How close can young fielders stand to the batter?

Q: How close can young fielders stand to the batter?

The ECB Recreational Cricket Safety Regulations set minimum fielding distances for all juniors, in both hard ball and soft ball cricket: Player's age Minimum distance from the striking batter 13 and under 11 yards (10 m) 14 and 15 8 yards (7.3 m) 16 and 17 No minimum, but in hard ball cricket a fielder within 8 yards must wear a helmet (and a box if male) The distance is measured from the batter's position on the popping crease, on a middle stump line. Fielders behind the wicket on the off side (for example slips) don't have to comply. The distances apply even if the fielder wears a helmet or other protective equipment. They follow the player's own age, not the age group: a 13-year-old in an Under 15 match must stay 11 yards away. If a fielder is too close, the umpire must stop the game and tell the player and team manager to move them back. Refusing can lead to 5 penalty runs and, ultimately, the match being awarded to the batting side.

Question

Accepted Answer

The ECB Recreational Cricket Safety Regulations set minimum fielding distances for all juniors, in both hard ball and soft ball cricket:

Player's age	Minimum distance from the striking batter
13 and under	11 yards (10 m)
14 and 15	8 yards (7.3 m)
16 and 17	No minimum, but in hard ball cricket a fielder within 8 yards must wear a helmet (and a box if male)

The distance is measured from the batter's position on the popping crease, on a middle stump line.
Fielders behind the wicket on the off side (for example slips) don't have to comply.
The distances apply even if the fielder wears a helmet or other protective equipment.
They follow the player's own age, not the age group: a 13-year-old in an Under 15 match must stay 11 yards away.

If a fielder is too close, the umpire must stop the game and tell the player and team manager to move them back. Refusing can lead to 5 penalty runs and, ultimately, the match being awarded to the batting side.