Coach's Guide to MJCC Stage 2 Cricket Year 6-7 Boys, 8-9 Girls 2026/27

Stage 2 Match Day Rules section 1. Fixtures are either T20 (20 overs) or One Day (30 overs). The overs and time allocated for the day may not be altered.

• An innings ends at the first of: all out, the innings time, or the allocated overs. When innings time is reached, the over in progress is completed.
• There is a 10-minute change of innings.
• Drinks breaks last no more than 3 minutes (extra breaks, for example in heat, no more than 2 minutes). Batters and wicketkeepers may ask the umpire for a drink on the ground between overs.
• The side batting second gets the same number of overs as the side batting first, unless the first side was all out, in which case it gets the full allocation.
• If time is called and the second side has faced fewer overs than the first, the result is decided on the scores at the same number of overs the second side faced.
• If the second innings ends with 40 or more minutes left before the scheduled end and both coaches agree, extra play can continue under the General Rules 4.2(f) conditions (10-minute break, players who batted or bowled least go first, batters start from 0 balls, scored on paper and not entered on PlayHQ).

Numbers (Stage 2 Match Day Rules 2.1): standard 9 players, minimum 7, maximum 11. With more than 9 present, the extras rotate on and off the field each over. All players on the team list who are present and not sick or injured must take part.

Forfeit: a team below 7 players up to 30 minutes after the fixtured start forfeits, and the result is entered as a forfeit on PlayHQ. In Year 6 boys (a non-competitive grade) both teams may agree to play anyway and the scores may be entered on PlayHQ. In competitive grades (Year 7 boys, Year 8-9 girls) they may agree to play, but the scores may not be entered.

Loan fielders (2.2): a short team may ask the opposition for fielders to even up the numbers only. They field only (they do not bat or bowl), and the lender supplies just enough to match the numbers, not to reach 9. For example, 8 v 7 means 1 loan fielder, and 11 v 7 means 2. Loan fielders are not available in finals.

Fill-in players: a player must be registered with the club and association, or registered as a fill-in player, before they play. No one may be a fill-in more than once a season.

Dispensations: clubs may approve a player to play one age group up. Other requests go to the MJCC, at least 48 hours before the match unless a team needs a player to avoid a forfeit.

Ball (3.2): a standard Kookaburra 2-piece 142g cricket ball. Each team provides a ball for its bowling innings.

Protective gear (3.3): helmets (BS7928:2013), pads, gloves and protectors are mandatory when batting and wicketkeeping. Thigh pads, chest guards and arm guards are optional for batters.

Hats: all players, coaches and umpires must wear a hat, cap or appropriate religious headwear on the field (broad-brim hats are strongly recommended). Players who do not must put one on or leave the field, and umpires must report a refusal to the Association.

Home team supplies (3.1): a scorer's table and two chairs, two sets of stumps and bails (if only one set of portable stumps is available, use it at the bowler's end), chalk or tape for the creases, a measuring tape or premeasured rope for the boundary, and at least 25 plastic cones.

Stage 2 Match Day Rules section 4:

• Pitch: 18 metres stump to stump in all matches. The popping crease is 1.22 metres in front of the stumps.
• Boundary in T20 matches: 40 metres, measured from the stumps at the batter's end.
• Boundary in 30-over matches (measured the same way):

• If the ground is smaller, the home team must maximise the boundary to the extent the ground allows.
• Mark no-go zones behind the bowler's end with cones. Spectators must not enter them except to pass through without disrupting play.
• Keep at least 3 metres between any solid structure (tents, scorers, spectators, chairs) and the boundary.

Batters must not retire before they have faced their allotted balls, and must retire immediately on reaching the limit (not at the end of the over). Wides and no balls count towards the ball limit (Stage 2 Match Day Rules 5.2).

Retired batters are recorded as Retired Not Out and return later in the order they retired (see the batting rotation question).

Batting rotation (Stage 2 Match Day Rules 5.1):

• Each player must bat in at least 5 different positions in Rounds 1-7, and at least 5 in Rounds 8-14 (the same 5 positions are allowed).
• Positions 1 and 2 count as separate positions.
• A player named in the previous completed match who did not bat must bat in their next match.
• No rotation is required in finals.
• Rotations must be strictly followed. Penalties are in the MJCC Reports, Investigations and Outcomes Policy.

Retired batters (5.3): they return only after every other batter on the team list who is present has batted (faced their ball limit or been dismissed). They return in the order they retired, start again from 0 balls faced, and retire again at the limit unless no other retired batter remains. They are recorded as Retired Not Out.

Retired hurt (5.4): a batter who retires through illness, injury or another unavoidable cause may resume when another batter retires, from the number of balls already faced. If they do not resume, they are Retired Not Out.

Absent batters (5.5):

• Not present to resume after a break, and not retired before it: Retired Out.
• Unable to resume for an unavoidable reason: Retired Not Out.
• Not present to bat at all: Did Not Bat.

Stage 2 Match Day Rules 6.2:

• 10 players or fewer: every player, including the wicketkeepers, must bowl at least 2 overs.
• 11 players: 9 players bowl 2 overs each and 2 players bowl 1 over each.
• Order of overs: no player other than the designated second wicketkeeper may bowl more than 2 overs until all other players, excluding the first wicketkeeper, have bowled their minimum of 2 overs. The second wicketkeeper may bowl up to 3 overs before taking over the gloves.
• Maximum: 4 overs per bowler. Coaches must make sure different players get the chance to bowl 4 overs, and all players are encouraged to bowl every match.

Bowlers should bowl a roughly equal number of overs per match across the season.

Stage 2 Match Day Rules 6.3:

• Minimum: every player, including the wicketkeepers, must bowl at least 2 overs.
• Maximum: 5 overs per bowler. Coaches must make sure different players get the chance to bowl 5 overs.
• Year 6 boys: no player may bowl more than 3 overs until all players other than the first wicketkeeper have bowled at least 2 overs.
• Year 7 boys and Year 8-9 girls: no player other than the designated second wicketkeeper may bowl more than 2 overs until all players other than the first wicketkeeper have bowled at least 2 overs. The second wicketkeeper may bowl up to 3 overs before taking over the gloves.

Bowlers should bowl a roughly equal number of overs per match across the season.

Cricket Australia's junior pace bowling workload guidelines are a separate recommendation for pace bowlers and also apply to training and tournaments.

Bowling rotation (Stage 2 Match Day Rules 6.1):

• Each player must bowl in at least 5 different bowling positions in Rounds 1-7, and at least 5 in Rounds 8-14 (the same 5 positions are allowed).
• Positions 1 and 2 count as separate positions.
• A player named in the previous completed match who did not bowl must bowl in their next match.
• No rotation is required in finals.
• Bowlers should bowl a roughly equal number of overs per match across the season.

Overs (6.4):

• An over is 6 balls, with wides and no balls re-bowled up to a maximum of 8 balls per over.
• All overs in the innings are bowled from the same end, and the batters change ends after each over.
• If a bowler is injured during an over, another player completes it, and the normal bowling restrictions apply to both players.

Illegal actions: a no ball is not to be called for a suspect action. Under the MJCC Remedial Bowling Action Policy the coach is told to help the player through remedial exercises, shown in the MJCC Remedial Bowling Action Video, and to speak to the player in a way consistent with guaranteed participation and enjoyment. The coach and player may then attend an MJCC Remedial Bowling Action Workshop.

Stage 2 Match Day Rules 6.7:

• Two wicketkeepers: each team uses 2 keepers, each for half of the allocated overs of the innings.
• Close fielders: no fielder within 10 metres of the striker, except the wicketkeeper, slips and gullies.
• Front of the bat: no fielder may stand within 2 metres of the playing surface in front of the striker's wicket.
• Leg side: more than two fielders behind square leg is a no ball.
• Rotation: coaches are encouraged to rotate fielding positions so players experience them all.
• Extra players: with more than 9 players present, the extras rotate on and off the field each over.

A breach of any fielding restriction is a no ball.

All dismissals in the Laws of Cricket apply, with these changes (Stage 2 Match Day Rules 5.6):

• Year 6 boys: no LBW.
• Year 7 boys and Year 8-9 girls: a batter cannot be given out LBW if the ball hits either pad or the body and they are clearly playing forward in a genuine stroke. Umpires are also told not to give LBW to a batter making a genuine attempt to play forward on a synthetic pitch (the ball is likely going over the stumps), or one making a genuine attempt to play forward and to play the ball.
• Non-striker run out by the bowler: each non-striker must be warned twice before being run out the third time. The umpire alone decides whether a warning is appropriate and confirms each warning with both batters, the fielding captain and the batting coach. A bowler stopping mid-action does not automatically mean a warning.

All out: a team of 9 or more is all out after 8 wickets. With fewer than 9 players, the team is all out when the number of players less one have been dismissed.

Retired batters are recorded as Retired Not Out and are not dismissals.

Accreditation: coaches must be accredited to at least Cricket Australia Community Coach level (General Rules 3.3).

On-field coaching in Stage 2:

• Limited, constructive coaching by the coach is encouraged between overs.
• The aim is for the captain and vice-captains to provide more and more of the leadership, with the coach having less and less on-field input.
• Coaches should not stand on the sideline yelling instructions, and over-coaching is discouraged.

Before the match:

• Settle the bowling order, batting order and fielding arrangements before play starts so no time is lost.
• Watch the clock. If your team is behind time when bowling, you must get them to speed up and get back on schedule.

Spirit of Cricket: in community junior cricket the coaches carry the main responsibility for the Spirit of Cricket, and everyone is expected to follow the MJCC Codes of Behaviour. Deliberate time wasting that could change the result is a mandatory reportable offence.

These are the MJCC Policies and Procedures (last updated 12 September 2025).

Concussion

• Any player who takes a blow to the head or upper neck, with or without protective gear, must be assessed using the Cricket Australia Diagnosis of Concussion Guidelines.
• A player who fails the assessment takes no further part that day and must be assessed by a medical professional. They should not return to play until at least 14 days after they become symptom free (Cricket Australia Junior Players Concussion Guidelines).
• A suspected concussion removal must be reported in writing to the club president and to MJCC.admin@wacricket.com.au within 24 hours.

Helmets

• Helmets must be a properly fitted cricket helmet with a face guard. BS7928:2013 is the standard MJCC describes as current best of breed.
• Juniors must wear a helmet when batting and when keeping up to the stumps. Helmets are not mandatory for juniors fielding, because juniors do not field close to the batter.

Storms

• Use the 30/30 rule. If lightning and thunder are less than 30 seconds apart, take shelter. If it is more than 30 seconds and there is any doubt, suspend play.
• Play is suspended for at least 30 minutes and does not resume until 30 minutes after the last audible thunder.

Heat

• WA Cricket monitors forecasts and the MJCC Competitions Subcommittee may cancel matches, shorten them or move start times. All participants must follow those recommendations.
• Under the General Rules, if at least 3 of the 6 Areas are forecast to reach 38 degrees or more at 11am, all daytime matches in all Areas become T20s.

Blood: MJCC supports the Sports Medicine Australia Blood Rules policy.