Welwyn Garden City Cricket Club

All members are required to read the new policy before using the nets.

Welwyn Garden City Cricket Club Practice Facilities Policy

Purpose: The policy aims to ensure the safe and appropriate use of the practice facilities at Welwyn Garden City Cricket Club, fostering a conducive environment for all playing members while maintaining the facilities in optimal condition.

Kit & Equipment Rules:

1. Kit Placement: Avoid placing kit bags on the artificial playing surface or within the hitting direction during practice sessions.
2. Footwear: Wear appropriate footwear, such as rubber-soled (non-marking) cricket shoes or trainers. Spikes, heels, smooth soles, or street shoes are not permitted.
3. Protection: Batters using a hard ball must wear adequate protective gear, including helmets, boxes, and pads.
4. Under 18's Safety: All individuals under the age of 18 must wear a helmet while batting.
5. Ball Usage: Only proper leather cricket balls or bowling machine balls are allowed in nets. Tennis balls or purpose-made "incrediballs" may be used in specific circumstances.
6. Prohibited Items: Footballs, rugby balls, etc., are not permitted in the nets.

Net Safety Rules:

1. No Spectators: Spectators are not allowed in the nets area for safety reasons.
2. Preparation: Batters should pad up outside the net area.
3. Bowling Protocol: Bowlers should only bowl when the batter is ready and should maintain visual contact with the batter. They must refrain from bowling if a loose ball is present in the net.
4. Emergency Stop: A loud cry of "STOP" should immediately halt all activity in the nets to address any safety concerns.
5. Ball Handling: Batters must promptly return balls, ensuring they are not left loose in the net.
6. Safety Retrieval: Balls should be retrieved safely from the side netting by the batter, ensuring no imminent bowling and mutual awareness with other batters.
7. Adherence to Cricket Laws: Bowling must adhere to the laws of cricket, including legal distance and action, and avoiding deliberate excess of short bowling.
8. Maximum Occupancy: The recommended maximum number of players in a net at any given time is six, including two batters with one padding up and four bowlers.

Nets used for ARRANGED practice sessions:

1. Supervision: Sessions must be conducted under the supervision of an ECB qualified coach.
2. Safety Checks: Coaches must inspect the cage and netting before practice to ensure a safe environment.
3. Equipment Storage: All equipment, including kit bags, must be stored away from the nets.
4. Behavior: Players must behave appropriately during net practice.
5. Post-Session: Equipment must be properly stored after each practice session.

Nets used by members outside normal practice sessions:

1. Responsibility: The club does not accept responsibility for unaccompanied children using the nets, and members under 18 are the responsibility of their parents/guardians/carers.
   
2. Safety Disclaimer: Users without a qualified coach's supervision do so at their own risk.
   
3. Safety Standards: Proper protective wear, including helmets, is mandatory when using a hard ball.
   
4. Cleanliness: Nets must be left in their original condition, with equipment returned to the changing room and any rubbish removed.

Bowling Machine Policy:

1. Usage Protocol: Only senior members with prior committee agreement may use the bowling machine.
   
2. Safety Responsibility: Qualified users are responsible for ensuring the safety of all users and must inform them of health and safety policies.
   
3. Compliance: Users must adhere to the manufacturer's recommended operating procedures; non-compliance absolves the club of liability.
   
4. Disciplinary Action: Improper use may result in suspension and potential disciplinary action.
   
5. Charges: The committee reserves the right to introduce hiring charges if necessary.
   
6. Damage Liability: Users causing damage may be liable for repair charges.
   
7. Equipment Responsibility: Users accept full responsibility for the machine and accessories; loss results in replacement charges.
   
8. Transportation: Prior permission is required from club officials for off-site use.
9. Post-Use: Equipment must be returned to the storage unit after use.

Additional Guidelines:

• Nobody under the age of 18 may operate the bowling machine.
• Users must report any faults, damage, or problems with the nets or bowling machine to a relevant member of the committee immediately.

Sidearm (Ball Thrower) Use

To ensure a safe training environment and fulfil the Club’s duty of care under ECB Safe Hands guidance:

1. Sidearms (and similar ball-propelling devices) must only be used by experienced adults or qualified coaches.
2. Players must not use sidearms unsupervised, particularly in mixed-age sessions.
3. Before using a sidearm, users must demonstrate competence and control under the supervision of a coach or the session lead.

Coaches using sidearms in junior sessions must ensure:

1. The batter is fully padded up and wearing a helmet.
2. All other players remain outside the immediate delivery area.
3. Any unsafe use should be immediately reported to the Director of Cricket or Safeguarding Officer.

Reason: Sidearms propel the ball at high speed and can be difficult to control without practice, creating a significant risk of injury.

Helmet Neck Guards (Stem Guards)

WGCCC strongly encourages all players (junior and senior) to wear a helmet fitted with a neck guard/stem guard when batting or keeping wicket.

1. This recommendation is supported by ECB guidance and recent examples of serious injuries in both professional and amateur cricket, including the tragic case of a young player in Melbourne.
2. Players and parents (for juniors) are reminded that:
3. Neck guards reduce the risk of life-changing injury.
4. Helmets must comply with British Standard BS7928:2013 or later.
5. From 2025 onwards, the use of helmets with neck guards may become mandatory for all junior sessions, and will continue to be strongly advised for all senior training and matches.

Reference: BBC Sport – “Cricketer Ben Stokes calls for helmet stem guards to be mandatory”