any time during or after a match.
Valid identification: A driver's license is the preferred form of ID. Umpires will verify ID cards on the field and reserve the right to prevent players without a valid ID from participating in the game.
If a team plays an unregistered player who cannot provide valid ID, the game will be declared a loss for the offending team, and the opposing team will receive a bonus point. Team captains are responsible for ensuring only registered players participate. Failure to comply may result in removal of player or captain or the team from the League.
A $25 administration fee per player will apply to player registrations received 72 hours prior to their first match, and all team players must be finalized 48 hours prior to their first match, after which no further additions will be allowed.
A player is permitted one transfer per season to a different club/team, subject to a $25 administration fee, with a deadline for transfer requests being May 8th, after which transfers will not be allowed.
All players must create a CricClubs (www.cricclubs.com) account with a clear profile photo, and the account details must be submitted as part of the league registration process.
Player Representation
A player is strictly limited to representing one club per season. Playing for another club will result in disqualification of all games for that team. Captains must ensure compliance to avoid penalties, including team disqualification.
A player must have played in at least 4 league games in-order to play quarter, semi & final.
Schedule:
Majority of games will be at Margaret Greene Park, Guelph and a few games will be at Riverside Park, Guelph.
League starts by May 2nd weekend and ends by the end of September.
Games are on Sundays and Saturdays. First game at 8am and second one at 10am.
Schedule will be published by May 1st.
Team Management:
Teams must declare a roster of no more than 25 players, aged 19+, prior to the season.
Players are strictly prohibited from participating in a match under the influence of alcohol or drugs; violators may be removed from the game and face penalties.
Minimum players: A match can commence with a minimum of 6 players from the participating team present on the field.
Maximum players: Teams can name a squad of up to 13 players per match, with 11 players participating on the field at any given time.
Substitutions: Rolling substitutions are permitted in the League, allowing teams to rotate players freely. Key rules:
Maximum 11 players on the field at any time.
Any of the 13 selected players can bat or bowl.
Late-arriving players can bowl immediately after the over in progress.
Captains can substitute players after each over, not during.
Jersey: All players on the field must wear identical team jerseys. Players must wear proper sports attire, including pants; shorts are not permitted.
Steel spike shoes are not allowed to prevent damage to the turf-pitch.
Game Format
15 overs per innings in a hard tennis ball.
There are 10 teams in a division and each team plays with every other team.
Quarter (only if additional ground bookings available), Semi and Final.
For a T15 match, each innings is allotted 60 minutes, with a 5-minute break in between.
Powerplay Rules for T15 Matches:
The powerplay period is the first 5 overs of each innings.
During the powerplay, a maximum of 2 fielders are allowed to be positioned outside the 30-yard circle.
After the powerplay, a maximum of 5 fielders are allowed to be positioned outside the 30-yard circle.
These fielding restrictions apply regardless of whether the fielding team is short-handed due to injury or any other reason.
The toss will occur 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of play. The timings listed in the schedule refer to the start of the play.
Time Delay Adjustments:
In the event of a delayed start due to weather or external factors, the match duration will be adjusted as follows: 4 minutes per over shall be reduced for the amount of lost time in both innings.
In the event of a delayed start due to a team at fault (see Match Default section), the match duration will be adjusted as follows: 4 minutes per over shall be reduced for the amount of lost time for the team who caused the delay.
Withdrawal Policy:
Any team or club that refuses to participate in scheduled games or unilaterally withdraws from the league will be considered to have withdrawn from the association entirely.
All fees paid to the association by a withdrawing team or club are non-refundable and will remain the property of the association.
In the event of a match being forfeited due to a team's withdrawal, full “winning points” shall be awarded to the opposite team.
Scoring & Rules
Live scoring will be available on CricClubs.
For every 'no-ball' called, the batting side earns a free-hit. During a free-hit, the batter cannot be stumped by the wicket-keeper, but can be run out, with no other mode of dismissal applicable. Additionally, if the batter doesn't change ends, the fielding side must maintain the same field setting that was in place prior to the free-hit delivery.
In each over, only one bouncer (between shoulder and head) is permitted. Any bouncer above the head will be called wide. Beamers above the waist will be declared a no-ball by the leg umpire, although the main umpire reserves the right to override this decision.
Only the captain and the bowler are permitted to respectfully seek clarification on an umpire's decision, and must do so in a professional and courteous manner.
Runs can be scored from wides, byes, overthrows, and no-balls, with the extra run added to any runs taken.
No leg byes (including body).
Throughout the game, the fielding team is restricted to a maximum of 5 fielders on the on-side, including the bowler. If the bowler delivers the ball from around the wicket with 5 fielders already on the on-side, the umpire will call a no-ball.
Batters and wicket keeper are permitted to wear gloves for protection and grip.
Only wooden cricket bats are permitted for play. Fiber bats are strictly prohibited. The umpire's decision regarding bat inspection and approval is final and binding.
Results & Points
Win: 6 points, Tie: 3 points, Loss: 0 point.
Bonus Point: A team will earn 1 bonus point if they win a match with a run rate that is at least 1.25 times higher than their opponent's. Run rate is calculated by dividing the number of runs scored by the number of overs faced. In the event of a default, the winning team will automatically receive the bonus point.
A match will only be considered to have a valid result if each team faces a minimum of 5 overs in their respective innings.
In the event of a match being abandoned due to weather or other uncontrollable factors, both teams will receive 3 points each.
In the event of a match being forfeited due to a team's failure to appear on the field, the opposing team will receive 6 points for the win, plus a bonus point, totaling 7 points.
The Duckworth-Lewis (DL) Method will be applied to determine a result in the following situations:
Rain interrupts play after each team has faced at least 5 overs.
Play is stopped due to bad light.
The Duckworth-Lewis (DL) Method calculations will be performed using the CricClubs App to determine a result in interrupted matches.
The officiating umpires hold sole authority to determine the playability of the field. While they will consider the captains' input, their decision on the feasibility of ground conditions is final. If a game is cancelled due to poor ground conditions, both teams will receive 3 points each.
In the event of a playoff match being rained out, the team ranked higher in the points table will advance to the next round. Note: If a team is unable to play on any scheduled playoff date, they will automatically forfeit the match, and the opposing team will advance to the next round.
Match Cancellation
Teams may advise the league of their inability to participate in a scheduled game at latest THREE days before the scheduled game. Failure to do so will be considered a match default. For this context: all teams shall be allowed a maximum of three cancelled game during the season. Such cancelled match shall not be postponed, or relocated and full “winning points” shall be awarded to the opposite team.
Match Default
A match is considered defaulted when a team:
Doesn't have 6 players ready to play.
Refuses to take the field when instructed.
Teams defaulting one game will incur a $150 fine, payable via email transfer to League before their next game; failure to pay will result in disqualification from participating further in the season.
The second defaulted game in the same season will incur a $300 fine, payable via email transfer to League before the next game; failure to pay will result in disqualification from participating further in the season.
The on-field official shall wait 20 minutes before a game can be considered as a “default”.
Schedule Changes
Schedule Changes: The League reserves the right to modify the schedule/fixture as needed. Teams will be notified of any changes via email or social media updates.
Over Limit
Minimum 5 bowlers must be used per innings.
T15: The maximum over distribution is 3-3-3-3-3
Teams can use many bowlers, with a maximum of 3 overs per bowler.
In case of reduced over the following over distribution applied:
5 overs: 1-1-1-1-1
6 overs: 2-1-1-1-1
7 overs: 2-2-1-1-1
8 overs: 2-2-2-1-1
9 overs: 3-2-2-1-1
10 overs: 3-3-2-1-1
11 overs: 3-3-2-2-1
12 overs: 3-3-2-2-2
13 overs: 3-3-3-2-2
14 overs: 3-3-3-3-2
Out
Batsmen can be dismissed under all ICC/MCC cricket laws, except Leg Before Wicket (LBW).
Leg Before Wicket (LBW) does not apply.
New batsman must arrive at the crease within 90 seconds when a batsman is out. Failure to do so will be given out ‘Timed Out Dismissal’.
Retired Hurt: Batsman can resume innings after next wicket falls or another batsman retires.
Injury: Batsman has 60 seconds to decide to retire or continue. No runner allowed.
Benefit of Doubt: In case of uncertainty, the umpire will favor the batter.
Penalty For Missing Cut-Off
First Innings:
Penalty for Slow Over Rate: Fielding team must complete all the overs, but their batting innings reduced to overs bowled by cut-off time. (Example: If 14 overs are bowled at cut off, it shall allow the team to only bat 14 overs). Ongoing over at cut-off time counts as complete.
Batting Side Delays: If the umpire decides delay is caused by the batting team, innings ends at scheduled cut-off, and the batting team in defaults would lose that many overs. Ongoing over will be completed.
Umpire may grant extra time for delays caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond both teams' control if time and field of play available.
Umpire decision will be final and binding.
Second Innings:
When a fielding team fails to complete overs in the specified time, they must complete allocated overs if time and field of play available, even if it goes beyond scheduled time. Ongoing over at cut-off counts as complete.
Penalty: 8 runs/over added to batting team's score for each over bowled short by fielding team at cut-off.
If by adding the penalty run , the result is achieved then the match would close at that point of time.
Batting Side Delays: If the umpire decides delay is caused by the batting team, innings ends at scheduled cut-off, with overs lost. Ongoing over is completed.
If play can't continue due to unavailability of field or official call-off, the batting team's score will be calculated by adding their highest run per over, multiplied by remaining overs.
Umpires can allow extra time for delays caused by circumstances beyond both teams' control if time and field of play is available.
If a team exceeds playtime or deliberately wastes time, the on-field umpire can declare a loss for that team. The umpire's decision is final and binding.
Field Set-up/Toss
Each team must bring spring stumps and bails for the game.
Each team must bring the provided balls as unopened for their games.
Home Team's Responsibility:
Set up wickets and cones before toss. Failure to do so within time results in loss of toss.
Collect cones and hand them over to the umpire.
One team will be made as the home team which will be mentioned in the schedule.
6 players in team jerseys must be present by toss time. Failure to meet this requirement allows the opposing team to claim the toss.
Toss will occur 15 minutes before the scheduled match start time.
Verbal Abuse
Level 1
Offences: Dissent towards umpire's decision, Obscene/offensive language, Excessive appealing, Aggressive approach towards umpire.
Penalty: 1st offence: Warning, 2nd offence: 5 penalty runs.
Level 2
Offences: Serious dissent towards umpire's decision, Physical contact or intimidation, Dangerous ball-throwing, Inappropriate language or gestures.
Penalty: Warning, and 5 penalty runs to opposition, and potential 2-game ban.
Level 3
Offences: Intimidating umpire by language/gesture, Threatening to assault player/other person.
Penalty: Removal from field for remainder of innings, and 5 penalty runs to opposition, and $100 fine, and a ban for the next game.
Level 4
Offences: Threatening to assault an umpire, Physical contact with an umpire, Physically assaulting a player or other person, Committing acts of violence.
Penalty: Removal from match, and 5 penalty runs to opposition, and $100 fine, and minimum 1-game ban, and potential permanent ban from League.
Fees:
Registration fee per team: $1,500.
Umpire fee: $40/game/team.
Ball fee: $6/game/team. Balls for all league games will be given to team captains before the season starts to use for their games.
Fee payment due:
$1,000 of the registration fee due upon registration.
Remaining registration fee $500 plus umpire fee for the 9 league games ($360) plus the ball fee for 9 league games ($54) must be paid by May 1st.
Umpire fee and ball fee for quarter, semi and final must be paid within 2 days upon qualifying.
All payment to be transferred through interac e-transfer using payments@tuskerscricketacademy.ca
Match Officials
Match officials are the designated umpires for the game or in the absence of one or League official in the absence of both umpires.
In the absence of both umpires, both teams collectively select umpires from players and they become match officials.
In the event of a dispute in selecting umpires from players, the match will be abandoned.
Umpire Fee
Umpire Fee: $20/game/team applies when:
No-balls are bowled.
Match is called off.
Umpire arrives at the ground.
Umpire Fee: $35/game/team applies when:
Less than 10 overs played.
Match is called off.
Umpire Fee: $40/game/team applies when:
10 overs are played.
Umpire Fees for No-Show Situations:
Team No-Show: Umpires wait until cut-off time.
Team present pays $30 ($15/umpire).
Team present wins the game with a bonus point.
Defaulting team penalized (as per match default section).
Single Umpire: One umpire present, other absent due to unforeseen circumstances.
Umpire present does live scoring and main umpiring.
Each team pays $30 ($60 total).
Code of Conduct in the Premises
ZERO tolerance: Consumption of alcoholic beverages, smoking, vaping, use of cannabis, littering and urination in public areas are strictly prohibited within the ground property and surrounding area. City observes and our venue is very much in a residential area and anyone could report to officials.
Teams are responsible for cleaning up all garbage after their cricket match on the ground property where cricket is played.
Prizes and Trophy
Winner will be awarded $1,500 and an ever-rolling trophy.
Runner-up will be awarded an ever-rolling trophy.
League recognizes and will be awarded trophy for:
Most Valuable Player of all the games.
Best Bowler of the League.
Best Batter of the League.
Team 13 of the League Winner.
Team 13 of the League Runner-up.
Prizes and trophies will be awarded along with a prize distribution ceremony by the end of the year.
Royal City Cricket League (Powered By: Tuskers Cricket Academy)
Guelph, ON Canada