Grade rules · 2025/26
Girls Division 3 (Years 7–8) – Grade Rules (2025/26)
Source: Division-Three-Grade-Conditions-Girls-Year-7-8-as-at-26th-September-2025.pdf, pages 4–10, tidied for reading (see “Changes from the original”).
Rules: Christchurch Junior Cricket Association (CJCA). Reformatted as coaching notes; see the source PDF for the official wording.
Grade Format
The objective of this grade is to give girls up to Year 8 a traditional format of cricket that encourages them to keep developing their technique, enjoyment and understanding of the game, while still encouraging them to take part in all facets of the game. Coaches are to make sure that, by the end of each half season, all players have had an equal opportunity to display their skills. Rotation of the batting order is required, as stipulated in the Batting section, and bowlers should share the overs.
Players should enjoy a high standard of skill and competition while still focusing on fun and team spirit, which are all major objectives of this grade.
Dispensation would not normally be given for older girls (high school) to play in this grade, although girls newer to cricket can be considered. Talented Year 6 girls may also be considered, but parents and caregivers must understand the risks involved in playing in this hardball grade with older girls.
Location
Division Three cricket is played at various schools and council grounds, generally on artificial wickets, with some grass wickets also used.
Grading
Within these divisions, especially after Christmas, there may be an opportunity to split again based on teams’ results, so that “like vs like” matches can be played and mismatches minimised.
As these are non-competitive grades, no points are awarded and no ladder is kept, but we still want results entered on the PlayHQ website. They provide useful information for grading and moving teams around. Each team should enter results, either as a team or through their club or school convenor, so that PlayHQ is accurate and can be used to make any grade or section adjustments.
Eligibility
Players are encouraged to play in the year group they are currently in at school. Should players wish to play down because they are new to the game or because of other circumstances, clubs should apply before the start of the season, giving the names of the players, the team they wish to play for, and a brief explanation of why a dispensation is required for each player to play down a grade.
Players may play up a grade, but parents and caregivers must be aware of the risks involved in playing ahead of their current school year. We recommend no more than one grade higher.
Time
Division Three starts at 9.00 am on Saturday morning, or at 4.30 pm if there is a Friday round.
Draw
The draw up to Christmas will be confirmed after grading. If the draw changes after it is published, junior club convenors will be informed.
Team Size
Division Three: 9 a side.
Coaches should make sure all players have an equal opportunity to bat twice or bowl additional overs across the season if necessary.
Fewer than 9 players
Teams with fewer than 9 players should first ask whether the opposition has additional players to balance the teams. If a team has fewer than 9 players, bowling limits can be extended to 4 overs each.
If a team has fewer than 9 players, one or more players who have already been dismissed may bat a second time to make up the 9 batters. The additional batters are chosen by fewest balls faced. Any batter who has retired returns to bat before the additional batters. Runs scored by the additional batters count towards the final team score.
By mutual agreement, a side with fewer than 9 players may use players from the opposition to help field. Teams are encouraged to make this offer. Where possible, opposition players should be asked to field so there are 9 players in the fielding team.
More than 9 players
If a team has more than 9 players, only 9 may field at any one time. All players can take part by bowling and batting, but the team’s innings ends when the 9th wicket is taken if they are playing a team of 9 (see the next paragraph).
If both teams have additional players (for example, 10 each), by mutual agreement all players can bat, but only 9 may field at a time. All players can take part by bowling. The innings then stops when the 9th wicket is taken, provided both teams are playing with the same number.
Where teams have more than 9 players, the limit on fielders is there to give batters a reasonable opportunity to score runs.
Equipment
Division Three: 142 g leather ball.
Batters should wear full protective equipment, including a helmet in line with the New Zealand Cricket Helmet Policy (July 2021).
Wicketkeepers should always wear helmets.
Match Length
All games are one innings each; decide who starts with a coin toss or similar.
Time of Innings
Coaches and managers must keep the game moving so games are completed in good time. Bowling should be done in blocks of 5 overs from the same end before changing ends, to keep the game moving.
Parents and supporters can be asked to make sure players are ready to go.
Division Three: 20 overs per side (6-ball maximum).
Batting
Grace Period
Batters who are dismissed within the first 6 balls they face in their innings are not fully out. Instead, they remain in, and the bowling side receives a bonus 3 runs, added to its batting score.
(New) Batters dismissed during their grace period may not return as a retired batter if they reach the retirement limit.
When dismissed within the first 6 balls, the batter should change ends with the non-striker.
Taking into account the grace period rule, batters bat until they are out or until the end of the over in which they have faced 25 balls (including wides and no-balls), when they must retire. Retired batters can return to bat in the order they retired, once all other batters are out or retired.
Batters may bat until the end of the over in which they reach 25 balls.
Coaches are not allowed to retire batters earlier than these limits unless they are playing with more than 9 players and spreading the innings equally.
Free Hits after No-Balls
If a no-ball is bowled on the first to fifth ball of an over, the next ball is a free hit.
On a free hit, the fielding team must stay in the positions they were in when the delivery was made. Minor changes to field placings may be made if left- and right-handed batters have changed ends.
The only way a batter can be out on a free hit is run out. To be run out, the batter must be attempting a run (or have started to and changed their mind); simply being out of the crease, or being stumped, is not a dismissal on a free hit.
If a batter hits a free-hit delivery that is a no-ball, they score 1 run plus any runs from the shot, and the next ball is still a free hit. If the batter leaves or misses a delivery that is called a no-ball, they score 1 run for the no-ball and the next ball is a free hit.
If a batter hits a delivery that would have been a wide, it becomes a normal delivery: they score only the runs made from the shot and can be out in all the normal ways. If the batter leaves or misses a wide, they score 1 run for the wide plus any runs they take, and they could score more from the next ball, which is still a free hit.
If a no-ball is bowled on the 6th ball of an over, 2 runs are scored, as no free hit can be given (the maximum number of deliveries in an over is 6).
Last Batter Standing
A single remaining not-out batter should keep batting, changing ends as needed to take the strike. Only the not-out batter can face the bowling. The last batter out stays at the crease as a non-striker. Either batter may be run out to end the innings.
Dismissals
Players can be out bowled, caught, stumped, hit wicket or run out, and can be given out LBW if the following applies.
LBW applies in this grade. LBWs may only be given when the bowling team appeals and if:
- the ball pitched in line with the stumps, and
- it hit the batter on the pads in front of the stumps, before hitting the bat, and
- the ball was definitely going to hit the stumps, and
- the player had gone onto the back foot and stayed on the back foot.
This means the player cannot be given out if the ball pitched outside the line of the stumps (leg or off side), or if the player has played forward – even if the player is hit on the back pad or foot. Although an LBW can be given under these rules, the intention is for it to be awarded only when there is no doubt whatsoever in the umpire’s mind that the above conditions applied. Any doubt – not out.
Fielding
Catches and Stumpings
Catches should be recorded against the player who took the catch, in a column of the new scoresheets or on PlayHQ.
Run-Outs
To capture who was involved in run-outs, the fielders involved should be noted on the scoresheet or in PlayHQ.
Byes and Overthrows
Byes and overthrows are unlimited in Year 7 and 8 cricket.
Bowling
- Maximum 5 overs per bowler. Coaches are to make sure all team members bowl the same number of overs during the season, allowing for availability.
- No bowler may bowl a 4th over until all others have bowled 3.
- 5 overs are bowled from the same end to speed up the innings. No bowler can bowl successive overs.
Over Length
- Overs are a maximum of 6 balls, except the last over, which must be 6 legitimate deliveries.
- Bowlers should have a run-up of no more than 15 m.
No-Balls and Wides
A wide will be called if:
- the ball passes the batter so wide that they have no reasonable opportunity to make contact with it (full wides on the off side, and halfway to that on the leg side, should be the guide)
- the ball passes outside the off-side line and is not hit by the batter
- the ball passes halfway towards the leg side and is not hit by the batter.
Coaches and umpires should meet before the game to agree on the standard to be applied in the game.
A ball is not a wide if it is hit by, or hits, the batter. When “wide” is called, the ball stays live (batters can run).
The batting side is awarded 1 run for each wide or no-ball, plus any additional runs scored. No extra balls are bowled for wides or no-balls, except in the last over: in the last over, 6 legitimate deliveries must be bowled.
A no-ball will be called if:
- the ball bounces two or more times, or rolls, before reaching the batter’s popping crease (bowlers can bowl from a shorter distance if needed)
- the delivery would have passed above the waist on the full, at a normal batting stance
- the delivery would have passed above the shoulder after bouncing, at a normal batting stance
- any fielder (other than the bowler) encroaches into the fielding exclusion zone before the ball is hit.
Bowling, Not Throwing
Bowlers must be coached to bowl with a straight arm and avoid throwing the ball. Those who find this difficult should bowl from a standing, side-on position, starting with a straight arm against their back leg, and aim to release the ball at the 12 o’clock position. There is no penalty for a thrown delivery in this grade.
We don’t want a bowler to gain an unfair advantage by using an obviously incorrect action. So if a wicket is taken, or a batter seems to be intimidated, the umpire should act; for example, a batter should not be given out off an obvious throw.
Ideally, a word with the opposition coach or umpire will be enough for them to speak to the bowler as soon as the action is noticed.
We don’t want to discourage bowlers from practising in a match, but we also need to protect batters.
In the extreme, a no-ball can be called if an obvious throw results in a wicket being taken.
Scoring
Scoring should be done by a parent or supporter from each team. The grades are non-competitive, so scoring is used only for grading and making sure competition is appropriate. Take care when announcing who has won or has more runs.
Score sheets are available from the CJCA website: https://www.cjca.org.nz/about-us/resources-2/grade-rules-2/
- Each team’s score starts at zero.
- 3 runs are added to the bowling side for each dismissal obtained.
Scoring on PlayHQ
Ideally, scoring for Year 7 and 8 games should be done on PlayHQ. Club or school convenors can give access to the PlayHQ e-scoring system.
For full information on PlayHQ, see the PlayHQ landing page (NZC).
Appendix 1 – Pitch Map
Key: the map is headed “Year 7/8 Hardball” and labelled “18m pitch”. The dotted area is the fielder exclusion zone, reaching 10 m from the batter in front of and to each side of the wicket. The stars show that slips and gullies are permitted backward of the wicket.
Appendix 2 – Scoresheets
Key: each sheet records one innings: grace-period balls and runs for each batter, bonus runs for wickets in the grace period, fall of wickets, each bowler’s overs (up to 5), extras (wides, byes, leg byes, no-balls) and the team total.
Changes from the original
This copy is tidied for reading. No numbers, limits or rule meanings were changed. To see the CJCA text exactly as published, switch Wording to As published in Settings.
Reorganised
- Team Size is grouped under two bold labels, “Fewer than 9 players” and “More than 9 players”. The closing sentence “Where possible opposition players should be asked to field to ensure there are 9 players in the fielding team” moves under “Fewer than 9 players”, and “Coaches should look to ensure all players have an equal opportunity…” moves to the top of the section.
- No-Balls and Wides: the four wide conditions (split across two columns in the PDF, with a paragraph between them) are one list. “No extra balls are bowled for wides or no-balls, except in the last over” and “However, in the last over, 6 legitimate deliveries must be bowled” are combined into one sentence.
- LBW: the explanation that the PDF runs on inside condition 4 (“This means the player cannot be given out…”) is a paragraph after the list.
- The Scoring paragraphs are joined where the PDF breaks them mid-thought.
Added
- A text key under the pitch map and the scoresheets.
- Editor’s notes: batting-order rotation not stated in Batting; byes and overthrows “unlimited in Year 7 & 8 cricket” in a Division 3 document; 5-over maximum vs “extended to 4 overs each”; missing wide graphics; bonus runs for each dismissal vs grace period only; pitch length and exclusion zone only on the map; the scoresheet’s 30 overs vs 20 overs per side.
Removed
- “(See graphics below)” after the leg-side wide condition (there are no graphics; see the editor’s note).
Spelling and terms
- “stand to be applied” → “standard to be applied”.
- “Wicket keepers” → “wicketkeepers”; “batsman” / “batsmen” → “batter” / “batters”; “Batter may bat” → “Batters may bat”; “practicing” → “practising”.
- “No Ball” / “no ball” → “no-ball”; “Run Outs” → “run-outs”; “Free Hit” → “free hit”; “NOT OUT batter” → “not-out batter”; “less than 9 players” → “fewer than 9 players”; “least number of balls faced” → “fewest balls faced”; “Year 7 & 8 game” → “Year 7 and 8 games”; “Year 7 & 8 cricket” → “Year 7 and 8 cricket”.
- “Coaches/Umpires” → “Coaches and umpires”; “parents/caregivers” → “parents and caregivers”; “Parents / supporters” → “Parents and supporters”.
Capitals and emphasis
- Words in capitals changed to sentence case, with bold where they were emphasis: “WHEN DISMISSED WITHIN THE FIRST 6 BALLS THE BATTER SHOULD CHANGE ENDS WITH THE NONSTRIKER”, “INCLUDING”, “NOT allowed”, “NO BALL”, “FIFTH”, “FREE HIT BALL”, “ALL others”, “TWO or more”, “MUST be coached”, “ANY doubt”, “UP” / “DOWN a grade”, “ALWAYS wear Helmets”, “AND” in the LBW conditions.
- Capitals on common nouns removed (“Leather ball”, “Scoresheet”, “Zero”, “Club/School Convenor”, “Girls”, “Hardball grade”).
- “They should enjoy a high standard…” → “Players should enjoy a high standard…” (the bold is kept).
Punctuation, units and spacing
- Appendix headings numbered: “Appendix One” → “Appendix 1”, “Appendix Two” → “Appendix 2”.
- Units written as 142 g and 15 m; times as 9.00 am and 4.30 pm; “6 ball maximum” → “6-ball maximum”; headings in title case without trailing colons (“Byes / Overthrows” → “Byes and Overthrows”, “No balls and Wides” → “No-Balls and Wides”, “Bowling not Throwing” → “Bowling, Not Throwing”).
- “IN” no longer in quotes; missing full stops added; the missing closing bracket added after “(Bowlers can bowl from a shorter distance if needed”.
- “CLICK HERE” and bare links now name the page they open (New Zealand Cricket Helmet Policy (July 2021); PlayHQ landing page).
Wording smoothed (meaning unchanged)
- Grade Format: “provide girls up to Year 8 a traditional format…” → “give girls up to Year 8 a traditional format…”; “to play this grade” → “to play in this grade”.
- Grading: “Each team should enter results either as team or their Club/School Convenor” → “Each team should enter results, either as a team or through their club or school convenor”; “no points are awarded, or ladder given” → “no points are awarded and no ladder is kept”.
- Time: “starts at either 9.00am on a Saturday morning or if there is a Friday round, then it will be a 4.30pm start” → “starts at 9.00 am on Saturday morning, or at 4.30 pm if there is a Friday round”.
- Draw: “Draws will be confirmed until Christmas following grading” → “The draw up to Christmas will be confirmed after grading”.
- Equipment: “Full Protective equipment should be worn by batter” → “Batters should wear full protective equipment”.
- Match Length: “should be decided who starts with a coin toss” → “decide who starts with a coin toss”.
- Time of Innings: “Bowling should happen in 5 over blocks from the same end before rotating” → “Bowling should be done in blocks of 5 overs from the same end before changing ends”.
- Grace Period: “will not be fully out instead they shall remain ‘IN’” → “are not fully out. Instead, they remain in”; “Players dismissed with the ‘Grace Period’” → “Batters dismissed during their grace period” (now its own paragraph).
- Retirement (under Grace Period): “Taking into account the above rule Players bat until…” → “Taking into account the grace period rule, batters bat until…”; “these delivery limits” → “these limits”.
- Free hits: “2 runs will be scored as no ‘Free Hit’ can be given as the maximum deliveries in an over are 6” → “2 runs are scored, as no free hit can be given (the maximum number of deliveries in an over is 6)”; other free-hit sentences match the Year 6 post-Christmas tidied wording.
- Dismissals and LBW: “LBW to be applied in this grade LBWs may only be given when the bowling team appeals and if the ball;” → “LBW applies in this grade. LBWs may only be given when the bowling team appeals and if:”; the conditions are in the past tense so they read as one list; “the intention for it only to be awarded when there was no doubt” → “the intention is for it to be awarded only when there is no doubt”.
- Run-outs: “In order to capture those involved in Run Outs – those involved should be noted…” → “To capture who was involved in run-outs, the fielders involved should be noted…”.
- Over Length: “a maximum of a 15-metre run up” → “a run-up of no more than 15 m”.
- Bowling, Not Throwing and Scoring use the Year 6 post-Christmas tidied wording, which has the same source text.
Grade rules · 2025/26
Girls Division 3 (Years 7–8) – Grade Rules (2025/26)
Source: Division-Three-Grade-Conditions-Girls-Year-7-8-as-at-26th-September-2025.pdf, pages 3–10 (table of contents onward; the pitch map and scoresheet are included as images). Page 11 is an empty bordered page.
Rules: Christchurch Junior Cricket Association (CJCA). Reformatted as coaching notes; see the source PDF for the official wording.
Original table of contents
- CONTACTS
- CJCA AIMS
- GENERAL CJCA PLAYING CONDITIONS
- Health and Safety
- Pre-Match inspection
- Reporting:
- First Aid:
- Exclusion Zones:
- Eligibility:
- Dress:
- Gear:
- Defaults:
- Grade Format
- Location:
- Grading:
- Eligibility:
- Time:
- Draw:
- Team Size:
- Equipment:
- Match Length:
- Time of Innings
- Batting
- Grace Period
- Free Hits after No Balls
- Last Batter Standing
- Dismissals
- Fielding
- Catches and Stumpings
- Run Outs
- Byes / Overthrows
- Bowling
- Over Length
- No balls and Wides
- Bowling not Throwing
- Scoring
- Scoring on PlayHQ
Grade Format
The objective of this grade is to provide girls up to Year 8 a traditional format of cricket that encourages the girls to continue to develop their technique, enjoyment and understanding of the game, while still encouraging the girls to participate in all facets of the game. Coaches are to ensure that by the end of each half season all players have had an equal opportunity to display their skills. Rotation of the batting order is required, as stipulated in the batting section and bowlers should share the overs.
They should enjoy a high standard of skill and competition while still focusing on fun and team spirit which are all major objectives of this grade.
Dispensation would not normally be given for older girls (high school) to play this grade, although girls newer to cricket can be considered. Talented Year 6 Girls may also be considered but parents/caregivers must understand the risks involved in playing in this Hardball grade with older girls.
Location:
Division Three cricket is played at various schools and council grounds, generally on artificial wickets, with some grass wickets also being used.
Grading:
Within these divisions; especially after Christmas there may be an opportunity to split again based on the results of teams so “like vs like” matches can be played, and mismatches minimised.
As these are non-competitive grades, no points are awarded, or ladder given but we do still want results entered onto the PlayHQ website. These provide useful information for grading and moving teams around. Each team should enter results either as team or their Club/School Convenor so that PlayHQ is accurate and can be used to make any grade/section adjustments.
Eligibility:
Players are encouraged to play in the year group they are currently in at school. Should players wish to play down due to being new to the game or other circumstances, Clubs should apply prior to the start of the season detailing the name of the players which team they wish to play for a brief explanation of why a dispensation is required for the player to play DOWN a grade.
Players may play UP a grade, but parents/caregivers must be aware of the risks involved in playing ahead of their current school year. We recommend no more than one grade higher.
Time:
Division Three starts at either 9.00am on a Saturday morning or if there is a Friday round, then it will be a 4.30pm start.
Draw:
Draws will be confirmed until Christmas following grading. If there are changes to draws after they are published Junior Club Convenors will be informed.
Team Size:
Division Three – 9 aside.
Teams with less than 9 players should first enquire if the opposition has additional players to balance the teams. Should teams have less than 9 players bowling limits can be extended to 4 overs each.
If a team has less than 9 players, one or more player(s) who have already been dismissed may bat a second time to make up the 9 batters. The additional batter(s) are selected by the least number of balls faced. Any batter who is retired returns to bat before the additional batters. The runs scored by the additional batters count towards the final team score. By mutual agreement, a side with less than 9 players may utilise players from the opposition team to help field. Teams are encouraged to make this offer.
If a team has more than 9 players, only 9 may field at any one time. All players can participate by bowling and batting, but the team score concludes when the 9th wicket is taken, if playing a team with 9 (see next bullet).
If both teams have additional players, e.g. each has 10 players, by mutual agreement all players can bat but only 9 players may field at a given time. All players can participate by bowling. The innings then stops when the 9th wicket is taken, provided both teams are playing with the same number. Where teams have more than 9 players the restriction on fielding number is to ensure the batters have a reasonable opportunity to score runs.
Coaches should look to ensure all players have an equal opportunity to bat twice or bowl additional overs throughout the season if necessary. Where possible opposition players should be asked to field to ensure there are 9 players in the fielding team.
Equipment:
Division Three - 142g Leather ball
Full Protective equipment should be worn by batter including a Helmet in line with the New Zealand Cricket Helmet Policy CLICK HERE
Wicket keepers should ALWAYS wear Helmets
Match Length:
All games are one innings each and should be decided who starts with a coin toss, or similar.
Time of Innings
Coaches and managers must keep the game moving to ensure games are completed in a timely manner. Bowling should happen in 5 over blocks from the same end before rotating to keep the game moving.
Parents / supporters can be tasked with ensuring the players are ready to go.
Division Three: 20 overs per side (6 ball maximum)
Batting
Grace Period
Batters who are dismissed within the first 6 balls they face in their innings will not be fully out instead they shall remain “IN”, and the bowling side shall receive a bonus 3 runs to be added to their batting score. (New) Players dismissed with the “Grace Period” may not return as a retired batter if they reach the retirement limit.
WHEN DISMISSED WITHIN THE FIRST 6 BALLS THE BATTER SHOULD CHANGE ENDS WITH THE NONSTRIKER
Taking into account the above rule Players bat until they are 'Out' or until the end of the over in which they have faced 25 balls (INCLUDING wides and no balls) when they must retire. Retired batsman can return to bat, in the order that they retired and once all other batters have been 'Out' or retired.
Batter may bat until the end of the over in which they reach 25 balls.
Coaches are NOT allowed to retire batters earlier than these delivery limits unless they are playing with more than 9 players and spreading the innings equally.
Free Hits after No Balls
If a NO BALL is bowled in the first to FIFTH ball of an over, the next ball is a 'Free Hit'.
In the case of a ‘Free Hit’, the fielding team must stay in the positions they were in at the moment the delivery was made. Minor changes to the field placements may be made when Left/Right-handed batters have changed ends.
The only way a batter can be out from a 'Free Hit' is Run Out. To be run out you must be attempting a run, or started to and changed your mind, simply being out of your crease and being 'stumped' does not apply as a dismissal on a free hit.
If a batter hits a Free Hit delivery that is a no ball, they score 1 run plus whatever runs are scored from the shot. The next ball remains a FREE HIT BALL. If the batter decides to leave or misses a delivery that is deemed a no ball, they score 1 run for the no ball and the next ball is a 'Free Hit'.
If a batter hits a delivery that would have been a wide, then it becomes a 'normal' delivery and they only score runs made from that shot and may be out in all the normal ways. If the batter decides to leave or misses a wide delivery, they score 1 run for the wide plus any they may run and they could score more from the next ball which remains a free hit.
Where a no ball is bowled on the 6th ball of an over, 2 runs will be scored as no 'Free Hit' can be given as the maximum deliveries in an over are 6.
Last Batter Standing
A single remaining NOT OUT batter should continue batting, changing ends as necessary to receive strike. Only the not out batter can face the bowling. The last batter out remains at the crease to play like a non-striker. Either batter may be run out to end the innings
Dismissals
Players can be bowled, caught, stumped, hit wicket and run out and given out LBW if the following applies
LBW to be applied in this grade LBWs may only be given when the bowling team appeals and if the ball;
-
is pitched in line with the stumps AND
-
hits the batter on the pads in front of the stumps, before hitting the bat AND
-
the ball was definitely going to hit the stumps AND
-
the player has gone onto the back foot and stayed on the back foot. This means the player cannot be given out if the ball is pitched outside the line of the stumps (leg or off side) OR has played forward - even if the player is hit on the back pad or foot. Whilst an LBW can be given under these rules, the intention for it only to be awarded when there was no doubt whatsoever in the umpire’s mind that the above conditions applied. ANY doubt – not out.
Fielding
Catches and Stumpings
Catches should be recorded against the player who took the catch in a column of the new scoresheets or on PlayHQ.
Run Outs
In order to capture those involved in Run Outs – those involved should be noted on the Scoresheet or in PlayHQ
Byes / Overthrows
Byes and overthrows are unlimited in Year 7 & 8 cricket
Bowling
- Max 5 overs per bowler. Coaches are to ensure that all team members bowl the same number of overs during the season - on an equivalent availability basis.
- No bowler may bowl a 4th over until ALL others have bowled 3
- 5 overs bowled at the same end to speed up the innings. No bowler can bowl successive overs.
Over Length
- Overs to be a maximum of 6 balls except the last over which must be 6 legitimate deliveries.
- Bowlers should have a maximum of a 15-metre run up.
No balls and Wides
A “Wide” Ball will be called if
- Any ball that passes a batsman so wide that they are prevented from a reasonable opportunity to make contact with the ball is to be called a wide.
- Full wides on the offside and halfway to that on the legside should be the guide.
Coaches/Umpires should meet before the game to agree on a stand to be applied in the game.
If the ball is struck by or hits the batter, then it is not a wide. The batting side is awarded 1 run for each wide or no ball, plus any additional runs scored. However, in the last over, 6 legitimate deliveries must be bowled. Upon the call of “wide” the ball shall remain live i.e. batsmen can run). No extra balls are bowled for wides or no balls, except in the last over.
- Any ball that passes outside the offside line and is not hit by the batter shall be deemed a 'wide'.
- Any ball passing halfway towards the legside and is not hit by the batter should also be called wide. (See graphics below)
A “No Ball” will be called if ...
- The ball bounces TWO or more times or rolls on the pitch before reaching the batters popping crease. (Bowlers can bowl from a shorter distance if needed
- The delivery would have passed over the waist on the full at normal batting stance.
- If the delivery would have passed over the shoulder after it bounces at normal batting stance.
- If players (not the bowler) encroach into the fielding exclusion zone before the ball is hit.
Bowling not Throwing
Bowlers MUST be coached to bowl with a straight arm and avoid ‘throwing’ the ball. Those that find this difficult should bowl from a standing, side on position, starting with a straight arm against their back leg and aim to release the ball at the 12 o’clock position. There is no penalty for a thrown delivery at this grade.
We do not want a bowler to achieve ‘an unfair advantage’ by using an obviously incorrect action, so if a wicket is gained or it is felt that a batter is being intimidated then the umpire should take action. i.e. a batter should not be given out from an obvious thrown ball.
Ideally a word with the opposition coach/umpire will be sufficient for them to have a word with the bowler as soon as the action is noticed.
We do not want to discourage bowlers from practicing in a match but also need to protect batters.
In the extreme, a no ball can be called, if an obvious thrown delivery results in a wicket being taken.
Scoring
Scoring should be done by a parent/supporter from each team, the grades are non-competitive, so scoring is only used for grading and ensuring appropriate competition.
Therefore, care should be taken about announcing who has won or has more runs etc
Score sheets are available from the CJCA website
https://www.cjca.org.nz/about-us/resources-2/grade-rules-2/
-
Each team’s score starts at Zero.
-
3 runs are added to the bowling side for each dismissal obtained.
Scoring on PlayHQ
Ideally Scoring for Year 7 & 8 game should be done on PlayHQ – access to the PlayHQ E-scoring system can be gained from Club or School Convenors.
For full information on PlayHQ please follow this link