Please see the most recent Covid-19 update for clubs from Cricket Scotland:

“To regional contacts, junior development groups and club representatives,

“We are pleased to announce, that sportscotland have given approval for 11-a-side cricket training games to be played by children, young people and adults from Saturday 18 July, in accordance with specific guidance that can be found HERE.

“These matches must be played in an intra-club setting only, involving only members of that one club.

“We thank sportscotland for their support and hope that clubs will enjoy some ‘proper’ cricket activity within the club setting, as soon as they feel ready to do so, in compliance with the guidelines supplied.”

Please see below the most recent Covid-19 club update from the WDCU:

“Although we have now seen a return to cricket training, albeit with some significant restrictions, we thought it helpful, after the latest meeting of regional associations and Cricket Scotland on Wednesday, to remind clubs and players that no date has yet been confirmed for any return to senior match cricket, which is part of Phase 4 of the ‘route map’.  You may have seen the Cricket Scotland statement this morning, and we would reiterate that timescales and restrictions relating to this are essentially driven by the Scottish Government, not Cricket Scotland or the WDCU, and the next review date for this is the 30th July.  Previous relaxations have typically seen a delay of 7-10 days between announcement and implementation. It is also possible that any return to matches may initially be on an intra club basis (i.e, within a single club). This would clearly point to the 1st August being unlikely to be realistic if it is the case.

“The WDCU would also reiterate that any resumption of matches between different clubs (inter-club matches) would be along the lines of local friendlies only as it appears that travel has been identified as a major risk area by the authorities.”

Please see most recent safe return to local cricket message for clubs from Cricket Scotland: A WDCU statement will follow.

“Following the recent Scottish Government announcement that suggested we will be moving to Phase 4 during August, Cricket Scotland is mindful that clubs will require some time to prepare for game based activity potentially with modified rules and conditions.

“We are currently working with sportscotland to agree a return to cricket fixtures and envisage this will be introduced first at an intra-club level (matches between members within the same club) followed by local friendlies. Our intention is to agree a match format which complies with Scottish Government rules on staying safe, social distancing and the test and protect guidance. We will issue this guidance as soon as it is authorised by sportscotland.

“The timescales and restrictions relating to this are essentially driven by the Scottish Government, not Cricket Scotland and their next review date for this is on 30th July. Please be aware that previous relaxations have typically seen a staged approach, with a delay between announcement and implementation, therefore it is unlikely that inter-club fixtures (between different clubs) will be able to commence on 1st August.”

Please find below the most recent WDCU statement for clubs on arrangements for a safe return to local cricket:

“The WDCU were pleased to take part in discussions last week with many member clubs about ensuring all clubs get as much as they can out of the truncated season once the guidance allows match play to start.  We were especially buoyed by the collaborative and inclusive approach of the clubs and their understanding that all Government, Cricket Scotland and WDCU guidance must be adhered to and their appreciation that all clubs in the region will have different and varying needs and requirements.

“The clubs demonstrated a willingness to work within a framework of ‘local areas’ to organise their friendly fixtures and are free to organise fixtures as they so wish, within the aforementioned guidelines.  The WDCU would like to reiterate that, as friendly fixtures, clubs are encouraged to communicate with each other and organise the cricket that suits them best.  The WDCU is on hand to assist any club that needs help with either fixtures or ground availability issues.  All queries should, in the first instance, go to the administrator, Iain Kennedy –  admin@wdcu.co.uk.

“During the discussions, some clubs asked about the possibility of purchasing balls the WDCU has in stock.  There are currently stocks of both red and pink ‘Lords’ and ‘Oxbridge’ balls (some in limited number) which may be purchased.  Should your club need to purchase balls, please get in touch with the administrator as soon as possible so we can organise collection of the balls in a way that reduces the amount of travelling as much as possible.  It may be that one club in an ‘area’ can pick up balls for several clubs, for example.  In order to reduce travelling, we would encourage clubs to utilise the stocks of balls they have ‘at hand’ before purchasing more and remind them that, due to all fixtures being friendly, there is no regulation on make of ball used.”

Please see most recent COVID-19 update provided for clubs by Cricket Scotland:

Following Friday’s Phase 3 update, further guidance has been published including additional information relating to children and young people.

The document can be found HERE.

Please remember to send any questions or suggestions to general@cricketscotland.com

Please see note below sent to clubs this morning:

Dear clubs and coaches

Following yesterday’s announcement by the Scottish Government, please note sportscotland have authorised additional club activity as follows:

Adults

• Up to 15 individuals from no more than five households can take part in outdoor cricket activity.
• This remains subject to physical distancing measures at all times.
• Non-professional adult contact sport will not resume before the 31st of July.

Children and Young People

• From 13 July – up to ten under 12s from different households may take part in a group activity with no requirement for social distancing.
• From 13 July – up to ten 12 to 17 year olds from different households may take part in a group activity with no requirement for social distancing, however they must comply with the general population guidance (including social distance, etc.) before and after the activity.

Coaches

• Coaches should not deliver training to more than fourteen people from four households (or extended households) at any one time or provide coaching to more than four households (or extended households) per day, unless coaching children and young people (see below).
• Coaches can deliver training to children and young people on more than one occasion per day.
• This remains subject to physical distancing measures at all times.

This guidance has been updated on the Cricket Scotland COVID-19 page HERE

Please also remember to complete the short club survey to help us allocate support and to learn what challenges clubs have had to face, after the initial return of cricket activity.

Here is the link – Return to cricket – club survey, July 2020

Please see a statement sent to clubs today:

Good afternoon,

Please see below the most recent statement from WDCU regarding a safe return to local cricket.  Could you please ensure that your committee members are made aware of it. Also please ensure that all officials and members who are working on your potential fixtures for later in the season are made aware of this too.

Due to some direct queries received and some public conjecture, the WDCU would like to clarify some of the reasons why it has decided not to organise any competitions for season 2020 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and, instead, encourage clubs who want to organise fixtures, to do so on the basis of local friendlies once arrangements for matches have been confirmed.

The unprecedented situation has given rise to a number of difficulties in organising and playing cricket and the WDCU has been in regular contact with Cricket Scotland and other regional associations since March. We have made decisions based on these discussions, and the subsequent communications from Cricket Scotland  who have also been liaising with both sportscotland and the Scottish Government. Their advice has been paramount in arriving at our decisions.

The decision not to organise any competitive fixtures this year for WDCU clubs is fully supported by Cricket Scotland and is broadly in line with decisions of all other regional associations. The proposed start date of 1st August is still  to be confirmed by Cricket Scotland and they have also yet to confirm the protocols for match play, as well as any additional regulations which might apply.

The WDCU wants their clubs and players to play as much cricket as they can, as safely as possible. However, there is a large variance in the ability of our member clubs to participate safely and within the protocols referred to above. These may involve significant logistical arrangements, time and cost for our clubs. There are likely to be a number of clubs and players who will not be able or willing, for many reasons, to adhere to all of these requirements and safely take part in matches. In addition, some clubs may have  ground availability issues in both August and September.  The WDCU did not want to put any undue pressure on any club or player to play by organising competitions. This position has been broadly adopted by the other regional associations and supported by Cricket Scotland.

The WDCU covers a geographically diverse area. We do not want to impose undue travel on clubs/players in order to compete in a mandated competition. Due to current social distancing protocols, this would, almost certainly, require significantly more vehicles and trips than normal. The WDCU also feels a responsibility to the wider public to reduce, as much as possible, any risk of potential spread of the virus through undue travel to take part in our competitions.

Given all of the above, and the understandable desire from clubs for decisions to be made as early as possible to allow plans to be made, it was agreed by Cricket Scotland and all regional associations that  the best approach would be for matches to be arranged by clubs themselves as friendlies and on a local basis. It would allow those clubs and players who are keen to play to do so, within the regulations, and to arrange formats and teams that suit, while also allowing those that would rather not play, to avoid it. As we gain clarity on the match play regulations and start date, the WDCU will be happy to facilitate clubs to play as much cricket as possible, including but not limited to; assisting clubs requiring fixtures to access other club contacts and assisting those with ground and facility issues to find suitable alternatives. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CLUBS TO OFFER COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT TO OTHERS MORE ADVERSELY AFFECTED THAN THEMSELVES.

We have followed the lead of our governing body and have the safety of all our clubs, players, officials and the wider public as the absolute priority. The impact of the lack of cricket activity and match play on our clubs is acutely understood as all members of our committees have involvement at their own clubs and the hardship and distress felt by many is also felt by us.  Since lockdown restrictions have been imposed the WDCU has attempted to proactively assist clubs in what are unprecedented times, including by reimbursing annual subscriptions, making hardship support payments to all clubs, offering loan repayment deferrals, agreeing to cancel ball orders and refunding ball order payments, and raising awareness of other funding support that became available and that many clubs have successfully been in receipt of.

Decisions like this are not easy to make, nor are they ever universally popular.

As always, the decisions made are, in the judgement of those involved in WDCU, in the best interests of all.

Guidance on ‘Local’ cricket:

The WDCU would propose the following as guidance as to what it considers local to mean.

• Area Groups (such as exist for WDJCU purposes) or the McCulloch Cup ‘areas’ would be a starting point. However, there would be pragmatic leeway around these as some clubs may be closer to clubs in an adjoining area than some in their own area.
• Travelling time as well as distance should be considered, as well as the needs of the more geographically distant clubs.
• Clubs would not be restricted to playing within the WDCU area if it is easier for them not to – Stirling or Stenhousemuir may find it easier to play clubs in the west of the ESCA region, whilst the Dumfries and Galloway clubs could also do so in Cumbria.
• As an indication of hypothetical examples, Kilmarnock travelling to East Kilbride, or Poloc to Uddingston would both reasonably be considered ‘local’ even though these are in different ‘area groups’. Ayr to Stirling, or Greenock to Dumfries would not be considered as local.

Please see below an email sent to all clubs today regarding cricket match activity.  As there has been some correspondence/information received regarding cricket match activity please see the most up-to-date guidance from the WDCU:

The target date for resumption of games remains 1st August 2020.  This has not been confirmed yet by Cricket Scotland and remains open to change.

When the resumption of cricket matches is permitted, the WDCU does not propose to deliver any competitions, however are happy to facilitate matches by providing an up to date contacts lists for clubs to arrange games themselves.  The WDCU believe that locally, possibly hub-based, T20 matches are the best option due to continuing travel constraints and the lack of changing and catering facilities.

Should they require them, clubs will be responsible for arranging umpires and paying match fees and travel expenses.  The WDCU suggest that local umpires should be used where possible.

As any matches will not be run under formal WDCU auspices and therefore there are no PlayerReg requirements.

Clubs should be aware that it is their responsibility to conduct a risk assessment and to ensure that all relevant COVID-19 guidelines are adhered to should they organise any matches.”

Covid-19 return to cricket

Information sent from Cricket Scotland to all clubs on 1 July 2020.

“We have received further guidance today from sportscotland in regards to guidance for clubs to return to cricket.  Please note there is one major change to the key requirements and it is good news as we have been advised that toilet facilities can now open.  Scottish Government guidance on opening public toilets can be found here.  Additionally, outdoor hospitality, including catering and bar services, can reopen from 6 July 2020 providing they adhere to Scottish Government guidance.  Our guidelines have been updated to reflect this and can be found on the COVID-19 page here and the updated sportscotland document ‘Outdoor Sports Guidance’ can be found here.

“As before, please direct any questions or suggestions to: general@cricketscotland.com.”

Please see a further notice from Cricket Scotland.  Please note the information regarding the non use of toilets.

“Further to the email this morning, sportscotland have approved our guidance for clubs to return to cricket.  Please note there is one major change to the key requirements as we have been advised that toilet facilities must remain closed.  This was referred to in points 5 and 6 in the Key Requirements (which are now 9 Key Requirements!)  I suspect there will be further messages coming from sportscotland on the subject and we await further announcements from the Scottish Government.  The guidelines can be found on the Cricket Scotland website COVID-19 page HERE.  (Link also below.)

“We are keen to share FAQs and any innovative ideas that clubs have come up with on how to modify training therefore please get in touch with us at general@cricketscotland.com

“Cricket Scotland acknowledges the pressure that clubs will be under from members to get back to cricket activity – thank you for your patience and understanding during this incredibly challenging time.  Hopefully this is the start of a rapid return to cricket activity in Scotland.”

Covid-19 Return to cricket