Important notice to all clubs

As you will be aware, on Friday afternoon, the Scottish Government announced that Glasgow City local authority area will remain at Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions until at least Monday 24 May. As the rest of the local authority areas covered by the WDCU are going to Level 2, this now means that, from Monday 17 May until further notice, no club from Glasgow City can travel to a club outside their local authority area, and no club from outside can travel to Glasgow City to complete a fixture.  In addition, any player or official of a club in Glasgow City who lives outside that local authority area cannot travel to the club and, similarly, any player or official of a club outside of Glasgow City who lives inside that local authority cannot travel to the club. Because of these restrictions, the WDCU CMC have decided the following:

• The midweek cup fixtures scheduled for this week, commencing 17 May, are postponed, even where two competing clubs are not from Glasgow City local authority area. The CMC will consider whether these fixtures can be rearranged for a later date and will communicate this to all clubs as soon as possible.
• The full Saturday League programme for 22 May is declared null and void – even if the two clubs involved are outside of Glasgow City local authority area. As per the amended 2021 Saturday League Administration Regulations, it is declared a “Covid Round” and these fixtures will not be rescheduled.
• Any fixture which involves two clubs outside of the Glasgow City area can still be played as scheduled but it will not count towards the league placings. There will be no result reported and umpire appointments may also be affected. Clubs involved in fixtures where no team from Glasgow City is participating who wish to go ahead with their fixture should liaise with the opposition club this week to confirm.
• All fixtures involving a team from outside Glasgow City playing a club from Glasgow City must not go ahead, even on a friendly basis. In addition, clubs are reminded that any players who live in Glasgow City and play elsewhere or vice versa must not take part in any cricket activity this week that involves them travelling in or out of Glasgow City local authority area.
• Clubs in Glasgow may arrange friendlies between themselves on the same basis as pre-season but players must not travel from outside of Glasgow City local authority area to take part.
• If Glasgow moves down to Level 2 next week, the league season resumes as planned from round 2 on 29^th May and midweek fixtures in the week commencing 24 May will also proceed as planned.
• For those clubs involved in Scottish Cup and Challenge Cup matches on Sunday 23 May, Cricket Scotland will be issuing their guidance on this as they administer these competitions.
• Should Glasgow City remain in Level 3 from 24 May, the CMC will issue further guidance at that point.

Should any club have any questions or doubt about the above, please contact the administrator as soon as possible.

Duncan Paterson
WDCU CMC Chairman

Please note that the cup competition information that has been pulled through from CricketStats to the website has some erroneous date headers contained in them.  We are working to sort these out.

ALL ACCURATE CUP DRAWS AND BE FOUND IN THE DOCUMENT CENTRE OF THE WEBSITE.

Please find below an update from the WDCU.

The WDCU EGM was held by Zoom at 6.30pm on Wednesday the 5th of May. I have attached the draft minute of this meeting for your information. This minute will not be approved until our next AGM.

For Premier Division clubs only can I inform you that the proposed pilot of the cricket Scotland Digital Platform has been cancelled as there has not been enough time to share information and complete the necessary training.

As you know the new organisation, Cricket Scotland Match Officials Association, will be responsible for umpire appointments and payment of both match fees and travel expenses. Clubs are still required to pay the match fees and CSMOA will invoice clubs monthly in arrears for actual fees incurred. Please assist them by paying these fees promptly.

The new umpire appointment system will take time to bed in and the pool of available umpires is currently reduced, though that may improve as the season progresses. Also, due to COVID-19, the conditions under which we play have changed so I would ask that clubs do all they can to assist the umpires to ensure the smooth running of games.

For your information both West of Scotland and Hillhead report that there are parking meters on the roads surrounding their grounds. Also the entry to Pollok Country Park may be policed by Glasgow City Council staff who will let players and spectators in when you inform them that you are heading to Shawholm to play or watch cricket.

All league and cup competitions start next week and there are still a small number of fixtures and venues to be confirmed. These will be finalised as soon as possible.

There has been another update to the Saturday League Administration Rules, and it concerns protocols for rain interrupted matches. The detail is also attached with this update.

Can I wish all clubs good luck for the season, enjoy your cricket, stay safe and play within the Spirit of Cricket at all times.

Please keep checking our website for the most up to date COVID-19 guidance, Saturday League Administration Rules, and competition playing conditions, which may require further updates before, or during, the season.

WDCU EGM Minutes, 2021

Saturday league Administration Rules Rain interruptions

Iain Kennedy
WDCU Administrator

It is with great sadness that I pass on the news of the passing of Bill Mckaig. A well kent face at all west grounds, and in particular at Glenpark where he was right at home.  He was a real character with a sharp wit and repartee; he will be missed by all his friends and family.

Please see the most  update  to all club contacts from WDCU.

The WDCU EGM will be held by Zoom at 6.30pm next Wednesday, the 5th of May.  If you haven’t notified me who is attending from your club please do so as soon as possible.  Joining details will be sent out prior to the meeting.

All the league and cup competitions have been prepared and fixtures can be found in the document centre on the website.  Most have also been uploaded to Cricket Stats and they will all be once a few anomalies are dealt with.

The 2021 League Administration Regulations have been sent to you and as small changes continue to be made please check in the website document centre for the most up to date copy.

Please note most recent update was a small change to Regulation 15 Scoring relating to the provision of a scorer for an away team.

Also as we get nearer the start of the competitive season can I just re-emphasise a part of the CMC Chair Duncan Patersons earlier message to clubs regarding the temporary amendments to our regulations:

“The CMC will penalise clubs where it feels they have fallen short of the spirit of these changes.”

All competition Playing Conditions have been updated, and can be found on the  website. Significant changes were made in the Premier Division, Division 1, Division 2, and Premier Reserve League conditions in preparation for the 2020 season, and these are highlighted in blue.  Again minor changes may occur so please keep checking the website for the most up to date copy.

We are receiving and forwarding to all clubs regular COVID-19 updates from Cricket Scotland. They can also be found on our social media platforms.

https://wdcu.co.uk/

https://www.cricketscotland.com/

Iain Kennedy
WDCU Administrator

Please see the most recent update from CS regarding a safe return to cricket:

Afternoon Clubs

Please note we have updated the guidance for Level 3 as summarised below – the full document can be found HERE.

• The guidance around the sharing of cars for Level 2 has been extended to Level 3:

4.1 From 26^th April (level 3), players travelling to and from the venue should avoid car sharing with people outside their extended household unless necessary

• Removal of the requirement for batters to run in distinct lines

4.5 Batters should try to run in distinct running lines to ensure they are not within 2m of the bowler or other batter. Lines to be marked on the square either side of the wicket

• Additional sentence for umpires regards COVID risks during play

4.7 Umpires may remind players of COVID regulations if deemed appropriate

• Additional sentence on spectators

4.9 Members attending a licensed outdoor bar at the club are not classified as spectators

N.B. There is a suggestion that the Scottish Government may relax the rules on no spectators for Level 2 areas – this will be confirmed in early May.

Please find attached below a summary of key factors to remember for players and officials prior to playing fixtures versus other clubs – please share with your members as appropriate.

CLUB CRICKET CHECKLIST LEVEL 3 (1)

Please see most recent COVID-19 guidance provided by Cricket Scotland:

Dear Clubs

Following today’s Scottish Government announcement, updated guidance has been published for entering into Level 3 on Monday 26th April – these can be found on the Cricket Scotland COVID-19 page, here.

Additionally, a route map for changes within the various Scottish Government protection levels has been attached.

Key changes from Monday 26th are:

• Adult and junior club fixtures can now take place between two clubs (maximum bubble of 30).
• Travel is permitted between all Level 3 areas. In Level 3, players travelling to and from the venue must not mix household, i.e. no car sharing (please note this restriction changes in Level 2).

A few other points to remind club officials and members are:

• Clubs should appoint a COVID Officer and ensure that a nominated COVID Monitor is present at the club when there is cricket activity – this can be a coach, team captain or parent. We would recommend that all COVID Monitors complete the sportscotland online module which is available here.
• During club fixtures, a register of all attendees including umpires and scorers should be maintained and administered by the home COVID Monitor.
• No spectators are permitted except for parents or guardians of vulnerable adults – this may be relaxed as we enter into Level 2.  Any parents or guardians attending must adhere to physical distancing.
• Off the field, teams must not congregate together at any time.
• Changing rooms must remain closed. Toilets can be open.

As always, the above is subject to any changes in guidance from the Scottish Government and your club, facility and members must be made aware of, and able to adapt to, changes in guidance at short notice; for example, a local lockdown.

All of us at Cricket Scotland are looking forward to the start of the season – thanks for your continuing patience and adherence to restrictions. Enjoy your cricket and stay safe.

Return to cricket, route map, 2021

The notice for the WDCU pre-season General Meeting has just been sent to clubs:

Good evening,

This is notification that the pre-season General Meeting of The WDCU will be held on Wednesday 5th May, 2021, online (via Zoom), at 6.30pm.  The meeting notice and agenda are attached.

All clubs are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting – although, to aid the smooth running of the online meeting, attendance will be limited to a maximum of two attendees per member club.  Please confirm your club’s attendance by emailing the names (and email addresses) of your club’s representatives to the Administrator (admin@wdcu.co.uk) by 9pm on Sunday 2nd May, 2021.

An email containing the meeting link will be sent out to those who have registered prior to the meeting.

Iain Kennedy
WDCU Administrator

Please see most recent communication from WDCU to clubs regarding pre season friendlies.

As the Scottish Government has confirmed that the whole of Scotland will be returning to Level 3 from Monday 26th April, clubs can arrange pre-season friendlies on a local basis after this date on the same basis as games were completed in late August and September last year. As a reminder, please ensure travel is kept to a minimum and clubs should follow Scottish Government guidance and Cricket Scotland guidance when it is published in the near future.

Iain Kennedy
WDCU Administrator

Please see note sent to club contacts this morning from CMC Chairman Duncan Paterson:

Hi everyone,

Please find attached the Saturday League fixtures for season 2021.

League and cup fixtures – Western District Cricket Union (wdcu.co.uk)

The season will run from Saturday 22 May to Saturday 18 September dependent on Scottish Government and Cricket Scotland  COVID-19 regulations.  Should there be changes to regulations that impede the completion of the scheduled fixtures, the CMC may have to alter, suspend or cancel the league season.  This may also, as per the amended regulations for 2021 previously sent, lead to the suspension of promotion and relegation.

Compiling the fixtures for 2021 season has been a difficult task due, not only to the delay to the season and the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic, but also to an unprecedented amount of ground availability issues, coupled with the late withdrawal of three teams from the Saturday League structure.

In order to give every team the most amount of meaningful cricket possible, the CMC has merged Divisions 3 and 4 into one division of fourteen teams.  Despite the challenges, we have prepared a season comprising of fifteen fixtures for all clubs in that division over the eighteen-week season.

All other divisions will compete in a ten-team, eighteen-week, league season.

Due to the many ground availability issues, it has been unavoidable that some fixtures are scheduled on a Sunday and, although this is not ideal, we have had no choice this year.  We have kept it to the minimum possible amount and, at present, it only affects certain second elevens.

The CMC would like to thank David Sturgeon for his assistance in drawing up the fixtures. Should any club have any further issues with ground availability or their ability to complete their scheduled fixtures, they are asked to get in touch with the Administrator as soon as possible.

Kind regards.

Duncan Paterson
WDCU CMC Chairman