Spring Meeting

Apologies for the delay in announcing this, but the WCCL Spring Meeting will be at Selwyn Hall, Box, on Tuesday 23rd April. The meeting starts at 19:45, and should be pretty short.

Selwyn Hall is next to the cricket club in Box, postcode SN13 8NT. From Chippenham on the A4, after passing the Queens Head pub on the right, take the next right into Valens Terrace. The hall is on the left, and immediately after the hall, bear right into the car park. From Bath on the A4, after the traffic lights at the junction with the A365 to Melksham, there are two roads off to the left at the same junction. Take the second one - Valens Terrace. The hall is on the left, and immediately after the hall, bear right into the car park.

Umpire Courses

It was previously announced that to count as ACO-Trained, umpires would have to complete the new Umpire's course and the CPD modules. However, the CPD modules have been delayed. Therefore anybody who has completed the new umpire's course will be considered ACO-Trained for 2024, but if they do not then complete the CPD modules, they will be downgraded to forum-trained for 2025.

We also said that there would be an online-only course available for people to become forum-trained. This course has also been delayed. However, it should be available before too long. We will announce on the league website when it is available, including registration instructions. Apologies for the delay with this, which is beyond our control.

Play Cricket Import

The Play Cricket import now has a second option, which should work for all scorecards including those which have ball-by-ball scoring, and FrogBox videos. Please report if it does not work.

League Rules 2024

The league rules for 2024 are now available to download from here. Please make sure you at least look at page 3 (rules which have changed for 2024). Please also look at page 2 (rules which vary from division to division) if you have been promoted or relegated for 2024.

Umpire Qualifications for the WCCL - 2024 and Beyond.

As you may know, the ECB ACO are redeveloping the umpire's education pathway. The pathway will consist of:

(1) A course, designed by the ECB ACO. This contains an online module and then a day's face-to-face course. It will also be possible to do the online module without continuing on to the face-to-face course.

(2) Seven "CPD Modules". These are face-to-face, and take 60-90 minutes each. They are run by WACO. The format is yet to be decided, but it may be that you do all seven in a day, or in 2-3 evenings, etc.

The current expected timescale is:

- The course is already available to book. There are two being run in Wiltshire, on 21st January and 3rd March. See https://www.wiltshirecricket.co.uk/officials/umpire-courses.html for details.
- The online only part of the course will be announced in the New Year.
- The CPD modules will probably be announced in March.

For the WCCL, the following will apply:

- Anybody who has done the online module of the course will be considered to be Forum-Trained.
- Anybody who has done both the full course and the seven CPD modules, will be considered to be ACO-Trained.

Anybody who is already Forum-Trained or ACO-Trained will continue to receive points for this.

AGM Minutes

The minutes of the AGM are now available to download

Club Contact Details

Once your club has had its AGM, please log into the website and update your officers and provide details of your team captains for 2024. Please ensure this is done by the end of March 2024.

Pitch Marks

The pitch marks for the 2023 season can now be downloaded here.

Concussion Protocol

The ECB have recently released their latest guidance on the management of concussions. You can find it here.

In summary, if a player has a blow to the head and has any of the following symptoms, you must treat it as concussion:
- Loss of consciousness or responsiveness
- Lying motionless on ground/slow to get up
- Unsteady on feet/balance problems or falling over/incoordination
- Dazed, blank or vacant look
- Slow to respond to questions
- Confused/not aware of plays or events
- Grabbing/clutching of head
- An impact seizure/convulsion
- Tonic posturing - lying rigid/motionless due to muscle spasm (may appear to be unconscious)
- More emotional/irritable than normal for that person
- Vomiting

Any player with a concussion or a suspected concussion must take no further part in the match. You then need to read the full guidance, as depending on their symptoms, they may also need medical assessment, and there are also restrictions on various activities including drinking, driving, and when they can return to training and playing cricket.

Compliance with the concussion guidelines is mandatory in the WCCL.