2016 Season Cricket Leagues and Competitions
The official junior cricket age groups for organised competitions are under 19, under 17, under 15, under 13, under 11 and under 9; there is not an age group for every school year. Listed below are details of the leagues/competitions we have entered at each group. We do not have an under 19 team, our players of this age group all play regular adult cricket.
Age groups are based on the age of the player on the 31st August of the preceding year. The ECB allows leagues to amend rules to enable girls to play outside their age group. E.g. a year 8 boy with a 1st September birthday is the oldest boy that can play under 13 cricket, but a year 9 girl may still play under 13 cricket. There is nothing to stop players from a younger age group playing with older players, though it would probably not be appropriate to play an under 11 in an under 17 game.
Under 17
We have an under 17 team in the Junior North division of the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. There is a 20 overs a side league and both 20 over and 15 over cup competitions. This is serious cricket with a professional approach to administration. Each match has a league appointed umpire, most matches are played on a Monday night and matches must be played at our main ground.
Under 15
For the past few years we have had a team in the NYACC (North Yorkshire Area Cricket Council) under 15 league and this will continue. Matches are 20 overs a side, there is an early season cup competition which starts in April followed by a league which finishes in early August. Most fixtures are on Sunday mornings.
This year, due to the strength of our year 10 players, to give opportunities to a wider group of players, will have also entered a team in the Hambleton and District League. The teams in this league are a mixture of extra teams from larger clubs like Richmondshire, teams from small town clubs like Bedale and Northallerton and teams from larger village clubs. Matches are 20 overs a side. Standard day for fixtures is Monday evenings, though this can change. The fixtures run from the start of the season until the beginning of the school holidays.
Juniors from year 9 upwards may also play adult cricket if they wish to.
Under 13
We have few members in year 8, most of our under 13 age group players are in year 7. We will have a team in the NYACC under 13 league. Matches are both 11 player 20 overs a side and 10 players a team pairs cricket, there is again an early season cup competition which starts in April followed by a league which finishes in early August. Fixtures are on midweek evenings.
If the Darlington and District Junior League runs, we will have a team in this league. The cricket played in this league is 8 players a team pairs cricket and there are no fixed days for fixtures. If the league does not run, we will instead arrange friendlies with clubs that were in this league and other local clubs.
Year 8 players may play adult cricket if written permission is given by both a parent/guardian and ECB level 2 coach. Year 7 players wanting to play adult cricket need to be in county or area junior squad, parental permission and a level 2 coach's recommendation are not sufficient.
Under 11
The under 11 team will play 10 players a team pairs cricket in the NYACC league, which again consists of an early season cup competition which starts in April followed by a league which finishes in early August. This is the youngest age group at which a hard ball is used.
Under 9
For the first time, we will have an under 9 team, which will play in the Hambleton and District League. This should give us 6 to 8 fixtures at this age group, which will finish by the school holidays. This is soft ball cricket, which is normally played on the outfield of a ground. As an example, we should be able to host an under 9 match and junior training at the same time on a Friday night if we want to.
Age groups are based on the age of the player on the 31st August of the preceding year. The ECB allows leagues to amend rules to enable girls to play outside their age group. E.g. a year 8 boy with a 1st September birthday is the oldest boy that can play under 13 cricket, but a year 9 girl may still play under 13 cricket. There is nothing to stop players from a younger age group playing with older players, though it would probably not be appropriate to play an under 11 in an under 17 game.
Under 17
We have an under 17 team in the Junior North division of the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. There is a 20 overs a side league and both 20 over and 15 over cup competitions. This is serious cricket with a professional approach to administration. Each match has a league appointed umpire, most matches are played on a Monday night and matches must be played at our main ground.
Under 15
For the past few years we have had a team in the NYACC (North Yorkshire Area Cricket Council) under 15 league and this will continue. Matches are 20 overs a side, there is an early season cup competition which starts in April followed by a league which finishes in early August. Most fixtures are on Sunday mornings.
This year, due to the strength of our year 10 players, to give opportunities to a wider group of players, will have also entered a team in the Hambleton and District League. The teams in this league are a mixture of extra teams from larger clubs like Richmondshire, teams from small town clubs like Bedale and Northallerton and teams from larger village clubs. Matches are 20 overs a side. Standard day for fixtures is Monday evenings, though this can change. The fixtures run from the start of the season until the beginning of the school holidays.
Juniors from year 9 upwards may also play adult cricket if they wish to.
Under 13
We have few members in year 8, most of our under 13 age group players are in year 7. We will have a team in the NYACC under 13 league. Matches are both 11 player 20 overs a side and 10 players a team pairs cricket, there is again an early season cup competition which starts in April followed by a league which finishes in early August. Fixtures are on midweek evenings.
If the Darlington and District Junior League runs, we will have a team in this league. The cricket played in this league is 8 players a team pairs cricket and there are no fixed days for fixtures. If the league does not run, we will instead arrange friendlies with clubs that were in this league and other local clubs.
Year 8 players may play adult cricket if written permission is given by both a parent/guardian and ECB level 2 coach. Year 7 players wanting to play adult cricket need to be in county or area junior squad, parental permission and a level 2 coach's recommendation are not sufficient.
Under 11
The under 11 team will play 10 players a team pairs cricket in the NYACC league, which again consists of an early season cup competition which starts in April followed by a league which finishes in early August. This is the youngest age group at which a hard ball is used.
Under 9
For the first time, we will have an under 9 team, which will play in the Hambleton and District League. This should give us 6 to 8 fixtures at this age group, which will finish by the school holidays. This is soft ball cricket, which is normally played on the outfield of a ground. As an example, we should be able to host an under 9 match and junior training at the same time on a Friday night if we want to.
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