Youth Playing Regulations

FIELDING DIRECTIVE

Fielders

No young player in the under 15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 8 yards (7.3m) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the offside, until the batsman has played at the ball.  For those in the under 13 age group and below, the distance is 11 yards (10m).  These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a head protector.
Should a player in these age groups come within the restricted distance the umpire must stop the game immediately and instruct the fielder to move back.  Any player in the under 16 to under 18 age groups who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a head protector, and for boys, an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 6 yards (5.5m) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side.
Non-compliance with this Directive will result in the umpires stopping the game and instructing the fielder to put on a head protector and/or abdominal protector, and/or stand back from the stumps. If non-compliance continues, the umpire should not allow the match to continue.

Wicket-keepers

Any wicket-keeper under the age of 18 (on the day of the match) must wear a head protector when standing up to the stumps or within 10 Yards from the stumps. This applies to all speeds of bowling.  Non-compliance with this Directive will result in the umpires stopping the game and instructing the wicketkeeper to put on a head protector or stand back more than 10 yards from the stumps. If non-compliance continues, the umpire should not allow the match to continue.

BOWLING DIRECTIVE

For the purpose of this Directive, a fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket-keeper in the same age group would, in normal circumstances, stand back to take the ball. This does not preclude the umpires from insisting that these Directives apply even though the ability of the wicket-keeper means that he is capable of standing up to what they consider to be a fast bowler.

Multiple Days 

In addition to these, it is recommended that in any 7 day period a fast bowler should not bowl more than 4 days in that period and for a maximum of 2 days in a row.  For example: in a tournament lasting 5 days, a fast bowler would bowl on days 1 and 2: not bowl on day 3: bowl on days 4 and 5.  Having completed a spell, a bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell has been bowled from the same end. If a bowler only completes part of his permitted spell, the above restriction still applies. For example, if he is allowed 7 overs, but only bowls 4, he cannot bowl again, until 4 overs have been bowled from the same end. He cannot resume his `spell’ after 2 overs from the same end, claiming that he is allowed another 3 overs to make up his 7. However, a bowler is allowed to change ends during a spell without taking a rest. This can only be done provided that he bowls the next permissible over from the other end.

Interruption 
If there is an interruption in play, whether scheduled or not, he will be allowed to count time off the field as part of his `rest time’. During this interruption, the bowler may count every 7 minutes of the interruption as being equivalent to 1 over at each end.  If play is interrupted for any reason for less than 40 minutes, any spell in progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate age group. In this case, the bowler cannot claim any time off the field as rest time and his spell will still be in progress even though play is suspended. If the spell is not continued after the interruption, the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell before the interruption has been bowled from the same end. If the interruption is of 40 minutes duration or more, whether scheduled or not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately.

Once a bowler covered by these Directives has bowled in a match, he cannot exceed the maximum overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls spin. He can exceed the maximum of overs per spell if bowling spin only, but cannot then revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell has been bowled from the same end. Any spell that includes fast bowling must not exceed the maximum number of overs per spell even if some of the spell is of spin.

Umpires’ responsibility The umpires are expected to monitor these players and keep records of the overs such players bowl. Once the maximum allowance for any one spell has been reached, they will inform the player and the captain accordingly, and will not allow the player to bowl again until the requisite rest period has been fulfilled.  Prior to the game, the manager / coach / captain will inform the umpires in writing, of any player who comes under this Directive. If during the game, the umpires consider that any other players come under this Directive, they shall inform the Tournament Director and manager / coach / captain as soon as is practical, that these players shall be subject to the above Directives.  The umpire has final say in what constitutes fast bowling /a fast bowler.

BATTING DIRECTIVE

Any batsman under the age of 18 (on the day of the match) must wear a helmet when batting.  Non-compliance with this Directive will result in the umpires stopping the game immediately and instructing the batsman to put on a helmet.  If non-compliance continues, the umpire should not allow the match to continue.