Club Constitution & Policies (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) 5 of 14

5. ECB Fast Bowling Directives


FAST BOWLING DIRECTIVES

An extract from the ECB’s Directives introduced in 2000 and amended in 2010. The directives have been issued under the title of Injury Prevention for Fast Bowlers and they apply to Premier Leagues and associated Feeder Leagues. These directives apply to girls and boys and any reference to he/his should be interpreted to include she/her.

For the purpose of these directives, a fast bowler should be defined as a bowler for whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.

All coaches are urged to identify those players with the potential to bowl fast and to ensure they follow the Directives in all cricket throughout the season. The directives have been issued in a brochure under four headings;

1) Over-bowling 2) Technique 3) Physical preparation 4) Equipment

This is an important consideration especially for young bowlers whose bodies are not fully developed. Recent studies have revealed that over-bowling is the most common cause of back injuries in this country. Evidence suggests that much of the damage occurs early in the playing career, and especially during growth spurts, though the effects do not often show themselves until the late teens. The more talented and more physically mature youngsters are generally more at risk as they tend to play at more than one age group level. To ensure that young fast bowlers do not place undue stress on their bodies every attempt must be made to keep the amount of bowling within reasonable limits. The following Directives provide sensible playing and training levels.

* Directives for Matches

Age Max. Overs per spell Max. Overs per day
Up to 13 5 10
U14, U15 6 12
U16, U17 7 18
U18, U19 7 18

Directives for Practice Sessions

Age Max. balls per session Max. Sessions per week
Up to 13 30 2
U14, U15 36 2
U16, U17 36 3
U19 42 3

These figures are based on players bowling in no more than 3 matches or practice sessions per week for age groups up to and including U15, and 4 matches or practice sessions per week for age groups up to and including U19.
* Players can play in other matches provided they do not bowl

Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. If play is interrupted, for any reason, for less than 40 minutes any spell in progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate age group. If the spell is not continued after the interruption the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to length of his spell before the interruption have been bowled from the same end. If the interruption is of 40 minutes or more, whether scheduled or not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately.

Once a bowler covered by these Directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the maximum number of overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls spin. He can exceed the maximum overs per spell if bowling
spin, but cannot then revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. If he bowls spin without exceeding the maximum number of overs in a spell the
maximum will apply as soon as he reverts to bowling fast.

N.B. The year starting date of midnight on the previous 31st August is assumed throughout these Directives.

These guidelines for Young Cricketers are correct at the time of being published. For all up to date information please refer to the Safeguarding section on the ECB website.