Cedar Valley Tennis Ball Premier League Rules & Regulations
 

1. GENERAL

 
1.1 The list of playing 7 must be finalized before the toss and submitted to one of the two umpires.
1.2 The toss will happen 5 minutes prior to the schedule time. The match will start at the schedule time sharp. Both the teams must continue even if they do not have their listed 7 players present.
1.3 The least number of players that can be present for a match to start is 5 a side
1.4 To avoid any unfair advantage to latecomers, any player of either side who is not present within 10 minutes of the start time will not be allowed to take part in the game. The decision of the umpires will be final in this regard.
1.5 If the game is delayed in any circumstance Umpires need to enforce overs reduction. Umpires will decide how many overs to reduce as per the loss of time.
1.6 At the time of toss if any team has less than 5 players then opponent team qualifies to win the toss. Players must be present on Ground to be counted by the umpires.
1.7 We urge the players to involve in fair-play under all circumstances.
1.8 Fielder should not move in after taking a catch close to the boundary to avoid controversies.
1.9 In case a fielder moves inwards from the fence after taking a close boundary catch, umpire’s decision would be considered as final.
1.10 Retired Out - A batsman retires out if he retires without the umpire's permission and does not have the permission of the opposing captain to resume his innings. If such a return does not occur, the batman is marked as "retired out" and this is considered a dismissal for the purposes of calculating a batting average.
1.11 Retired Not Out - If a batsman is injured or falls ill (or has some other unavoidable reason for leaving the field) while batting, he may retire and resume his innings at the dismissal or retirement of another batsman. If he cannot return by the end of the innings, the batting side must close its innings after all other batsmen are dismissed (excluding the not-out batsman).
1.12 If he takes the umpire's permission to leave, he is declared 'Retired - not out'.

2 Over’s Rule: 
 
2.1 All games will be played for 10 overs except rain affected/interrupted matches.
2.2 One bowler can bowl a maximum 2 overs in a game.
2.3 Every innings will start with a new ball which will be handed over to the fielding captain by the umpires at the start of each innings. 

3. Challenge Over:
 
3.1 There will be ONE optional over for each team when batting, called “Challenge Over”
3.2 During the Challenge Over the batting side can Challenge the bowling team quoting that ‘X’ number of runs will be scored in the subsequent over. Bowling team is free to choose a bowler from their playing 7 who has still not completed their quota of allocated overs.
3.3 The challenge should be made before the start of an over and can be made only after the 1st over and before the first ball of the 9th over. If a batting team does not choose to challenge an over, this bonus will not be implemented for the batting team.
3.4 Minimum runs that can be challenged in a Challenge Over is 13 runs
3.5 If the batting side chooses to challenge an over and manages to successfully score the challenge runs, their score will be increased by the challenge runs. If a team fails to score the challenge runs in that over, the batting team risk losing 12 runs from their score.
Example Scenarios:

Team Score before Challenge Over	Challenge Runs	Runs Scored in Challenge Over	Challenge Bonus	Team Score after Challenge Over
35	17	21	17	73
42	13	13	13	68
85	15	14	-12	73*
20	14	0	-12	8*

 
3.6 If a team achieves the Challenge Runs, the bonus will be added as penalties to their score, this will not unfairly inflate a batsman’s average or deflate a bowler’s average and economy. If a team fails to achieve the challenge runs, it will be deducted as penalties from their existing score.  
3.7 Runs Scored in Challenge over is inclusive of all the extras conceded in that over.
3.8 A match is not considered completed unless the Challenge Over is completed, if the batting team chooses to avail it.
 
4. Fielding:
 
4.1 Only a maximum of 5 players (excluding the bowler) are allowed in front of the batting crease during all overs. At any given time, there must be a wicket keeper behind the stumps on the batting side.
 
5. Umpiring:
 
5.1 Umpiring decisions will be final. Main Umpire will stand behind the wicket keeper, and the second umpire will stand along the bowling crease on the On-side of a right-handed batsmen, outside the field of play.
5.2 There would be neutral umpires for all the games.
5.3 Neutral umpires will be provided by the Organizing Committee for all the matches as per the schedule. Caught behind decisions can be discussed between umpires. It is their discretion to give the decision. Run out decisions in the striker’s end is made by the main umpire and decisions in the bowler’s end is made by the second umpire. Umpire’s decision is final. Benefit of doubt will go to the batsmen in case of a close call. This is a guideline for the umpire.
5.4 Teams can schedule their matches in mutual agreement before or at the same time as per given schedule without neutral umpires provided by Organizing committee.
5.5 Committee is not responsible for providing neutral umpires if match gets postponed due to any reason.
 
6. Wide Ball:
 
6.1 Judging a Wide
(a) If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in (b) below, in his opinion the ball passes wide of the marking on offside of the batsman from where he is and which also would have passed wide of him standing in a normal guard position.
(b) The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within his reach for him to be able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.
(c) If the ball goes outside of leg stump without touching batsman or his bat and the ball is not between the batsman and the stumps, it should be called wide.
6.2 Delivery not a Wide
The umpire shall not adjudge a delivery as being a Wide,
(a) If the striker, by moving, either
(I) Causes the ball to pass wide of him, as defined in 1(b) above or
(ii) Brings the ball sufficiently within his reach to be able to hit it by means of a normal cricket stroke.
(b) If the ball touches the striker’s bat or person.
(c) On the line is a wide.
(If the umpire at the batsman’s end considers that the ball has not been properly delivered, and pitched twice, it will be called ‘dead ball’).
 
7. No Ball and Dead Ball Rule:
 
7.1 By default, it is the bowler's end umpire who calls and signals No ball. When judgment of ball height is required (for beamers and short balls), his colleague (the striker's end umpire) will assist him with a signal.
7.2 A full toss - a ball which does not bounce - from any bowler reaches the batsman at waist height. If it does, then the striker end umpire will call a no-ball.
7.3 One bouncer is allowed per over. A bouncer is a ball that bounces above the shoulder and below the head.
7.4 The second such ball in an over will be called a no ball.
7.5 Any ball (First or subsequent) which goes above the head is a no Ball.
7.6 Foot no balls will be called only for over stepping (front leg) and side-stepping (front leg/back leg) within the 8 feet of the pitch.
7.7 Some part of the foot must be behind the front crease and within the side crease.
7.8 If the bowler breaks the non-striker's wicket during the act of delivery, it’s a no-ball.
7.9 If there is talking from the fielders while the bowler is about to deliver a ball, the umpire will give one warning to the opposition captain and rule the delivery as a "DEAD BALL" and any action that happened during that delivery will be reverted and the ball will not be counted. Next infraction will be called a "DEAD BALL', and at umpire’s discretion the bowling side could face a penalty of 5 runs.
7.10 Any unexpected scenarios from the game resulting in the conflict between the teams shall be resolved only after the game is completed by the Organizing Committee.
 
8 Over Rate Penalties:
 
8.1 If team A arrives late then umpire can reduce 2 overs for their team while batting.
8.2 If both teams are late then both teams play with 2 reduced overs.
 
9 Super Over:
 
9.1 All games will have a super-over in case of a tie.
9.2 The team batting second in the main match will bat first in the Super Over. A Super Over cannot be a “Challenge Over”.
9.3 The loss of two wickets in the Super Over ends the team’s Super Over innings.
9.4 Each team will designate one person to bowl and 3 batsmen to bat to play out the super over.
9.5 In the event of the teams having scored the same number of runs in the Super Over, the Super Over would be repeated until one team wins.
 
10 Rain Affected Games:
 
10.1 Complete Wash-out
10.1.1 Ground should be inspected by Umpires and both captains and all should agree if conditions are playable to play the game otherwise it will be considered as complete wash-out
10.1.2 Any wash-out games will have teams to share points equally between them
 
10.2 Rain Interrupted matches
 
10.2.1 If rain occurs before the start of the match and delays the match by half an hour and the ground is still in playable condition, umpire will reduce overs and it will be 7 overs a side game in order to not affect next scheduled games. Any further delay will be counted as a washed-out game and points will shared equally as per the rule no. 10.1
10.2.2 If the match has started and it rains for more than 15 mins (accumulative during the course of the match) interrupting an on-going match then the below rules applies.
10.2.2.1 If 4.0 or more overs of the second innings is completed then D/L method will be used to decide the winner
Following D/L calculator will be referred
https://www.easycalculation.com/sports/duckworth-lewis-calculator.php
10.2.2.2 And if less than 4.0 overs of the second innings is bowled then the points will be shared between the teams and no re-scheduling will be allowed.
 
11 Roster:
 
11.1 NO Borrowed Player from a different team will be allowed to play once TPL has started. The board has the authority to reverse the result of the game even after it is completed if it is done during the same round as the offence is committed.
11.2 Please note that once a team member has been named as part of one team, he will be allowed to play for another team only if he has not yet played in any match.
11.3 A team can add any number of players till it reaches the maximum limit of 10.
11.4 Once the maximum is reached, a team can only add a new player to the list by pulling out one existing player from it.
11.5 Roster will be locked by end of day Friday and any additions for that week matches will not be done after that. Team must play with their current roster players.
11.6 Changes to roster will only be allowed at league stages. No team can change the roster once last league match gets over
11.7 A player should play at least 2 games in the league matches to qualify to play in the next stage of playoffs. Washout games are not considered.
 
12 Substitutes:
 
12.1 Any fielder can be substituted by a player in the team list. The substitute will not be allowed to bat or bowl. The umpire should be notified of a fielder change.
12.2 The umpires/captains must agree for a substitute to be on the field.
12.3 It is recommended that a player not given a substitute if he comes into the game carrying an injury. The final call is left to the umpire whether to approve of a substitute.
12.4 There is no runner allowed in case of batsman is unable to run due to injury or any other reason.

13 Super Sub:
 
13.1 No Super Sub will be allowed for a team in any game
 
14 Fast Appeal:
 
14.1 An umpire or a player from the batting side can call a delivery to be too fast after the delivery is bowled. This should be notified to the umpires. The umpires will then convene and decide if the delivery was indeed fast or not.
14.2 Upon agreement that the delivery is fast, the bowler shall receive a warning and upon repeated appeal from the batsman, and umpire approval, it shall be deemed a no-ball.
14.3 Umpires decision is considered final in this case and no amount of debate will be tolerated.
 
15 Free Hit:
 
15.1 Any instance of a no-ball shall result in a free-hit, where a batsman can only be out via Run-Out or by Obstructing the field while attempting a run.
 
16 Scoring:
 
16.1 Each team captain/scorer will maintain their batting scorecard and record scores in cricclubs.com app. Until everyone gets used to the app, we will be using the app along with the paper scorecard and once everyone is comfortable using the app we can eliminate the use of paper scorecard. But, in any case the score should be recorded in the app at the end of the match and it’s the responsibility of the team to get their scorecard updated in cricclub.com app and it should be tallied with the paper scorecard (if used).
16.2 Any disputes must be resolved there in before the next over is bowled.
16.3 All statistics including batsman score and bowling aggregates (total wickets taken, overs bowled, and runs given) should be recorded in the app and score sheet to ensure proper statistics can be taken. Failure to do so (incomplete score sheet) will result in a disciplinary action against the captain.
16.4 After each match, the scorecards will be submitted to the Organizing Committee (Score sheets & Statistics) either scanned (take a cell phone photo and email) or in paper. This is an absolute must to ensure statistics are up to date. It is up to both the playing captains to maintain the accuracy of the scorecard and both the umpires should sign off on the scorecard before submitting it to the Organizing Committee.
16.5 Once match is over with agreed scorecards by both captains and umpires, no changes will be done in match results.
 
17 No Show:
17.1 If any team does not show up at their scheduled game the opposite team will get 2 points and the team with no show will get 0 points.
17.2 If one team does not have a minimum of 6 players present on the ground 15 minutes after the scheduled start time, then the game points are awarded to the opposition team.
 
18 Playoffs Format:
18.1 Top team from the points table shall qualify directly for the finals
18.2 Teams ranked 2 and 3 overall (based on points & NRR) will Play in a qualifier match to play in the final.
 
19 Ways of Dismissal and Scoring Restrictions:
 
19.1 “Mankad a batsman”: It remains legal for a bowler to run out a non-striker who has strayed outside his crease after he has started his run up, but before he has entered his delivery stride. Delivery stride refers to the stride during which the delivery swing is made; it starts when the bowler's back foot lands for that stride and ends when the front foot lands in the same stride
19.2 LBW: This mode of dismissal is not applicable for our tournament. The umpire cannot rule a batsman out LBW. Due to the same leg byes are also not applicable.
19.3 “Out of Bounds”: A batsman shall be declared out if the batsman strikes a legal delivery beyond the pre-defined playing area on the full. If the ball touches any part of the pre-defined playing area before going Out of Bounds, the batsman shall be declared “not out”. Out of Bounds dismissal shall be classified as “caught by substitute fielder” in the score card.
19.4 “One Pitch One Hand”: A batsman shall be declared caught out if on a legal delivery, the ball is caught by the fielder after it has bounced once on the pre-defined playing area (see image below), upon being struck by the batsman, with one hand. The tennis court and the net are considered as pre-defined playing area.
            19.4.1 A ball ricocheting off a fielder and is caught by another fielder it shall NOT be counted as 1st bounce and can be caught with two hands to get a dismissal
            19.4.2 If the ball touches the tennis nets, it shall be counted as a bounce
            19.4.3 If the ball hits the umpire, it shall NOT be counted as a bounce
            19.4.4 The fielder must be within bounds to take the catch and juggling is allowed if the same fielder that juggles takes the catch
            19.4.5 If the ball strikes the wicket at the non-striker’s end or ricochets of the bat or body of the non-striker, it shall NOT be counted as a bounce
            19.4.6 Due to no runs off a leg bye, if a catch is completed after the ball struck the batsman's body (excluding the bat and glove) and then strikes the bat, the                 ball shall be deemed as a Dot ball (0 runs), and the catch will not be awarded as a wicket.
            19.4.7 If any condition that is not listed in the above conditions occur, umpire’s decision will be final
19.5 All other standard modes of cricketing dismissals still apply
19.6 If the ball crosses the yellow margin of the playing area after a bounce, 2 runs shall be declared by the umpire
19.7 No runs shall be awarded if the ball goes directly or by pitching in the playing area and then in the green area without touching any of the fielders in play, including the wicket keeper. If ball touches any fielder including the wicket keeper, after being struck, and goes behind runs will be awarded, if the batsmen complete a run.
19.8 Overthrows are applicable, and the batsman can run any number of runs after a throw is completed and the umpire declares a ball or a over. If a fielder misfields the ball and the ball touches ANY of the fence on the full or on bounce, 4 overthrows will be awarded to the batsman who faced the delivery.
19.9 When a single batsman is playing, one player who has been dismissed earlier is expected to run from the non-striker end and only the batsman who has not been dismissed yet, shall face the bowling. The last batsman can be Run-Out on both sides.

Predefined playing area; Anything in red is out of bounds 
 
20 Code of Conduct/Discipline:
20.1 Everyone involved should follow the rules and regulations of appropriate conduct on the field.
20.2 Captain will be held responsible if one of his players violates code of conduct on the field.
20.3 As far as the cricketing code of conduct is concerned; the teams are here to have fun and to sigh a bit of relief during the week. We expect to see a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship. Sledging is strictly prohibited. Under such circumstances, the umpire will have the say in deciding what a tolerable limit is. If the umpires find things exceeding the limit, they might recommend expulsion of player(s) or disqualification of the team. The final decision will lie with the organizing committee.
20.4 The organizing committee in conjunction with on field umpires will handle any escalated untoward incident during any match. As discussed earlier, the umpires would need to report any unruly behavior of the players involved and the committee will take appropriate action on an incident basis.
20.5 We encourage the participating teams to play in line with the laws and spirit of the game.
20.6 We strongly discourage any physical or verbal (direct or implied) attack by a player(s) against: A) The umpire B) other cricketers C) Spectators D) The stumps, ball or other cricket gear.
20.7 Unruly and un-sportsman like behavior will not be tolerated. Guilty players will be ejected. If the player refuses to leave the field, the team will be penalized with forfeiture of the match. No substitutes will be allowed for the ejected player.
20.8 Determination of what constitutes unruly or unsportsmanlike behavior will be based on the umpire and adjudicators combined opinion.
20.9 Players abusing or threatening either umpires or opponent team members will be suspended for 1 or more matches.
20.10 It’s the duty of the captain to maintain discipline and decorum on the field and if any of the team members is found guilty of behaving against the code of conduct captain of that team will be held responsible and disciplinary actions would be taken against the player and the captain which could result suspension for that match and next match.
20.11 Captains shall advise members of their respective teams that the Umpires’ decision is final.
20.12 Any individual acting in an ungentle or unsportsmanlike manner or using profanity, Abusing and foul language shall not be tolerated by the Umpires nor should it be tolerated by the team to which that individual belongs. Penalty could result in a suspension for that match and next match, after a maximum of 2 warnings.
 
21 Additional Rules and Regulations
21.1 "Smart Fielding": If any fielder changes fielding position (e.g. moves to gully from Slips) before the bowler delivers the ball, the umpire can signal a No Ball upon his/her discretion. A fielder though is within his rights to anticipate a stroke from a batsman, after a ball has been delivered (left the bowler's hand), and change his fielding position to gain an advantage while fielding. A fielder at no point in the game though should obstruct a batsman from playing a stroke and this shall result in a warning and a penalty of 5 runs at the umpires discretion to the guilty team.
21.2 New ball would be used in each innings. The organizing committee takes the responsibility of providing similar balls for a match, but the balls might vary (slightly) for different matches.
21.3 Innings is considered closed at the fall of last wicket of the last batsman. The last man can bat alone.
21.4 A team gets 2 points for a win. 1 bonus point will be rewarded for the team that achieves victory with a run rate 1.25 times that of the opposition. A team run rate will be calculated by reference to the number of runs scored divided by the number of overs/balls faced. Where a side is all out, the number of overs to be used is the maximum number of overs that side was otherwise eligible to face.
21.5 A player should play at least 2 games in the first round to qualify to play in the next stage of playoffs.
21.6 During a match if a situation arises that is not defined in this rules document then the decision will be taken based on the rules mentioned in the following website. http://www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket/laws/
21.7 The organizing Committee reserves the right to amend the Rules at any time if it considers such action to be in the best interests of the competition.


-Compiled by: Harsha Gopisetty