PSUK Rules Update

POLICE SPORT UK

COMPETITION RULES FOR NATIONAL CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP

Rules amended with (pending) approval of The Police Sport UK Cricket Committee at AGM held on 12st August 2024. Applicable from the 2025 season.

1.  AIMS

To encourage Police Officers and Support Workers to participate in playing, officiating and supporting Police cricket and to benefit from the resulting social interaction.  

1. ADMINISTRATION
2. The Competition shall be known as the Police Sport UK National Cricket Championship (hereinafter called “The Championship”).
3. The Championship shall be arranged each year by a Cricket Sectional Committee appointed by the Police Sport UK Council (hereinafter called the Sectional Committee).
4. Every Police Force in UK will be eligible to enter the competition. As of 2011 Joint Force Entries will also be permitted.
5. All Forces (including individual Forces playing in joint teams/collaborations) will be required to pay the entry fee prescribed by the Sectional Committee of £130. Entry fees to be received by the sectional committee no later than April 1^st each year. Any force forming a collaboration who fails to pay the entry fee will render any player from that force ineligible.
6. Each force will be responsible for meeting all expenses incurred by or on behalf of its team at all stages of the Championship except the Finals. This is outlined at 7 below.

1. ELIGIBILITY
2. The Competition shall be confined to the following as per Rule 35 & 36 of PSUK Constitution: -

36. (a) Only members of affiliated clubs who have been sworn in as paid                   Constables, Special Constables, PSNI Part Time Reserves, paid Police Support Staff, retired Police Officers, retired Support Staff, or paid Cadets or staff of the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA), and personnel affected by the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations (Former Police Civilian Staff) (TUPE) process, Former Police Officers and Police Staff now employed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) who are members of their Force Sports Clubs or Associations, shall be eligible to participate in any event promoted by the Association.

In pursuit of this rule, retired personnel as defined, shall only be permitted to obtain membership of affiliated clubs in the Force area in which they reside or in the force they have previously served in. Under no circumstances would a contracted employee be eligible to participate if they were not part of a TUPE process.

(b) The definition of paid Support Staff only covers paid employees of a Police Force.

The definition does not cover other persons who are employed under contract to other organisations, whether or not they are employed on police premises except for the staff of the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA), Former Police Staff now employed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and personnel affected by the Transfer of Former Police Civilian Staff through the (TUPE) process.

(c) The definition of a retired Police Officer is a person who has retired as a member of a Home Department Police Force and is in receipt of a police pension. The definition of retired Support Staff is a person who has been an employee of a police force as defined in (b) who is in receipt of a police authority pension.

(d) The rule excludes personnel who have terminated their employment with a police force midterm and who at the time, although not qualifying for a police pension, have nevertheless frozen their pension contributions for the sole purpose of obtaining a pension at some later stage

                i.           All members must be contributing into their relevant Forces Sports Fund.

               ii.           The number of Cadets allowed to take part shall be two (2) per team.

               iii.           Each player shall only be allowed to play for one (1) Team in the Championships in any season.

(e) All BTP staff are eligible to play for the Force area in which they reside, or the nearest competing Force.

   D. ORGANISATION

1. The draw for the Championship will be made at the AGM of The Sectional Committee each year for the forthcoming season and published by its Secretary as soon as possible thereafter. The participating teams shall be divided into four groups. Fixtures will be arranged to ensure that all teams in a particular group play against each other.
2. Fixed dates will apply for completion of Fixtures.
3. The winning team of each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
4. Points will be awarded as follows:
5. Win                                         3 points
6. Tie                                          1 point each team
7. No result (weather etc)         1 point each team
8. Concede or default                0 points
9. Opposition concede             3 points
10. Lose                                        0 points
11. If more than one team have the same number of points, the winning team shall be decided as follows:
12. the team with the least concessions, then
13. the team with the highest run-rate over all its games.
14. The run rate shall be calculated as follows: Run rate = the cumulative number of runs scored in all games to the date of the most recent match divided by the cumulative number of complete overs received.
15. The winners of the semi-finals shall contest the Championship final. The losers shall contest the Plate Final. (D15 and D17 below)
16. The home team for each round will be responsible for contacting the opposition, the Umpires Appointments Officer (see D20 & D21 below) and providing a suitable ground for this fixture. However, if by mutual consent of both Secretaries, the home and away sides listed in the draw may be reversed, if this ensures the Tie is completed.
17. In the case of an away team having to travel a long distance, the two teams may agree to play at a suitable neutral venue by mutual consent of both Secretaries.
18. If no agreement the Fixture will stand as per the specified date on the Draw.
19. A match should not start any earlier that 12:30hrs on any given match day. This is to allow the away side a suitable amount of travel time to the venue. Any earlier start time MUST be agreed by both sides well in advance of the fixture. PSUK National Championship Secretary must be informed of the intention of this earlier start.
20. Except by consent of the Sectional Committee (PSUK National Championships Secretary), all ties must be played on the date specified on the draw. (Rules E7 – E17 refer to matches affected by the weather)
21. Should it be necessary (because of inclement weather ONLY), to cancel a match before the away team starts to travel to the nominated venue, the home side captain will inform the PSUK National Championships Secretary of this fact.
22. The home team will contact a local umpire, preferably one appointed to the game, to confirm the ground is unsuitable. Upon confirmation both teams shall share 1 point. In addition, if a team does travel on the day of the game, but the conditions are such the game is abandoned prior to the arranged start time, 1 point will be shared. Both side will retain their current run rate.
23. In the event of default, the defaulting team will forfeit the match. No allowances will be made for Annual Leave or Ground unavailability. (See D4 above) 
24. The National Final shall be played on a directed date and at a ground arranged by the Secretary. He will organise the Final and meet the costs of the Match, i.e. Ground Hire, Umpire’s Expenses, match balls, food during and after the match and Hotel Accommodation (for 13 members from each team) the nights after the match.
25. All cancellations must be reported by email/phone immediately to the umpires and the ECB ACO Regional Appointments Officer (See D21 below).
26. The Plate Final will be played on a directed date arranged by the PSUK National Championships Secretary and agreed to by both teams. This will be played at a neutral venue. The costs of hire of ground, Umpires’ expenses, match balls and food during the game will be met by PSUK Cricket Section.  
27. The Championship and Plate Winners and Runners-Up shall be awarded Plaques, to be provided by the Sectional Committee, at the end of the final match. The Championship winners shall be awarded ‘The City of London Cup’ and the runners up ‘The Sussex Bowl’. Both trophies shall be held for one year. In addition, a cup (HNL Blenkin Trophy) shall be awarded to the player adjudicated “Man of the Match”. This too shall be tenable for one year. The plate Winners shall be awarded ‘The Giffard Plate’. This also shall be tenable for one year
28. The home Team must notify the PSUK Cricket Secretary and the Competition Secretary of the Match Result by 22:00 hours on the date of the match. It will be the responsibility of the home Secretary / Captain to photograph the scorebook for both innings and send by Whats App or text to both Secretaries.

This must be followed within 48 hours by an email copy of the official result sheet.

1. Each participating home team Secretary will be responsible for contacting the ECB ACO Regional Appointments Officer (RAO) by email at least 2 months before any home fixture, of full details of the Match. The RAO will then appoint 2 Umpires who shall be Members of the ECB ACO with a Minimum Grade of C2. Both Teams will be responsible for meeting the expenses of the Umpires at an inclusive rate of £50.  
2. Team secretaries are strongly encouraged to report on the performance of the umpires via the ACO Regional Appointments Officer and the PSUK Championship Secretary.
3. Both Teams shall provide a competent Scorer for each match.
4. Umpires for the both Finals will be appointed by the PSUK Cricket Secretary.

E. RULES

1 A copy of these Rules is available to the team secretaries and Umpires on www.whostheumpire.com > Inex > ECB Public > ECB and other Playing Regulations. Before commencement of play each Team Captain shall hand to the umpires an Official team sheet identifying the players that have been selected for that match.

2       A team will comprise of not less than 8 players. A Team not able to begin the match with at least 8 players will forfeit the match and must contribute its share of match expenses. (See D4 above)

3    One new pink ball shall be used for each Innings. The Home Team will be responsible for supplying the Match Balls which will be of equal quality. They will also be responsible for the supply of spare balls. Match balls and suitable spare balls shall be given to the umpires before the toss.

4     The Laws of Cricket 2022 Code shall apply at all stages of the Championships with the following exceptions:     

5       Each side will bat for a maximum of 45 Overs. (Subject to Coronavirus regulations where the overs may be reduced to 40 overs. Any such changes will be communicated by the National Championships Secretary to cover E6). Games shall not be reduced in overs due to ground availability.

6       No player shall bowl more than 9 Overs. In the event of a bowler being unable to complete an over, the remaining balls will be bowled by another bowler. Such part of an over will count as a full over in so far as both bowlers’ limit is concerned. (See E7 and E8 below)

7       If the start of the match is delayed, the number of overs may be reduced by agreement between the Captains and Umpires to not less than 20 six-ball overs for each batting side. For every 7 minutes lost in the first innings, each side’s available overs are reduced by 1 over. For every 3.5 minutes lost in the second innings, one over is reduced from the number of overs in the second innings.’ Once the match has started, any interruption leading to the loss of overs will lead to a DLS calculation being made, and the new target score will be agreed between the captains and umpires. Any further overs lost will lead to a new calculation being made and a new DLS par score being agreed.

8       If a match is so reduced, the maximum number of overs per bowler will be reduced proportionately by the umpires in the principle of the maximum allocation being 20% of the available overs. If the calculation results in a remainder of overs, the captain shall allocate to his bowlers one additional over each to make up the total. If the game is reduced after play begins, bowlers’ limits do not change.

9       Each team must face at least 20 overs for the result to be valid. These minimum limits do not apply to innings where a team is bowled out or reaches its target early.

10   The Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method shall be used in all matches after they have started and when the number of overs to be faced by either side is reduced from that agreed at the toss.

11   Each team shall appoint one person to determine the target score. These two must agree the target score. At the toss, both captains shall inform the umpires who these persons are.

12   The target score shall be displayed on the scoreboard at the end of each over.

13   The D/L/S method shall not be used when the team batting second cannot face a minimum of 20 overs. In any such case, this match must proceed under rules E14 - E16

14   If the D/L/S method cannot be used under rule 14, the tie shall be resolved by a bowl out which may take place on an agreed grass or an artificial surface, indoors or outdoors. In the case of disagreement by the captains, the umpires’ decision shall be final.

15   Five (5) players from each team shall bowl overarm, two (2) fair deliveries each, at three (3) stumps at a distance of 22 yards. The team scoring the greater number of hits shall be the winner. If the scores are equal, the same cricketers shall bowl one (1) fair delivery alternately to achieve a result on a “sudden-death” basis.

16   If circumstances make this form of a contest impossible, the match shall be a tie, each team awarded 1 point.

17   Except where decided in accordance with paragraphs E10-15 above, the team scoring the greater number of runs shall be the winner of the match.

18   Restriction on the Placement of Fieldsmen;

a.     2 semi-circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The semi-circles shall have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semi-circles shall be 30 yards. The ends of each semi-circle shall be joined to each other in a straight line.

b.     This shall hereafter be referred to as the Fielding Circle. It shall be marked by White Dots, each dot covered by a white plastic or rubber (not metal) disc 7” in diameter.

c.      For the first 20% of the designated overs, no more than 2 fielders may be outside the fielding circle. (See G below)

d.     For the remainder of the overs, no more than five fielders may be outside the fielding circle. In the case of a player being off the field as a result of Law 42.4 or 42.5 a minimum of four fielders must remain within the fielding circle.

19   ECB (Law 22) will be implemented as written, but a strict interpretation will be taken of any delivery passing to the legside of a batter in their normal stance, or anywhere they have moved to from the point the bowler began their run up, or if they have no run up their delivery swing. Any lateral movement by the batter from the point of where the bowler starts their run up increases the width of the batter’s profile. If a batter moves to leg then back to a normal stance, the bowler can bowl down the leg side as wide as the batter’s profile at their widest point of their lateral movement and it would not be a wide. This also removes the strictest legside wide interpretation because when the batter is in their normal stance the ball has to pass to the legside of the batter’s heel in a normal stance to be a wide. If the batter moves towards off and the ball would otherwise have hit them, it won’t be a wide. 

20   Any full toss above waist height of the batsman standing upright at the crease shall be called and signalled No Ball. In addition, if the umpire considers the delivery to be dangerous and the bowler given a first and final warning and, following a further breach, suspended from bowling during the rest of the innings. (Law 41.7) For the purpose of this rule, the ‘waist’ shall be deemed to be the waistband of the batsman’s trousers.

21   The delivery following any ball called No Ball (Law 21.5) except a short delivery above head height, shall be signalled a free hit. If any delivery for a free hit is not a fair delivery, then the next delivery will become a free hit.

22   For any free hit, the batsman may only be dismissed under the law that applies for a no-ball.

23   Field changes are not permitted for free hit deliveries unless there has been a change of striker.

24    In the event of the scores being level the winner shall be the team that has lost fewest wickets. In the event of wickets being level the winner shall be the team that scored the most runs after 20 overs, if still level the most after 10 overs and if still level reducing by 1 over at a time until a winner is found. If all are the same, the game shall be a tie.

F   DISCIPLINE, DISPUTE and COMPLAINT

1. The PSUK Cricket Committee shall have in place a procedure for dealing with matters of complaint, discipline and grievance arising out of the activities of the Cricket Section.
2. Any action taken by umpires in respect of Laws 2.6, 18.5, 28.2, 41 or 42, but not 28.3, shall be reported as in 3 below.
3. Any discipline issues will be referred to the PSUK National Championship Secretary.

In turn, he will contact the force(s) involved (and where appropriate the match officials) to allow them to report upon and answer the alleged breach of discipline.

1. The offending Force will also be asked to propose what they see to be a suitable resolution.
2. Upon receipt of this information by the PSUK National Championships Secretary he shall forward it to a panel of three neutral Committee Members who shall decide if the resolution is suitable to the alleged breach.
3. Any dispute or complaint arising from any matter relating to these Championships, which is not provided for in these rules must be notified to the PSUK National Championships Secretary of the Sectional Committee in writing or email within 48 hours of the date of the match. In all cases the rules of natural justice shall apply. The decision of the Sectional Committee shall be final.

G. INSURANCE

The council of the Police Sport UK has taken a limited liability Personal Injury Policy of Insurance to cover any Competitor, Official or Committee Member of the PSUK aged between 16 and 65 years, who is participating or officiating at any Championships organised on behalf of the Police Sport UK and who as a result of receiving serious bodily injury dies or is permanently disabled resulting in their being retired from their force. A condition of the Insurance Policy is that notice must be given to the Insurance Company of any injury which might give rise to a claim as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 21 days of the occurrence. In order to comply with requirements, both the organisers of the National Championships and Police Sports UK Office must be informed of any such incident immediately. These conditions must be brought to the attention of all competitors by their inclusion in entry forms for the Championships. Specific arrangements must be made for any Cadet under the age of 16 years.

Competitors requiring additional insurance cover are advised to consult their own Insurance Company. (Copies can be found on PSUK Web Site)

H.  GUIDELINES FOR FIELDING RESTRICTIONS AS PER RULE E6 - E8

If the match is reduced in overs per innings the following guidelines are provided:

42-44 Overs per Innings  9 Overs of Restrictions

39-43                                           8

36-38                                           8                     

33-37                                           7

30-32                                            6

27-29                                            6

24-26                                            5

21-23                                            4

18-20                                            3

15-17                                            3

10-14                                       2