What do I do if a junior wicketkeeper or close fielder isn't wearing a helmet?

In hard ball cricket, the ECB Recreational Cricket Safety Regulations require a helmet with faceguard or grille (or a face protector for a keeper) for under-18 wicketkeepers standing up to the stumps, and for 16 and 17-year-olds fielding within 8 yards (7.3 m) of the striking batter. Male players must also wear a box.

If you are an Appointed Umpire (appointed by a league, county board or ECB ACO):

1. The bowler's end umpire stops the game and tells the player and their captain (team manager in junior cricket) that the player must move back, or leave the field and return wearing a helmet.
2. If they refuse: treat it as time wasting. Call dead ball if the ball is in play, tell the other umpire, give the fielding captain a first and final warning, and tell the batters.
3. If they still refuse: award 5 penalty runs to the batting side (Law 41.9) and tell the fielding captain why.
4. If they still refuse: the fielding side is refusing to play and the match is awarded to the opposing side (Law 16.3.1.2).

If you are an Acting Umpire (for example a player or parent umpiring): stop the game and tell the player to move back, return wearing a helmet, or be replaced by a compliant player. Do not restart until they comply. If play doesn't resume within 15 minutes, the fielding team forfeits the match.

Written parental consent to play without a helmet is not accepted.