Several updates for you to digest.
Pre-season meeting
This will take place on Sunday 19th April, 10am for 10.30am start at Billericay Cricket Club - vital that every club sends a representative.
Balls
Thank you to all clubs who managed to get their details over, for whether they were collecting the balls or needed them delivered to them. Dukes are currently finalising the balls, and we will let you know when they are ready to be picked up.
Following some headlines about the balls being delayed, we have spoken to Dukes and they have confirmed that they have no major delays impacting them. Their only issue is that we have ordered more pink balls than previously and clubs will get half of their order at start of the season and another batch midway through - but this is down to the order size, rather than any other issues.
ECB Requirements
We have had junior requirements through from the ECB for what clubs must do by October 31st 2026 to be able to play top two divisions of 1st XI in 2027.
1) A cricket programme available for 5-11 years, which can include All Stars OR Dynamos OR a club’s own 5-11 years Programme.
2) At least three hardball junior teams, which can include a girls’hardball team. These teams can be at any Age Group from and including U9 up to U18 level and must enter a formal league competition recognized by the RCB (Essex).
3) Have a Girls’ Section*. This section can be at any Age Group from and including U9 up to U18 level.
* - A Girls' Section is defined as a minimum of one girls' team playing in either a softball or hardball fixture, league or friendly, indoors, or outdoors, on Play-Cricket.
All 1st XI Prem and Div 1 clubs must meet the above requirements by 31st October 2026.
Club Safeguarding Officer
A reminder to contact Graeme graemef55@gmail.com from Hornchurch with the below information.
A reminder that all clubs must have a Club Safeguarding Officer, these people must have valid and up-to-date qualifications.
https://essexcricket.org.uk/safeguarding/ is where you can find details of training if you have someone who needs it. There is one session left in May.
To keep up to date with all clubs and their Safeguarding, Graeme from Hornchurch CC has very helpfully agreed to keep a list of all CSOs and the dates that their qualifications are valid for.
Please can all clubs please email Graeme graemef55@gmail.com with the following information.
For all qualified CSOs at a club
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Name
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Email contact
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Date of expiry of qualification of in-person SGL3 course (this can be found out on the Safe Hands Management System Screengrab attached)
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Date of expiry of qualification online SGL2 course (this can be found on the ECB elearning site https://elearning.ecb.co.uk/)
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Day and Month of DBS renewal (needs to be done each year) again, this can be found on Safe Hands Management System
Failure to have a qualified CSO at the club could lead to severe penalties. The above is to help make sure clubs do have all boxes ticked.
Junior Helmet Requirements
There is updated guidance around junior helmets; juniors are strongly recommended to have neck protection on their helmets.
You can read more about that here https://essexcricket.org.uk/2026/01/30/recreational-regulation-and-safety-changes-for-the-2026-season/
Safety Around Boundaries
Clubs should be aware of the safety margin around boundaries. Spelt out below, there should be a safety margin of 3 yards (2.74m) and sightscreens should not at any stage come onto the field of play.
Panel umpires will will be inspecting boundaries at matches this season, and wanting to making sure that boundaries are a safe distance from barriers and walls etc. Please try to accommodate the safety margins so as not to cause delays at starts of matches.
Read more here https://toolkit.thegma.org.uk/cricket/monthly-maintenance/cricket-in-season/preparing-the-ground-for-play/setting-and-marking-the-boundary/
“Boundary Safety margins
Please note Law 19.1.2: ‘The boundary shall be determined such that no part of any sight-screen will, at any stage of the match, be within the field of play.’
In addition to the Laws of the Game, the ECB recommends that a safety margin of at least three yards (2.74 m) beyond the boundary should be maintained. This safety zone should be clear of any hard or injurious material/object (for example seating, sight screens, advertising boards, fencing etc) or any significant change of slope or ground condition that could cause a player injury whilst they are fielding near to or beyond the boundary.
Setting this safety margin is really important because players can approach boundaries at a pace and body position that means that they need this safe zone to decelerate safely. The safety margin should take precedence over boundary dimensions – it is better to have a shorter boundary than unsafe objects within the safety margin.”
Player Nominations
If you haven’t already please start putting player nominations into Play Cricket, this makes life easier for us all when it comes to the first league games.
Cup Final Hosts
We have a few new cup competitions this season, Hornchurch will once again be hosting the League Cup Final on Saturday 12th September. While Billericay will be hosting T20 Finals Day on Sunday 19th July.
But we are looking for hosts for the following finals
- League Cup Plate (likely Saturday 12th but flexible)
- T20 Plate (Early September)
- Jeff Rodrigues T20 Club Comp (End of July)
If your club is interested, message me at tpc1981@hotmail.com
Lots of information to digest above
Please make sure to action everything.
Any questions or clarifications required, let me know.
Thomas Clarke
HFEL Chairman
tpc1981@hotmail.com
07763607076