Rules for the Lewes stoolball league

Please note that this version of the rules applies to the Lewes stoolball league and knock-out cup. Unless otherwise stated, all other matches follow the standard National Stoolball Assocation rules for stoolball.

Bowling

The ball shall be bowled underarm, not thrown or jerked, with both feet behind and within the extended returns of the bowling crease, otherwise the umpire shall call no ball. The bowler must not commence his/her run up from any point behind the wicket.

Batsman's innings

The incoming batsman should pass the outgoing batsman on the field of play and must touch the wicket or stake to commence his/her innings. A batsman may retire at any time with the consent of the opposing captain, when his/her innings shall be deemed completed. In the event of a batsman having to leave the field as a result of injury or illness, the injured batsmans innings may not be resumed until the fall of a wicket.

In mixed matches the batting order shall be gentleman and lady to open, and when a player is out, they shall be replaced by a player of the same sex. Unless all the players of that sex are already out.

Scoring

A run is scored:

so long as the batsmen, after a hit or at any time when the ball is in play shall have crossed and made good their ground from wicket to wicket, having touched the wicket or stake with their bat or hand. Should either batsman fail to touch the wicket or stake the umpire shall signal and call 'one short' and that run shall not be scored. In the event of a batsman being 'caught' or run out the uncompleted run shall not be scored.
A run may be added to the score when the umpire calls and signals a 'no

The umpire shall signal 'four runs' whenever the ball hits or crosses the agreed boundary after first touching the ground.
The umpire shall signal 'six runs' if the ball after being struck shall clear the ground and pass over the boundary. If the ball is caught by a fielder with any part of their body touching the ground outside the boundary the umpire shall signal 'six runs'.
In the event of overthrows the ball crosses the boundary, the score will be the total runs completed when the ball crosses the boundary plus four runs.

The over

The over shall consist of eight legitimate balls bowled to the wicket. 'no balls' or 'wides' are not considered legitimate balls. The next over will be bowled to the other wicket. In mixed matches a lady or gentleman will bowl alternate overs. No gentleman shall bowl more than three overs.

No ball

A no ball is a ball released by the bowler that:

is not delivered in accordance with the bowling rules as previously explained.
hits the ground before reaching the wicket.
reaches the wicket below 24 inches.
would have reached the wicket below 24 inches had the batsman not struck it.

The umpire shall call and signal a 'no ball' and one run shall be added to the score and recorded as a 'no ball' and an extra ball bowled. Should the batsman hit a 'no ball' any resulting runs shall be credited to his/her score. Any other runs completed as a result of the no ball shall be recorded as 'no balls'. A batsman cannot be 'caught' or 'bowled' from a 'no ball' , but may be run out.

Wide ball

If the bowler shall bowl the ball so high or so wide of the wicket that in the opinion of the umpire it is a fair delivery, the umpire shall call and signal 'wide ball' as soon as it passed the wicket. One run shall be added to the score and recorded as a 'wide' and an extra ball bowled. Any runs completed as a result of a 'wide ball' will be recorded as 'wides'. If the striker hits the ball it ceases to be a wide.

Bye

If the bowler bowls a legitimate delivery which is not struck by the bat or hand holding the bat and runs are obtained, these shall be recorded as 'byes' and signalled by the umpire accordingly. Any deliberate deflection of the ball, other than by the bat or hand holding the bat, shall be considered 'unfair play' and no runs recorded.

When the batsman is out

Bowled

The striking batsman is out 'bowled' if the wicket is hit by the ball when the bowler has bowled a legitimate delivery, even if the ball has first touched the bat or has been deflected onto the wicket by any part of the batsman's person. The striking batsman is also out 'bowled' if in the opinion of the umpire the ball bowled would have hit the wicket had it not been prevented from doing so by any part of the batsman's person, other than the hand holding the bat.

Caught

The striking batsman is out 'caught' if the ball from a strike off the bat or the hand holding the bat is held in the hand or hands of a member of the fielding team without touching the ground. Unless the batsmen have crossed the non-striker shall return to the wicket he/she has left

Run out

A batsman is out 'run out' if in running, or preparing to run, or 'out of his/her ground' whilst the ball is in play, the batsman has not touched the wicket or stake with the bat or hand before the wicket is touched by the ball, thrown, not placed, by a member of the fielding team. If the batsmen have crossed, the one running for the wicket that has been struck by the ball is out, otherwise it is the batsman who is nearest the wicket that that been struck who is out. A batsman is not out, if in the opinion of the umpire he/she is obstructed from touching or reaching the wicket or stake by a member of the fielding team.

When the bowler is preparing to deliver the ball, should the batsman at the bowler's end be 'out of his/her ground' the bowler may attempt to run him/her out after one warning has been given, provided this warning has been clearly seen by the umpire. Should the attempt result in the batsman being 'out' the ball shall not be counted as a delivery. Should the attempt fail and any runs result these shall be scored as 'byes' and the ball not counted as a delivery,

Hitting the ball twice

The striker is out if he/she hits the ball twice unless accidently.

Lost ball

In the unlikely event of a ball being lost whilst in the field of play, any member of the fielding side shall call 'lost ball' to the umpire and the striker shall be allowed three runs.

Umpire signals

To start match: Arm raised, palm to scorers.
No Ball: Call 'no ball'. Arm raised sideways at shoulder height.
Wide: Both arms outstretched sideways and call 'wide'.
Bye: One arm raised vertically above head.
Four Byes: One arm raised vertically above the head with the other arm crossing the body from side to side at shoulder height.
Four Runs: One arm only crossing the body from side to side at shoulder height.
Six Runs: Both arms raised vertically above head.
Player Out: Finger raised head height.
Not Out: Call 'not out'.
Over: Call 'over'.

Teams

Teams to be of 8 people, to contain at least 2 female

Venue

All matches to be at the Convent Field, Mountfield Road, Lewes.

Match fees

Match fees are to be 80p per person per game, to be paid to Simon Hall.

Rules

An extract from the rules is attached, but I would like to draw your attention to the following:

Games to be 10 overs each way except the tournament.
Any team with more than 2 females may receive 5 extra runs for each extra female.
In exceptional circumstances, if 2 females cannot be fielded, then 10 runs will be deducted for each male substituted.
Please leave the score sheets in the book and fill them in correctly.
Male bowlers may only bowl 3 overs in a match.
Once a player has played twice for one particular team, he or she may not play for any other team in a batting or bowling capacity, unless agreed by the opposing captain.
The innings is to be opened with one male and one female. If the male is out first, the next batsman must be a male, if the female is out, the next batsman must be female.
Please remember to run someone out, the face of the wicket must be hit, and you must let go of the ball.

Fixtures

Please turn up promptly for the games especially the 5.30 games so that it does not delay the following game.

The draw for the cup matches, and for the tournament groups will be made at the ground a few weeks before each competition starts. I know that some teams can muster more than 8 people, so they may wish to consider putting extra teams in for tournament night. If this is the case please let Simon Hall know.

If it rains

In the event of rain, a match will not normally be called off before 4pm. If it is raining at 4pm a decision will be made by the league organiser based on the weather forecast. If matches are cancelled, teams will be notified by email. If in doubt please ring the league organiser, Simon Hall, on 07876 037580.

If it starts to rain when teams are either preparing to play or are playing then it is for the team captains to decide whether it is safe to continue or not. If it rains during a 5.30pm game it should be assumed that the 6.30pm game should be cancelled and someone should contact the captains of the teams scheduled to play at 6.30pm and advise them the game is cancelled. The equipment should then be packed away as normal.

If you cancel at the last moment

Please note if you cannot raise a team at the last minute, you may still be charged for the game, as the pitches are all paid for in advance.