RULES

INTRODUCTION

The Manchester Women’s Rounders League will be played by the Official Rounders England Rules 2022 – 2025.
The only exception within the MWRL is that if you are out (caught or stumped), the fielding team will earn ½ a rounder.
The batter can return to the batter line and continue to bat.
½ rounder will also be earned if the non-live batter is also stumped out.

TEAMS

Games are played between two teams.
Teams are made up of women aged 18 and above.
Each team has a maximum of 15 and a minimum of 8 players per match.
No more than 9 players may be on the field/batting at any one time.
Games are played over 1 innings of 30 good balls.
Players once substituted may return during the game, but batters only in the position of their original number.
No runners are allowed.
Teams to either wear a kit or matching coloured bibs.

EQUIPMENT & LOCATION

All games will be held Turn Moss Playing Fields Streford M32 8QD – unless otherwise agreed.
On site car park available.
The home team will bring posts and bases.
Fixtures will explain which team is home/away.
All teams to bring bats which have the approved by England logo on.
Ball will be provided by the home team.
Must be a sure shot match rounders ball.
Football boots can be worn on the field however no spikes or metal studs are allowed.
If any equipment is broken, the team that breaks it will replace and send funds to other teams captain.
Fixtures will be sent out to all captains in the first week of April 2025.

BATTING

Wait in the backward area well away from 4th post.
Enter the batting square when called to do so by the Umpire.
You will have one good ball bowled to you.
Batter can use 2 hands.
You can take a no ball and score in the usual way, but shall have been considered to have taken the no ball if they have come within reach of, made contact with or passed 1st post you cannot return.
You cannot be caught out or stumped out on 1st post on a no ball.
Batter cannot step outside the box.

NO BALLS

If a batter takes a no ball, it will NOT count as a good ball taken. Therefore, isn’t included in the 30 good balls.
Not smooth underarm action.
Ball is above the head or below knee.
Ball bounces on way to you.
Wide or straight at body.
The Bowler’s foot is outside the bowling square during the bowling action.

RUNNING AROUND THE TRACK

If you stop at a post, you must keep contact with the post, with hand or bat. If you don’t the fielding side can stump the following post to put you out.
You can run on to a post even though it has been previously stumped (you don’t score if the post immediately a head has been stumped).
When the bowler has the ball in the bowling square you cannot move on, but if you are between posts, you can carry on to the next.
You cannot have two batters at a post. The Umpire will ask the first to run on when the second one makes contact.
At a post you do not have to move for every ball bowled.
Once in contact with the post, you may turn the corner over the 2-metre line, if you turn the corner during a run and there is no contact with the post you will be deemed to have turned the corner and must run on.
You can move on as soon as the ball leaves the Bowler’s hand, including no balls.
You must touch 4th post on getting home.

SCORING

1 rounder if ball is hit and 4th post is reached and touched before next ball is bowled.
1 Rounder if ball is hit and 4th post is reached and touched on a no ball (you cannot be caught out on a no ball).
½ Rounder if 4th post reached and touched without hitting the ball.
½ Rounder if ball is hit and 2nd or 3rd post reached and touched before the next ball is bowled but if you continue this run and are put out before reaching 4th post, the score will be forfeited.
Penalty ½ Rounder awarded to the batting team for obstruction by a fielder (definition of obstruction – was the batter impeded when attempting to reach a post, made to slow down or deviate from their running track)
Penalty ½ Rounder awarded to batting team for 2 consecutive no balls to the same batter – regardless if the second no ball is taken or the bowler is switched between no balls.
1 Rounder for a backward hit if 4th post reached and touched (you stay at 1st while ball is in the backward area).
Penalty ½ Rounder awarded to fielding team if waiting batters obstruct a fielder.
½ Rounder awarded to fielding team if Batter is caught or stumped out.
Fielders must not intentionally touch the post base with their foot at any time. ½ Rounder will be awarded for obstruction (on the grounds of health and safety) against the fielder.
If the post is not in its upright position, the base must be stumped. If the base is not on the original spot, then the spot on the floor where the base was, has to be stumped.
Touching the post or base that is not in its original position DOES NOT COUNT.
A player is within reach of a post when they are no more than an arm and a bats length from the post.
A player who is not within reach of a post when the next post is stumped has the option to run on and score in the usual way.

OUT WHEN

Caught (except on a no ball).

Foot projects over front/back line of batting square before hitting or missing a ball.
Running inside post (unless obstructed).
The post you are running to is stumped.
If the batter obstructs a fielder or intentionally deflects the course of the ball.
You overtake another batter on the track.
You obstruct (you have right of way on track only).
Deliberately throw or drop bat.
If ordered to make and maintain contact with the post and refuse to do so.
When the bowler has the ball and is in the square and you lose contact with the post.
If a batter has made contact with the post, and the post does not move or bend, and contact was made before turning the corner and not crossing the line, the batter remains in. Clarification: Therefore, the batter can shuffle their feet and/or pretend to run with no consequence. If they let go or bend the post so that the base is slightly tilting, the Umpire should instruct the batter on to the next post.
Where there is no batter waiting their turn to bat and the bowler has possession of the ball in the bowling square and that no batter can leave a post the innings should be declared over by the Umpire. In this situation batters are not out and if they are in a scoring position will retain their score.

LEAGUE REQUIRMENTS

All clubs must have a qualified Umpire, minimum qualification is Level 2.
The home team must provide match balls, poles, bases, and cones.
All matches should be played with an sure shot match rounders ball.
Teams must provide their own First Aid kits, including ice packs at every match.
Teams are to wear sportswear (preferred team kit) correctly. Hoodies are to be worn correctly and not wrapped round the waist or shoulders.
If during a game, layers of clothes need to be removed, these are to be removed at a dead ball situation, notify the Umpire and remove the item of clothing from the pitch. No clothing is to be left within the playing area.
No jewellery should be worn unless safely taped.
Appropriate footwear should be worn, football boots are allowed at Turn Moss.
Spiked footwear is prohibited.
All players must be registered with MWRL before they are allowed to play.
Teams can register new players into the league up to the last game by emailing the MWRL.
All new players must be registered 7 days prior to playing their first game in their new team.
Any registered player or Umpire that is 12+ week pregnant is not allowed to play rounders or Umpire in any league matches.
Players can transfer to another team once during the season, but they can’t go back to a team they leave during the same season.

POINTS

Points will be award as follows:
Win 3
Draw 2
Lose 0
Forfeited Matches – 0 (for the team that forfeits) - 3 points for the other team.
Forfeited match occurs when less than 8 players are available for the match, opposing team will be able to play with full 9.
Bad weather/ Local Rules / Forfeits
If matches are called off due to bad weather, and 1 innings of 30 good balls have not been played for each team, the full match will be rearranged and played in full again. Rematch will be arranged by Alice.
Upon pitch inspection, the lead Umpire is to ask both captains if they want to play local rules
In the event that one team forfeits, the non-forfeiting team will be awarded the win for the match and the rounders scored.
If any team withdraws from the league before the end of the season, then registers for the next season, their entry into the league will be at the discretion of the committee.

CODE OF CONDUCT

All captains must sign and abide by the ‘players code of conduct’ on behalf of their team by 1ST April 2025.
All captains must have read the ‘spectators code of conduct’ and ensure their spectators abide by this practice.
The MWRL promotes the inclusion of fun competitive games of rounders. However, the league will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour or unsporting conduct.
Clear warnings will be given to players if they use abusive or inappropriate language or behaviour.
The Umpires can send players off for this behaviour.
The MWRL will not tolerate challenging behaviour to the Umpires. The Umpire’s decision is final.
If a team requires clarification of a decision, the captain is the only player that may approach the Umpires for an explanation at the time if appropriate or at the end of the innings.
Any player(s) that are deemed to behaving in unsportswomanlike conduct will receive the following from the Umpire:
First offence - Verbal warning.
Second offence – A sending off and player ban for the rest of the match. The player cannot be replaced.
Points will be deducted if teams/players continually behave in an unsportsmanlike conduct throughout the league matches. Any offences will be reported to the committee by the Umpire following the match. The committee will then make a decision if points are to be deducted.
Any spectator(s) that are deemed to behaving in unsportsmanlike conduct will be automatically asked to leave the field of play by the Umpire.
Any derogatory comments on social media will be removed and individual sanctions may be given at the discretion of the committee.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

If a complaint of any kind needs to be brought to the attention of the committee, please email Manchesterwrl@outlook.com so that this can be investigated. We aim to respond to all complaints within 14 days.
MWRL is very serious about its safeguarding responsibilities. For your own personal safety, if at any time you feel uncomfortable or unhappy you should contact the League’s Welfare Officer.