Nets Safety

Kit and Equipment

1. No kit bags to be left on the artificial playing surface or within the hitting range/direction of practice.
2. Only suitable footwear to be worn (i.e. rubber-soled non-marking cricket shoes or trainers, absolutely NO spikes, heels, smooth soles or street shoes).
3. Batters working with a hard ball must wear adequate protection (helmet, box, pads, etc.).
4. All under 18s must wear a helmet while batting.
5. Only proper leather cricket balls or bowling machine balls to be used in the nets. Tennis balls or purpose made “incrediballs” may be used in appropriate circumstances and as directed by a club official (coach, etc.).
6. No footballs, rugby balls or similar to be used in the nets.

Safety

1. Absolutely no spectators to be inside the nets.
2. Batters must pad up outside the net area and at a safe distance.
3. Bowlers should bowl only when the batter is ready and must face the batter at all times. Bowlers should not bowl if a loose ball is in the net.
4. A cry of “STOP” should immediately cease all activity in all nets to address any safety issues.
5. Ball throwers must not be used by any under 18s
6. Balls should be returned immediately by the batter and should not be left loose in the net.
7. Balls must be retrieved from side netting using the Safe Method:
   1. Check that no one is bowling in the adjacent net.
   2. Once safe, remove the ball from the net using foot or bat.
   3. Pick the ball up only when the ball is out of and away from the net.
   4. Keeping your eyes on the net at all times when walking back to the back.
8. Bowling must be in accordance with the laws of cricket: from a legal distance, legal action and no deliberate excess of short bowling.
9. Any training on the play of short bowling must be supervised by a qualified coach.
10. Bowling machine: The bowling machine should only be used by those qualified and/or authorised to operate the machine and over 18.

Safety

The following procedures are in place to ensure the safety of our junior members (members under the age of 18):

1. All sessions MUST be conducted under the supervision of an ECB qualified coach.
2. Proper protective equipment (including helmet) MUST be worn when batting facing a hard ball.
3. Coaches MUST inspect the cage and netting prior to the session commencing to ensure that the environment is safe and appropriate.
4. All equipment, including kit bags, must be stored away from the nets.
5. All players using the nets for practice must behave in a proper and correct manner.
6. All equipment must be stored away properly after each session.

Net usage outside of arranged training sessions

All use of the nets outside of arranged training sessions must take place subject to the following conditions:

1. Nets MUST be inspected prior to use and any damage must be reported and the net session stopped until such damage has been rectified and the nets have been deemed safe again.
2. All junior members under the age of 16 must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult.
3. Each net may have a maximum of 6-8 participants: 1-2 batters, 1-2 padding up, 4-6 bowling.
4. Members under the age of 18 who are using the net facilities are the responsibility of their parents/guardians/carers.
5. Anyone using the nets without the supervision of a qualified coach do so AT THEIR OWN RISK.
6. The use of helmets and other protective equipment is essential when using a hard ball.
7. Nets must be left in the condition they were found in, with stumps left in appropriate position and any rubbish removed.
8. Any damage to the nets or other club equipment or assets must be reported to the club immediately (see contact details at the end of this policy document).
9. Anyone who observes unsafe behaviour or poor practice must report the matter to the Club Safeguarding Officer(s) using the contact details included at the end of this policy document.

Bowling machine

1. The bowling machine may only be used if accompanied by a qualified user (a qualified user being someone who has been shown how to use a bowling machine correctly).
2. Any member using the bowling machine does so at their own risk.
3. The qualified user is responsible for ensuring the safety of all people using the bowling machine while the bowling machine is in their care and all members using the bowling machine must be informed of the importance of health and safety and this policy.
4. Any member who breaches the recommended operating procedures from the manufacturer does so entirely at their own risk and Winsley Cricket Club accepts no liability for non-compliance on the part of its members.
5. Any member found to be using the bowling machine improperly will be suspended from further use and disciplinary action may be taken.
6. Any member found to cause damage may be liable for repair charges.
7. Any member using the bowling machine must accept FULL responsibility for the bowling machine and sundries (including balls) and any loss may result in the member being held liable for replacement charges.
8. The bowling machine must not be operated under the age of 18.

Any member found to be in breach of any of this policy risks suspension from further use of the nets and/or bowling machine and possible disciplinary action.

Reporting damage

Please report any damage to the nets, other equipment or club assets to safeguardingwinsleycc@gmail.com without delay.

Safeguarding/poor practice

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and everyone involved in cricket Winsley Cricket Club should understand the importance of keeping children, young people and adults safe. We ask that you notify the Club Safeguarding Officer(s) via

safeguardingwinsleycc@gmail.com

if you observe poor practice or dangerous behaviour in the nets.