Introduction

Where considered appropriate, for example inclusion in a school sport program, parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.

Students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, eg. an SPF15+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly and a hat.

Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience

The teacher/instructor must have appropriate expertise and/or training in teaching/coaching of cricket.

Supervision

If an adult other than a teacher is engaged for instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility. A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.

Equipment

All equipment must be in good condition and match the size, strength and ability of the students.

State and national cricket controlling authorities recommend the wearing of batting helmets when batting in training sessions and competition matches. The helmets, fitted with face guards or visas, must conform to Standards Australia specifications. To encourage compliance to this recommendation, schools should make available:

• at least two helmets per team which are of a size appropriate to the members of the team
• sufficient helmets to accommodate structured lesson and practice sessions.

If using leather or composition cricket balls the:

• wicketkeeper must wear a pair of pads, a pair of wicketkeeping gloves and a protector (if male). Wicketkeepers should also wear a pair of inner gloves
• batter must wear well fitted pads and batting gloves. Batters (if male) must wear a protector.

Rubber-soled cricket boots or sports shoes must be worn for hard wickets. Spiked cricket boots may be worn where turf wickets are used.

Shin guards, helmet and a genital protector (if male) must be worn by players classified as close-to-the-bat fielders.

Sunglasses conforming to the Australian Standard AS1067, with plastic frames and perspex lenses may be worn to protect eyes from UV radiation.

A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.

Venues

The ground surface must be free of obstructions and loose objects.

The wicket area must be inspected prior to the game to ensure that it is of a suitable standard for play.

Mats used on concrete wickets must be in good condition with no holes, tears or separating seams.

Safety

Competition games and structured practice sessions should be modified, where appropriate, to suit the ability level and age of the participants.

Inexperienced players should be made aware of rules and safety aspects prior to and during any form of cricket.

Inexperienced cricketers under the age of 14 should not stand closer than ten (10) metres from the striker's wicket on the leg side or in front of point on the off side (this allows for the appropriate
positioning of fielders in slips, gully, wicket keeping positions). No player may enter this restricted
zone until after the ball:

• is hit by the batter, or
• strikes the body or equipment of the batter, or
• passes through to the wicketkeeper.

If they do, the umpire at either end should signal and call 'dead ball'. If a player enters the restricted zone before the bowler releases the ball, the umpire should prevent the delivery of the ball. The restricted zone should be marked by lines or suitably placed discs or markers.

In all age groups and in all representative games, players classified as close-to-the-bat fielders must wear a helmet with face guard, shin guards and a genital protector (if male). Except for the area between gully and leg slip, no player shall field closer than five (5) metres from the batsman unless that player wears an approved protective helmet with face mask or grille and a protector.

Teachers should discourage students from bowling fast short pitched balls and fast high full tosses. For cricketers under the age of 14 the following rule is recommended:

“Any ball that passes above the waist of a batter in his or her normal batting stance should be called a NO BALL by either umpire."

Students are to be instructed to consume water prior to and during the session to prevent dehydration. When the player is batting or bowling in hot conditions, fluid intake may need to be more frequent.

Teachers should take special care with fast bowlers as overuse injuries are the most common sporting injuries amongst young participants.

Young players should be discouraged from bowling too fast as poor technique and lack of physical maturity can lead to stress injuries. The following Fast Bowling Guidelines (issued by the Australian Cricket Board) should be used as a guide by schools:

UNDER 12 YEARS

Match - A limit of two spells of four overs with approximately a one hour break.

Practice - 2 x 30 minute practice sessions per week with a limit of 30 balls per session. Five metre short run - reduced pace. 20 minute match speed - coach controlled. Five minute specific technique development.

UNDER 14 YEARS

Match - A limit of two spells of five overs with approximately a one hour break.

Practice - 2 x 35 minute practice sessions per week with a limit of 30 balls per session. Five metre short run - reduced pace. 20 minute match speed - coach controlled. Ten minute specific technique development.

UNDER 16 YEARS

Match - A limit of two spells of five overs with approximately a one hour break.

Practice - 2 x 40 minute practice sessions per week with a limit of 36 balls per session. Five metre short run - reduced pace. 25 minute match speed - coach controlled. Ten minute specific technique development.

UNDER 19 YEARS

Match - A limit of three spells of eight overs with approximately a one hour break. A maximum
daily allocation of 20 overs should apply.

Practice - 3 x 40 minute practice sessions per week. Five metre short run - reduced pace. 25
minute match speed - coach controlled. Ten minute specific technique development.

Practice nets:

• should be in good condition with any holes repaired. Where a centre dividing net does not extend to the stumps at the bowler's end, bowlers must be instructed to take extra care.
• should have a designated area for new batters to pad up
• students must be instructed to watch and be wary of balls hit in the net area. Safe procedures for fielding balls in the net area must be issued to students.
• no student is to be in the nets as a wicketkeeper while batting is taking place
• the net must be clear of bowlers and fielders before the next ball is bowled to the batter.

For inexperienced cricketers, coaches should consider the use of modified balls. Smaller, lightweight, more manageable and less dangerous cricket balls are now available.

The balls used in Kanga Cricket and the popular "Incrediball" are examples of safer, modified balls. Where possible, ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.

Infectious Diseases (Blood Procedure)