Constitution of the Competition

SECTION ONE – CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPETITION

PRELIMINARY

Download Constitution & Rules in PDF format.

This constitution is based on a model constitution originated by the England & Wales Cricket Board in respect of knock out and league cricket played in accordance with the ECB directives in respect of such competitions.

1. TITLE:

The competitions as below (5) will be a coalition and merger of the Bob Carter and Norfolk Association of Cricket Umpires hereinafter (NACO) Senior Sunday Norfolk Knock-out Cup Competitions under the patronage of the R G Carter Group (“RGC”), Drayton, Norwich NR8 6AH).

2. OWNERSHIP, GOODWILL AND INTELECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS:

The rights to the Bob Carter Challenge Cup and Lady Mary Trophy remain vested in RGC.

The rights to the NACO Cup and NACO Shield remain vested in NACO.

In the event of the cessation of the Carter and NACO Cup organisation for whatever reason, the responsibility for and ownership of the competitions will revert to the vested parties.

No changes to the Constitution shall be permitted otherwise the by the consent by both RGC and NACO.

3. OBJECTS:

The objects of the competitions will be to provide and promote Sunday knock out cricket for Norfolk clubs, affiliated to the Norfolk Cricket Board (NCB) and from leaguesor otherwise recognised by that organisation (NCB).
Any club that is not involved in the inaugural 2015 competitions may if they so wish apply to join the following season’s competitions by applying in writing to the General Secretary no later than 31 October 2015. This will be ongoing for subsequent seasons.

4. EQUALITY:

The competitions will execute their objectives fairly and without prejudice to age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, creed, colour, social status and sexual orientation.

5. COMPETITIONS:

Specifically 1.i – 1.iv as listed in the following pages of this document but namely as follows:

For the 2015 season only the format of the competitions will be based on the following principles:

i. Bob Carter Challenge Cup with a maximum of 16 (appendix 1) member clubs participating that will be played as a 60 over per side Competition. This format is based on the 5 current Norfolk EAPL clubs plus the highest 11 clubs cascading in the Norfolk Alliance pyramid.

ii. The Carter/NACO Cup will be an 8 team competition contested by the 8 First Round losers in the Bob Carter Challenge Cup. The losers of the first round matches will play a sequence of knock out relegation matches with the losers of the NACO CUP loser’s final going into the next years Lady Mary Competition. This will be played as a 50 over per side Competition.

iii. The Lady Mary Trophy comprising of the next 8 teams on Alliance pyramid cascade system (or others from the cascade system). The winners of this competition will be automatically invited to compete in the following years Carter Cup, however should they refuse this invite the losing finalists will be invited. In the event of neither finalist accepting the invitation there will be no relegation from or promotion to the higher competition. The losers of the first round matches will play a sequence of knock out relegation matches with the losers of the Lady Mary Losers final going into the next years Carter/NACO shield. This will be played as a 50 overs per side Competition.

iv. The Carter/NACO Shield will be an open invitation competition involving teams that are left in the Alliance after the cascade system plus clubs from other Norfolk Cricket Leagues or otherwise who have affiliation (2 below) with the Norfolk Cricket Board (NCB). This will be a 40 overs per side Competition. If required a preliminary round will be played. The winners of this competition will be automatically invited to compete in the following years Lady Mary Trophy, however should they refuse this invite the losing finalists will be invited. In the event of neither finalist accepting the invitation there will be no promotion to the higher competition.

The competitions from the 2016 season onwards will then be based on the promotion incentive systems as indicated in ii, iii & iv above.

The draws for these competitions will be made on a predetermined basis other than the Bob Carter Challenge Cup which will be drawn on a round to round basis with an independent players representative invited to be present   –  all clubs will be invited to attend the predetermined draw at a time, date and venue decided by the Management Committee. The draw for each round of the Bob Carter Challenge Cup will be made on the Friday following the previous round and will be broadcast “live” on Radio Norfolk. All details of the initial draw and subsequent rounds of each competition will be notified to the clubs by the Competition Secretary/Coordinator electronically.

• The format for all these competitions is subject to clubs entering; if a club from the Alliance cascade system does not enter, the next placed club in the Alliance cascade system will be offered the vacant position. Any dispute will be covered by clause 8 below; POWERS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

6. MEMBERSHIP:

• The competitions are open to all clubs affiliated to the NCB whose playing strength, playing areas , changing facilities, administration and lunch and tea facilities meet the standards laid down by the Management Committee (see 2d – page 10 below).
• The competition fully supports and adopts the ECB “Safe hands – Cricket’s policy for Safeguarding Children” Each member club must adopt the ECB “Safe Hands” policy and hold a club “Safeguarding Document.”
• All invited clubs must be insured for public liability.
• All Clubs will be required to pay an entry fee payable in advance in respect of the competition they enter into. For the 2015 season this will be £20.00.
• If this entry fee is not paid the club will be automatically scratched from the relevant competition.

7. MANAGEMENT:

The management of the competitions shall be vested in a Management Committee which shall consist of 8 members with 4 to be initially appointed by NACO and 4 to be initially appointed by RGC (one of whom shall be a representative of RGC); the Committee shall consist of Chair, Chief Executive, General Secretary/Co-ordinator, Financial Representative, Registration/Disciplinary Officer, Umpires Appointments Secretary, Media & Press Officer andoneother general committee member. For the 2015 season these positions will be occupied as follows:

(i) A quorum of the Management Committee shall consist of 4 members with the Chairman having the casting vote if required.

(ii) In the interests of consistency, for the 2015 and 2016 seasons any nomination to replace a vacancy on the Management Committeearising in respect of a RGC member shall be proposed by RGC and in respect of a NACO member by NACO.

(iii) For the 2017 season and thereafter, members of the Management Committee (other than the RGC representative who shall be nominated by RGC) shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period in each case not exceeding three years.

(iv) For the 2017seasonand thereafter, the Management Committee shall have the power to appoint a Member to fill any casual vacancy on the Committee until the next Annual General Meeting at which time such appointed Member shall retire and be eligible for election as a Member of the Committee.

(v) All members of the Management Committee will, if they so wish, have the right to retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(vi) Other RGC representatives may be involved on the Management Committee on an ex officiobasis. Other members may be co-opted as deemed necessary and at the invite of the Chief Executive Officer following approval of the Management Committee.

8. POWERS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:

All questions of eligibility, qualification of players, interpretation of the following rules, or any question in dispute not provided for in the following rules, (page 6 onwards) shall be referred to the Management Committee whose decision shall be final.

9. DISCIPLINE:

If required, umpires, clubs and spectators can report offenders to the Norfolk Cricket Board Disciplinary Chairman within 48 hours of the considered offence.

Any disciplinary action will be dealt with by the representatives of the Norfolk Cricket Board in accordance with the Tariff predetermined by the English & Wales Cricket Board.

This follows the procedures as set out later in this document (page 8 onwards).

Any appeal must be dealt in accordance with the procedures as stated by the Norfolk Cricket Board in accordance with the England & Wales Cricket Board directives and specified by the Disciplinary Chairman when the offence and Tariff is confirmed to the offender/s.

10. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:

This is as indicated in Rule 3 of the General Competitions Rules as specified later in this document.

11. SCRATCHED GAMES:

No team may scratch a game without the permission of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

No game may be scratched without notifying the CEO, secretary/coordinator and the opposition. The team receiving the walk over must phone the captain of the team scratching to confirm that the match has been scratched. Both teams must then send the appropriate result (Walkover or Scratched to the Competitions Secretary/Coordinator).

AnyClub/s scratching or forfeiting a game will be subject to a fine of £50.00 and relegation to a lower competition in the following season.

If this fine is not paid within 28 days the Club/s concerned will be automatically banned from entry into any of the following season’s competitions.

The club that scratches or forfeits a game, if obliged to do so, will meet any reasonable expenses incurred by their opponents.

If a club involved in the CARTER/NACO SHIELD scratches or forfeits a game they shall be subject to the above fine procedure and will have to apply in writing to the General Secretary giving legitimate reasons to be considered for inclusion in the following season’s competition.

It is the responsibility of the HOME club to notify the match umpires immediately of a cancellation.

The minimum number of players to constitute a team shall be EIGHT (8). A team fielding fewer than 8 players at any time during a match will automatically forfeit the match and may face a suspension or a fine as imposed by the Management Committee. If a side fields only 8 players bowling restrictions, fielding and other restraints will apply as per the competition rules.

12. TROPHIES:

The sponsors of the competition will award 12 individual trophies to each of the winners and losers of each of the FOUR MAIN competitions and also to the relevant umpires and scorers. These trophies MUST in all circumstances be presented by a member of RGC or their nominated representative.

NO TROPHIES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS OR LOSERS OR MATCH OFFICIALS OF THE RELEGATION MATCHES

The winning clubs, Shield or Cup will be returned in its original condition to the Competition Secretary no later than 14 days prior to the FINAL of that competition being held.

13. GENERAL TERMS:

These are considered to be the following and are included in the rules of the Competition as stated:

• Registration of players – see 3 (a) to 3 e below.
• Fixtures – as covered in the rules of the Competition.
• YOUNG CRICKETERS – The competition fully supports the ECB directives relating to young and under age players.
• Promotion within the competition – winners of the various competitions will be rewarded by being seeded to higher competitions in subsequent seasons in accordance with the rules of the competition.
• Any other matters should be fully covered by the following rules relating to the competition and must be strictly adhered to by the invited clubs.
• Provision of Match Balls is covered in the rules of the competition.

14. VENUES FOR MAIN FINALS:

These are decided at the discretion of the Management Committee in consultation with representatives of RGC and for the 2015 season are listed as item 1 in Miscellaneous below.

15. VENUES FOR LOSERS FINALS:

These will played at the ground of the first drawn club – any dispute over this will result in the Management Committee deciding on an alternative venue, which may be a neutral ground.

The costs of providing and managing a neutral ground will be shared by the two competing clubs.

16. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:

The Annual General Meeting shall be held between cricket seasons.

(i)  Each invited club must send a representative to the Annual General Meeting which will be held at a date, time and venue decided by the Management Committee.

(ii) Any proposal put forward by a club must be seconded by another club in the Competition.

(iii) Any proposal to change the Constitution or Rules of Play as indicated in Player Eligibility, Competitions General Rules as listed later in this document must be put in writing to the General Secretary and circulated to all invited clubs 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

17. Home Clubs in the R G Carter Cup are not allowed to charge the visiting (away) team no more than a MAXIMUM of £110.00 for Lunches and Teas. THIS RULE IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO THE R G CARTER CUP AND DOES NOT RELATE TO THE OTHER COMPETITIONS WHEN ONLY TEAS/REFRESHMENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO BE PROVIDED FOR VISITING PLAYERS, SCORERS & UMPIRES.