JPMC vs Kew is confirmed as a 20-over softball, pairs format 8/10-a-side fixture from 4:30PM. Cost for the team £75. Invoice attached.

Guidelines (20 overs, pairs, 10-a-side, softball)

1) Aim

A clear, consistent set of playing conditions for this match, based on the Women’s Softball League playing conditions and tailored to a 20-over pairs game.

2) Teams

Each team comprises 10 players and above.

3) Pitch and boundaries

Two sets of wickets are used, 19 yards apart.

Boundaries should be set at approximately 40 to 50 yards, adjusted to the available space.

4) Start and team sheet

The two teams toss a coin, and the toss winner chooses to bat or field.

Before the match, each team provides a team sheet to the umpire. Under-18 players should be clearly indicated.

5) Equipment

Ball: senior size incrediball.

Ball supply: supplied by JPMC.

Bats: fibreglass/plastic softball bats, or league-standard softball bats.

6) Innings format

There is one innings per team. Each innings is 20 overs.

7) Pairs batting and rotation

The batting side is divided into pairs (5 pairs for 10 players).

Each pair bats for exactly 4 overs. At the end of a pair’s allocation, both batters retire and the next pair comes in immediately.

If a team has fewer than 10 players, one batter bats again as needed so that pairs are completed.

8) Scoring, dismissals, and LBW

The batting side starts the innings with 200 runs.

Each time a batter is dismissed, 5 runs are deducted from the batting total.

6 balls per over

A batter may be out in the following ways:

Bowled
Caught
Run out
Stumped
Hit wicket
LBW is not in use. If a batter repeatedly and deliberately uses legs/feet to block the ball, the umpire will speak to the batter and manage it as a conduct and fairness issue.

Runs are scored in the normal way. Byes are allowed.

9) Wides and no-balls (extras)

For most overs, each wide ball and no-ball is worth +2 runs to the batting side, and no extra ball is allocated.

In the last over of the innings, a wide or no-ball still counts as +2 runs and the ball is rebowled.

10) Bowling

Maximum 4 overs per bowler.

Bowling should alternate ends of the wicket by default. If there are time or space constraints, bowling from one end only may be used, but only if both captains agree.

Overarm bowling is encouraged where possible.

Appendix: Glossary

Byes If the ball passes the batter without hitting the bat or the batter’s body, any runs completed are recorded as byes.

Leg byes If the ball delivered hits part of the batter’s body, any runs completed are recorded as leg byes.

Wide ball A ball that is too far from the batter to strike is called a wide.

A ball is not called wide (no matter how wayward) if the batter hits it or if it makes contact with the batter’s body.

Wide lines may be marked on the wicket as a guide for the umpire. A wide scores +2 runs to the batting side. It is not rebowled, except in the last over of the innings where it is rebowled.

If the batters choose to run on a wide, those additional runs are added to the total and recorded as wides.

No ball - A no-ball should be called if:

The ball bounces more than twice before reaching the batter.
The ball reaches the batter above waist height of the batter’s normal stance at the crease.
Foot fault: part of the bowler’s foot (raised or grounded) should be behind the crease on delivery. If not, warn once; if it happens again, call no-ball.

A batter may hit a no-ball and any additional runs scored from that ball are added to the total.

A no-ball scores +2 runs to the batting side. It is not rebowled, except in the last over of the innings where it is rebowled.

Team overview