MARKING AND MAINTAINING DIFFERENT LENGTH PITCHES FOR ... · • Junior cricket should be part of any cricket square maintenance plan, the change in pitch lengths will not cause any

MARKING AND MAINTAINING DIFFERENT LENGTH PITCHES FOR JUNIOR CRICKET

ECB RECOMMENDED JUNIOR FORMATS

CONTENTS

Introduction 3

Formats Overview 4

Marking Out Appropriate Length Pitches 5

Marking Out Boundaries 6

Maintenance of Your Square and Outfield 9

Managing Junior Games On Your Square Including Match Play Pitches

10

Further Top Tips and Support 11

Junior Cricket Format Recommendations

2

First of all thank you for everything you do for junior cricket. We appreciate your efforts and we’re sure the young people in your life do so too.

Written specifically for junior coaches and ground staff, this guidance is designed to help you create an outstanding playing experience for children using the new ECB recommended Junior Formats.

WE’RE PROVIDING YOU WITH TOP TIPS TO HELP:

• Mark out appropriate length junior pitches and boundary lengths

• Prepare and maintain different length pitches

• Manage junior games on your square and outfield

• Understand how many junior games can be played on your square and / or match play pitch

PREPARATION AND EQUIPMENT

The following should be completed by ground staff as a minimum before any junior game:

• The pitch is mowed and rolled to ECB guidelines for the standard of junior cricket

• Always ensure the pitch is safe and fit for purpose

• These pitch markings are visible:

» Popping crease (front line) at both ends

» Bowling crease / stump line (back line) at both ends

» Small mark for where the centre stump should go

» Use different coloured tape or chalk to distinguish between different length pitches (approved marking materials for use on grass and non turf pitches)

EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

• Measuring tape to measure the pitch and boundary (in yards and metres)

• Cones, rope or markers to show the boundary

• Tape or chalk (to mark the crease)

INTRODUCTIONJunior Cricket Format Recommendations

3

FORMATS OVERVIEW

U9* U11* U13* U15* U17*

PLAYERS 6 8 Up to 11 Up to 11 Up to 11

PITCH LENGTHS (YARDS)

15 17 19 20 (Girls)

22 (Boys)

22

MAX BOUNDARY (M)

30 35 40 45 50 50 55 55 60

Soft ball Hard ball (Girls) (Boys) (Girls) (Boys) (Girls) (Boys)

OVERS PER INNINGS SCHOOLS + CLUBS

12 16 20 20 20

OVERS PER INNINGS TALENT[1]

NA Variety[2]

(Girls)20

(Boys)Variety[2]

(Girls)Max. 40 (Boys)

Variety[2] Variety[2]

BALL SIZE** (OZ.) Light / soft

rubber ball4.75 4.75 5.0

(Girls)5.5

(Boys)5.0

(Girls)5.5

(Boys)

*INDICATIVE AGE **A LIGHT / SOFT RUBBER BALL TO BE USED FOR SOFT BALL CRICKET AT ALL AGE GROUPS

FOR UNDER 10, 12 AND 14 RECOMMENDATIONS, PLEASE REFER TO THE INDIVIDUAL BOYS AND GIRLS RECOMMENDATIONS[1] TALENT ENVIRONMENTS ARE DEFINED AS CRICKET PLAYED ABOVE CLUB OR SCHOOL I.E. DISTRICT, REGION, AREA OR COUNTY AGE GROUP

(DEPENDENT ON THE LOCAL COUNTY DEFINITION / STRUCTURE) [2] FOR GIRLS, SEE SPECIFIC COUNTY AGE GROUP GUIDANCE


4

MARKING OUT APPROPRIATE LENGTH PITCHESJunior Cricket Format Recommendations

5

RECOMMENDED OPTION: MOVE BOTH SETS OF STUMPS IN EXAMPLE – UNDER 13 PITCH

ALTERNATIVE OPTION: MOVE ONE STUMP ONLY EXAMPLE – UNDER 11 PITCH

new crease line

17 yards

portable stump

usual crease markings

4ft

22 yard full length cricket pitch

new crease line

19 yards

portable stumppre-existing stump holes

4ft

22 yard full length cricket pitch

The wear on the pitch is even and will reduce damage to the pitch when being used as a different / full length pitch

Top tip - it’s important to rotate which end the game is bowled from to even out the wear on the pitch

The wear on the pitch is even, however at the end of the pitch that has been brought in, any damage will be where the ball will land when the pitch is used as a different / full length pitch

Top tip - It’s advisable to bowl from the end of the pitch that has not been moved in. This will mean less damage to the area where the ball lands when the pitch is being used as a full length pitch

pre-existing stump holes

• Multiple pitches on the outfield

• Two people required

• One person holds tape measure on the striker’s centre stump

• Other person walks out appropriate length (holding tape measure and cones) and measures the boundary length

• Once at the right length, drop a cone and walk a full circle round the pitch dropping cones every few steps to create the boundary

MARKING OUT BOUNDARIES

30m 30m

15 yards

WK striker’s end

30m boundary from striker’s end

bowler’s end

30m


6

UNDER 9s – SOFT BALL (ON THE GRASSY OUTFIELD):



• One person holds tape measure on the striker’s centre stump

• Other person walks out appropriate length holding tape measure (and cones if needed) and measures the boundary length

• Once at the right length, drop a cone/flag and walk a full circle round the pitch dropping cones every few steps or placing the boundary rope to create the boundary


7

17 yards

35m

35m from striker’s end - soft ball 40m from striker’s end - hard ball

40m 40m

35m

WK striker’s end

35m

40m

UNDER 10s AND UNDER 11s – SOFT BALL AND HARD BALL (ON THE SQUARE OR MATCH PLAY PITCH)

bowler’s end



• One person measures half way point of the pitch and holds tape measure at the centre point

• Other person walks out appropriate length holding tape measure and measures the boundary length

• Once at the right length, drop a cone/flag and walk a full circle round the pitch dropping cones every few steps or placing the boundary rope to create the boundary

MAX BOUNDARY SIZE (M)GIRLS BOYS

U13 45 50

U14 50 55

U15 55 60


8

45m

50m 50m

55m55m

60m 60m

45m

45m

50m

55m

60m

UNDER 13S AND ABOVE – SOFT BALL AND HARD BALL (ON THE SQUARE OR MATCH PLAY PITCH)

MAINTENANCE OF YOUR SQUARE AND OUTFIELDJunior Cricket Format Recommendations

9

REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING DIFFERENT LENGTH PITCHES

• Ground staff should repair and maintain junior pitches as you would any other grass or artificial pitches

• Where a shorter pitch has been used, repair any damage that has occurred before the next game is played on the pitch

• Then re-mark the pitch ready for the next game (same length or longer)

• Guidance on how to repair a hole made by a bowler and / or batter can be found at:

http://www.groundsmanship.co.uk/cricket/cricket-pitch-end-repair

https://youtu.be/jOA5zdkylyY?list=PLLtUhzivrSZTtcaDzUEr_NW-ekVLgOeFd

• For junior cricket that is bowled from one end - each match rotate the bowling and batting ends to even out the wear on the pitch

• Junior cricket should be part of any cricket square maintenance plan, the change in pitch lengths will not cause any issues if the square is maintained in-line with ECB guidelines

REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING YOUR OUTFIELD

• After being used for junior cricket (practice or matches), ground staff should repair and maintain the outfield in exactly the same way as you usually would

• Guidance on outfield maintenance and renovation can be found at: http://www.groundsmanship.co.uk/cricket/cricket-outfield

MANAGING JUNIOR GAMES ON YOUR SQUARE INCLUDING MATCH PLAY PITCHES

Top tip:

• If you have a full length pitch that is not being used the following week you can play an under 13s game on this pitch using the recommended marking out method

• You can do this because the pitch isn’t being used again for the next 6 weeks

• Play one game, then repair the pitch as you would do normally


10

The use of different length pitches will not affect how you manage your square.

Here’s an example of how to utilise a square for junior and open-age cricket:

CAPACITY OF JUNIOR PITCHES

If junior pitch capacity has been an issue in previous years, then the change in length of pitch will have no effect

Irrespective of the appropriate pitch length, the ECB guidelines for the number of junior games that can be played on grass and match play pitches is as follows:

• 7 junior games per season per grass wicket

• 80 games per season per non-turf match play pitch

Ideally use two or three pitches on the edge of the square for junior matches, including match play pitches (1,8,2 or 13,7,14)

The following age groups can all be played on the same pitch:

Pitch 1: Boys and Girls under 11, 12 and 13 (17, 18 and 19 yard pitch)

Pitch 8: Girls under 14 and 15 (20 yards)

Boys under 14 (21 yards)

Boys under 15 and under 17 and Girls under 17 (22 yards)

• Boys under 15 upwards and girls under 17 can use the recently used full length pitch if pitches are maintained and repaired correctly

• Planning of fixtures - always build in a break to allow for more extensive / remedial works to be carried out on the junior pitches if necessary

1 28 9 10 11 123 4 5 6 713 14

FURTHER TOP TIPS AND SUPPORT

Go to the ECB’s Essential Guide to Cricket Groundsmanship as the first point of call for ground staff and volunteers to find practical guidance on maintaining and developing your ground.

www.groundsmanship.co.uk/cricket/cricket-home

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MARKING AND MAINTAINING DIFFERENT LENGTH PITCHES FOR ... · • Junior cricket should be part of any cricket square maintenance plan, the change in pitch lengths will not cause any