Team Allocation Policy
(Junior Blasters, Master Blasters, under 10s, 11s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 17s)
1. Every player who registers in the correct time-frame (as advertised by the Registrar) is guaranteed of a place in a team within our club.
Registration within the correct time frame should be the only pre-requisite for allocation to a position in the South Perth Junior Cricket Club. Usually this is by the 31st August for Under 10s to Under 17s and up to two weeks later for Junior Blaster and Master Blaster players. Acceptance of registration will not be influenced by perceived level of ability or experience.
Particular team placings cannot be guaranteed at the time of registration and will only be considered by the committee in the first week of September when all registrations within the correct time-frame have been received and the bigger picture considered.
The number of teams nominated within each age-group will be kept flexible to accommodate all timely registrations as above.
2. Players who have registered on time (as above) should always be given priority in team placements
Players registering on time should receive priority . They should also not have their opportunities to bat and bowl diminished by having more than the recommended number of players loaded into their team. The recommended maximum number of players in each team is:
- Under 10s - mixed - 7 players
- Under 11s - mixed - 7 players
- Under 11s - girls - 7 players
- Under 13s - mixed - 11 players
- Under 13s - girls - 7 players
- Under 14s - mixed - 11 players
- Under 15s - mixed - 11 players
- Under 15s - girls - 9 players
- Under 17s - mixed - 11 players
In each case, we aim to have 1 to 2 extra players in each team in order to field a full team for each match as consideration needs to be given to other cricket, work and study commitments which may affect availability from week to week.
3. Late registrations will be placed in a team if possible, but players registering on time should receive priority.
Every attempt should be made to accommodate late registrations if a vacancy exists or there are enough players to nominate an extra team. Where there is no vacancy when a player registers late, he/she will be placed on a waiting list and may eventually be allocated a place if another player drops out. Players who have registered on time should always receive priority. Final team lists should not be delayed because players have not indicated whether they are playing. The efficient start-up of the team with regard to coaching, training etc. should receive top priority.
4. Every team will have their team list reallocated by the committee prior to the commencement of every season.
The Registrar and club committee are to maintain control of team lists at all times. This maintains a flexible approach when considering movement of players to the next age group and incorporating new players. Any conflict of interest should be strongly considered before allowing other parties to be involved.
Only individual player registrations will be accepted. Players wishing to be placed within a particular team or group of players, should indicate this in the preferences section on the registration form. Individual preferences and the team played with last season will be strongly considered by the committee, within the terms of this policy, when all timely registrations have been received.
Places will not be held for players who played last season, but have not registered for the current season. There are too many players who drop out of cricket each season for the club to follow them up individually. It is up to individuals (including committee members and coaches) whether they wish to take the time to remind players from last season (by phone or otherwise) to register. Players should not rely upon receiving a reminder by telephone.
5. Players should play in their correct age-group unless special circumstances exist.
See the club handout "Which Grade Should I Play". Dispensation will not be given to play at a lower grade. For girls playing in mixed teams the policy differs slightly and information is given in the same handout. Players wishing to play at a higher grade may make individual application to the committee outlining why they believe they should be allowed to do so. Group applications will not be considered as teams should be evenly selected in line with the overall policy.
6. Aim to select teams of approximately equal strength in each age group*.
Principles of fair play and the Department of Sport and Recreation's "Keep it Fun" policy should be maintained in ensuring all players receive equal opportunities and are not dominated by much stronger teams from within their own club. Whilst this may be difficult to determine prior to commencement, this should always be the aim.
7. Teams in each age group should include approximately equal distribution of first and second year players*.
With a few notable exceptions, players usually play in each age group for two seasons. This gives a mix of experienced players who have the opportunity of consolidating their skills in the second season without being under pressure to change formats every season and players (and parent helpers) new to that grade who have experienced players (parents) to guide them.
Groups of friends wishing to form a team of all first year players with the aim of continuing together to be all second year players next season have provided many problems for the committee in the past and are not to be encouraged. The overall team allocation policy should be reinforced in such cases.
8. New players should be distributed as evenly as possible across all the teams in a grade*.
Teams should not contain large numbers of new players if possible. This is to maintain the aim of each team being of approximately equal strength and also to provide guidance to inexperienced players and parent helpers.
New players may develop quickly and should be given every opportunity to do so.
9. The availability of coaches and other parent helpers should be considered when selecting teams.
Parent help is not always as forthcoming within some groups as it is in others, so the availability of parent help should be considered with the aim of each team having adequate coaching and assistance.
10. The South Perth Junior Cricket Club maintains ultimate control of each team.
Whilst constructive input from coaches, players and parents is considered where possible, teams are always allocated by the South Perth Junior Cricket Club as per the above policy. Team lists once allocated by the committee are final.
No team from last season, school or other outside group should consider that any team is their exclusive domain. Players may not be promised a place in any team prior to allocations being conducted by the committee. Whilst groups of friends who may be from a particular school etc. will be kept together if possible, players are strongly encouraged to mix with other players from the wider community in line with our club being a community group and not a cluster of individual smaller groups. Where possible, each team should contain players from a range of backgrounds to encourage individual social development of our children.
School grounds are hired as a club facility and are not the exclusive domain of players from that school, so will not be considered in the team allocation policy (although the location most convenient to the majority of team members will be taken into account in the ground allocation policy).
Addendum:
* It is acknowledged that individual extenuating circumstances may require slight variation from the above policies, however the general aims and intent should be adhered to at all times.
This policy has been formulated by extensive trial and error over many years and these policies are the ones that have evolved as the most successful and fair to all.
8 August 2018