Rules

General/Must Read Information:

1.    Map of the 5 playing softball diamonds and the playing area is illustrated below.

2.    The tournament will be played at HavenHurst Park, NewHaven, IN on Sep 28^th, 2013. In case of rain interruption, Oct 5^th will serve as the reserve day.

3.    Teams should have 8 players playing per game. They can choose best 8 players from the registered 10 players. No player can play for more than 1 team.

4.    Each innings is 8 overs maximum and last batsman has no chance.

5.    Minimum 4 bowlers have to be used, i.e. maximum 2 overs per bowler allowed.

6.    One neutral umpire is provided for each game. In the absence of a neutral umpire, the captain from the teams must assign a volunteer to umpire the game.

7.    The teams must report 15 minutes prior to their first game. Once the teams are finalized, match schedule will be sent to the teams at least one week in advance. Late starts can be provided to the visiting teams coming from farther distance. The schedule will be strictly followed and teams reporting late will be penalized (discussed later).

8.    In case of any dispute resolution, the umpire’s decision is final.

9.   Sledging is strictly not allowed. Verbal abuse, use of profanities etc. directed at players of the opposing team or umpires will result in suspension of one or more players for one or more matches. Under no circumstances will the safety of the players, umpires or volunteers be jeopardized.

Points System and Playoffs Format

1.    Teams will be divided into 4 pools (A, B, C, and D).

2.    In the league games, winning team gets two points.

3.    In case of an abandoned or tied game in the League stage both teams shall receive one point each.

4.    The criteria of seeding within a group (league stage, priority-wise) are: (1) Points (2) NRR (3) Head-to-head (4) Bowl out.

5.    Team rankings will be decided as follows:

a.        Top two teams from each pool will automatically qualify to play in the quarter-finals.

b.        Rankings for the top 8 teams (top two teams from each pool) will be done based on (and in the order of) points, net-run-rate, head-head and coin-toss.

6.    Tied games in Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Finals will be decided by “Super Over”. Standard rules apply. Each team nominates one Bowler and 3 batsmen (Innings over after 2 batsmen are out) and whichever team scores more runs will win. In case of a tie, team with maximum number of sixes followed by fours will win.

 Game Rules

All the traditional cricket rules apply unless specified. Some rules that vary from the regular cricket rules are as follows:

1.    All teams should report 5 minutes before the start of each game. Teams reporting late will be deducted 1 over for every 5 minutes when they bat.

2.    There is a 5 minute break between the innings.

3.    The pitch length (distance between wickets) will be 20 yards, 3 stumps are placed on the batting end, one stump is placed at the bowlers end. For Bat/Bowl direction refer to the last page.

4.    There will be two overs of power play for each innings, one over will be chosen by the bowling team and one over will be chosen by the batting team. If the power play is not chosen by the teams in the first 6 overs, by default the last 2 overs will constitute power play.

5.    2 fielders are allowed outside the clay area during the power play overs.

6.    Mankading is allowed after giving one warning per Team per game.

7.    No Leg before Wickets (LBW).

8.    The following qualify for “No-balls” :

a.        Ball clearly above the shoulder

b.        Ball clearly above the waist on full

c.        Overstepping by the bowler (front and side creases)

d.        Back step crossing the side crease for the bowler

e.        Fielder standing out of the inner circle (despite 1 umpire warning)

f.         The bowler fails to give the side (despite 1 umpire warning)

g.        There is a free hit for a No ball resulting from over stepping the crease.

9.    You can only be run out on a “no ball’; no other way to get out.

10. Any runs scored will be added along with the 1 run given because of the no ball

11. Wide ball rules are normal.

a.        Only way to get out are stumping and run out. In both cases ball would not be counted.

b.        Any byes taken would be added to the 1 run given because of the wide

12. At least 2 players (other than the wicket keeper) should be fielding in the inner ring (clay) during the entire 8 overs.

13. If the ball goes out of the side boundary (red boundary) when hit by the batsman with or without touching the fielder 2 runs will be declared, as long as the fielder did not take it as a catch.

14. The batsman is still out when the fielder catches the ball leaning on the high side fence or the low side fence.

15. If the ball hits the side fence and stays in the field, the batsman has to run between the wickets to make runs.

16. If the ball hits on to / over the straight boundary (black line in the picture) directly, 6 runs will be given to the batsman. If the ball rolls to the boundary line, 4 runs will be given to the batsman.

17. If a catch is taken by the fielder who is in contact with the straight fence, it is still out provided the fielder is not standing on top of the straight fence.

18.  If the fielder takes a catch off the bounce from the side fence, it is not a catch out.

19. Nivia CT-381 or similar balls will be used in the tournament.

a.        In the league stages the first game for each team will feature a new ball. Rest of the league games will have used balls. If the condition of the ball is unplayable, at the discretion of the organizers, it will be replaced (with new or similar condition used ball).

b.        Quarter-finals will feature one new ball for each game.

c.        Semi-final and Finals will feature new balls for each inning.

20. A fielder can be substituted during the game by notifying the umpire. A no ball will be given if the fielding team failed to do so.

21. Regular substitution rules apply. For example:

a.        A batsman can be substituted at any time of the play with another batsman that is not out. The substituted batsman is allowed to bat again later.

b.        If a bowler walks out of the field for 1 over, the bowler needs to stay on the field for at least 1 over before bowling the next over.

c.        If a fielder leaves the field for the last 2 overs in the innings, he will not be allowed to bat for the first 2 overs.

22. In an event of dispute, the main umpire’s decision is final. The main umpire has the authority to over rule the leg umpire’s decision at any point of the game.

23. Definition of Net Run Rate = (Total Runs Score For)/(# of balls faced) – (Total Runs Scored Against)/(# of balls bowled)

24. Forfeit of a game in league stages means that the team has played 8 overs without scoring any run which will reduce the Net Run Rate (NRR).

25. While batting first – even if batting team is all out before 8 overs, balls faced & balls bowled = all 8 overs. While batting second - if the batting team wins, balls faced & balls bowled = actual balls bowled. If the batting team loses (even if they are all out before 8 overs) balls faced & balls bowled = all 8 overs.

26. Bonus point (1 point) is awarded to a team that wins by 40 runs margin (OR) the team that can chase the target within 4 overs.

Courtesy Note: Captains are responsible for ensuring that their team members dispose trash into trash receptacles only.