Safety

Safety

Player safety and well being are of prime importance.  On match day, teams share the responsibility to ensure that risks to player safety are identified and either completely removed, or lessened to an acceptable level.  Play should not start or continue in cases of unacceptable risk.

1.      The following safety and risk management requirements shall be carried out before and during play 

a)      Prior to the game, captains shall inspect the ground for obvious risks and safe conditions such as weather; suitable playing surfaces; removing any debris or hazards from the field, changerooms, player and spectator areas; sprinkler covers; and fences and signs. The boundaries shall be located a safe distance from any fence, tree, light pole, pathway or other obstruction. 

b)      Captains shall sign the “Game Day Checklist” (download PDF).  The “home” team is responsible to keeping the signed checklist for seven years.  The Home team is the first team listed in the draw.  It is suggested that checklists for the season should be filed in the scorebook, and then with the club.  Game day checklists can be downloaded from our website.

c)      Players should wear appropriate cricket protective equipment.

                                i)            Batsman:  Pads, thighpads, gloves, protector, helmet; and possibly chest and forearm guards

                              ii)            Wicketkeeper:  Pads, protector, gloves; and possibly helmet.

                            iii)            Close-in fieldsman:  Shin pads, protector and helmet.

d)     In wet conditions, play must cease and not recommence if field is unsafe.

e)      In stormy conditions, play must cease according to the 30:30 lightning rule.

f)       Appropriate sun protection clothing (hat, sun glasses, long sleeved shirts) and sun screen should be used.

g)      Regular drinks intervals should be taken, and in extreme conditions, additional drinks breaks should be taken.  Captains can agree to suspend play in extreme heat.

h)      Junior cricketers shall observe Cricket Australia limitations and restrictions on bowling.

i)        Captains shall ensure the game is played in the right spirit so as to avoid conflict between players, and intervene safely if conflict occurs.

2.      Council ranger/emergency numbers:

·         Emergency: 000

·         Ku-ring-gai: 9424 0000

·         Willoughby: 9777 1000

·         Lane Cove:  9911 3555

·         Mosman:  9978 4081

·         North Sydney: 9936 8100

3.      Thunderstorms and Lightning:

All Captains and anyone else with a delegated responsibility for players are instructed to exercise extreme caution during thunderstorms.

Advice to date is that the 30/30 rule be applied for measure. If lightning and thunder are separated by a period of time less than 30 seconds then you are to leave the field or training area and seek shelter in a building or motor vehicles - not under trees. A period of 30 minutes should elapse before play is resumed. If during this time lightning is again observed contrary to the 30/30 rule, the 30 minutes starts again.

Common sense should also prevail. If lightning is observed in your vicinity, leave the field. Do not hesitate to take the initiative and lead your players off if the opposition and/or umpires do not agree.

4.      Heat

The NSCA recommends that teams follow Cricket Australia’s Guidelines for Heat, Hydration and Sun Protection written for junior cricket.

Hydration

No single recommendation on the volume of fluid to be consumed is appropriate due to the vast range of body composition, fitness, and states of acclimatization represented in childhood and adolescence.

More fluid appears to be consumed by young people when the drinks offered are perceived as palatable to them. Regular and effective drinking practices should become habitual to young athletes before, during and after activity.

Guidelines for fluid replacement

·         Drinks breaks occur every 30-60 minutes in all matches (every 30 minutes, in conditions of extreme temperature)

·         Water is the most appropriate drink for re-hydration. However, diluted cordial or sports drinks may be supplied.  Flavoured drinks may be particularly palatable to children who have consistently poor drinking habits during exercise

·         Drinks should be available for individual players between drinks breaks. Umpires should be advised that additional drinks are sought and players should make every effort to ensure no time is wasted

·         Players should be encouraged to have their own drink bottles. This ensures that each players has access to an adequate level of replacement fluids and reduces the risk of contamination and viruses

·         Where cups and a large container are supplied, cups should not be dipped into the container. Used cups should be washed or disposed of after use.

·         Do not share cups

Sun Protection

Appropriate clothing is recommended for young cricketers. Light coloured, loose fitting clothes of natural fibres or composite fabrics with high absorption properties may be the most appropriate clothing in mild and hot conditions. This clothing should further complement the existing practices in Australia that protect the skin against permanent damage from the sun. It is recommended that

·         Players wear a broad brimmed hat

·         Shaded areas are available at all grounds. If there are no trees, artificial shades such as umbrellas or similar should be utilized

·         Suncreen with SPF 30+ should be made available to players and reapplied as appropriate throughout competition

·         Players wear long sleeved shirts

·         Players consider wearing appropriate sports sunglasses

5.      Bowling Restrictions for Junior Players

The NSCA adheres to Cricket Australia's guidelines on bowling restrictions for young cricketers.  These guidelines apply to medium pace or fast bowlers under the age of 19 years. All captains should be fully acquainted with these guidelines.

Maximum Overs

No medium pace or faster bowler shall be permitted to bowl more than the number of overs in a spell, and number of overs in a day's play, as set out below:

Minimum Rest Period

(a) Such a bowler shall have a minimum rest period between spells of at least the same amount of time as the bowler's immediately concluded spell.

(b) A bowler who has bowled a spell of fewer than the maximum number of overs set out above may resume bowling prior to the completion of the minimum rest period as defined above, but this will be considered an extension of the same spell and the limit of overs in total will still apply.