1. No kit bags are permitted on the artificial playing surface, or within the hitting direction of practice.
2. Wear suitable footwear i.e. rubber-soled (non-marking) cricket shoes or trainers. NO Spikes, NO heels, NO smooth soles, NO street shoes.
3. Batters working with a hard ball must wear adequate protection, helmet, box, pads etc.
4. All Under 18’s must bat in a helmet and also if keeping wicket.
5. Only proper leather cricket balls or bowling machine balls to be used in nets. Tennis balls or purpose made “incrediballs” may be used in appropriate circumstances.
6. No footballs, rugby balls etc. to be used in the nets
1. Use of the nets whilst a match is being played is prohibited, except by the match participants themselves. The nets are solely for the use of the teams involved in the match and then they should follow the ECB guidelines on net usage.
2. No spectators are to be in the nets.
3. Batters should pad up outside the net area and to one side, well away from the netting, to avoid being hit by balls coming out of the nets or being hit into the netting.
4. Bowlers should only bowl when the batter is ready and should face the batter at all times. They should not bowl if a loose ball is in the net.
5. A loud cry of “STOP” should stop activity in all nets immediately to address any safety issues.
6. Balls should be returned immediately by the batter and not left to lie loose in the net.
7. Balls must be retrieved from the side netting by the Safe Method, which is:
8. Bowling must be in accordance with the laws of cricket - from legal distance, legal action, no deliberate excess of short bowling.
9. Training in the play of short bowling must be coach-supervised.
10. Bowling machines: These should only be used by those qualified and/or authorised to do so during arranged practice sessions.
11. For the safety of our youth members (those under the age of 18) the following procedures are in place:
a. The sessions MUST be conducted under the supervision of an ECB qualified coach.
b. When batting facing a hard ball the proper protective items, including helmet MUST be worn.
c. Before practice commences, coaches MUST check the cage and netting to ensure a safe environment.
d. Any equipment including kit bags is to be stored away from the nets.
e. All players using the nets for practice must behave in a proper and correct manner and be aware of safety for themselves and others at all times.
f. After each practice session the equipment MUST be stored away properly.
g. For adult sessions involving no U18’s, then the session MUST be supervised by a responsible adult.
12. People using the nets do so AT THEIR OWN RISK and will NOT be covered by WCC’s insurances.
13. The club will not accept responsibility for children using the nets facility.
14. Members under the age of 18 using the net facility are the responsibility of their parents/guardians/carers. They and any members over the age of 18 do so at their own risk (as in 1).
15. The use of helmets and other protective wear is essential when using a hard ball.
16. All players / spectators must be aware of safety for themselves and others including the general public at all times, especially if using one net whilst others are using the other net.
17. The nets must be left in the condition they were found in, including the removal of any litter/rubbish.
Chair
Wendover Cricket Club
1 April 2026
