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Integrated Single Pyramid structure

Contents Page Number

Mission, Vison and Purpose 2

Where we are now 3

Where we could be 4

Proposed Tiered Structure 5

Proposed Tiered Ground Standards 6-7

Proposed Tiered Format of Play 8

Proposed Timescales and Next Steps 9

FAQ Section 10-12

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Vision: One single integrated pyramid structure for cricket in Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire One Game, One name, One structure

Mission: To provide a clear and coherent pathway for clubs, players, and officials in the region.

To enable and foster aspiration for clubs, players and officials Grow participation by providing an improved and relevant offer

of Cricket. Who Driven and supported by the League Management Committees,

Facilitated by the CCBs and ECB Drivers ECB player survey — Player satisfaction with cricket offering ECB drive for growth and participation Assessment of current league structures and offerings in place

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Where We Are Now: ● Cricket Participation is at best static. Research suggests that Cricket is

not listening to players and adapting its offer to the needs of a changing society.

● 8 Leagues, geographically dispersed, operating across BBO region (and slightly outside (Berkshire Cricket League, Chilterns League, Four Counties League, Mid-Bucks League, Cherwell League, Home Counties Premier League, Thames Valley League and OCA)

● Major provider of cricket, c574 teams — 6300+ players, significant ability to affect positive change.

● Several different sets of uncoordinated Rules and Regs and playing conditions

● Unnecessary travelling distances and associated costs ● Duplication of efforts and systems ● Unclear pathway for teams in terms of promotion and relegation

(outside of HCPL – Cherwell and TVL) ● Unclear pathway for Officials

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Where We Could Be: ● One organisation — Regional to Area to ‘Hubs’ of cricket

o Regional – Current Premier League Divisions (Division 1, Division 2 (perhaps additional ‘Feeder League’ as before Hertfordshire teams left)

o Area – Equivalent to the current top of Cherwell, TVCL + Top teams from many of the other leagues (Limiting travel to around 30 miles

o Hubs (based around Cities, Towns) – Minimal traveling, comprising all other teams within the structure.

● Enabling and fostering aspiration of players, clubs and officials through a clear pathway from top to bottom of the pyramid.

● Reduced travelling distances in Tiers 5,6 and 7 in particular, resulting in reduced ‘match day’ length

● A clear and coherent pathway for players, officials, and clubs – possible for a new club to join local hub and progress to the top division

● Large customer base which may be attractive to significant sponsorship

● Efficiencies that will drive savings for clubs in time and money (for example, reduced administration for registering of players to multiple leagues and economies of scale for purchasing cricket balls.

● Ability to ease challenges with fixtures on ground share facilities - with an integrated fixture process

● Simplification of process and administration for clubs/teams within the league through use of integrated systems – results reporting, player registration and communications.

● Remove the need for clubs to resign from one league to join another as it would be a single integrated club pathway

● One place for all Cricket - ability to follow league cricket across the area in one place (one website etc)

● Full coordination with County Cricket Boards and ECB in terms of their cricket development and club support resources. For example a coordinated facilities grading and development plan.

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Proposed Format for the Pyramid:

Tier 1 + 2

Split Format ; 9 Games 50-50 Win Lose – 9 Games Win/Lose/Draw, 120 and 110 overs.

Tier 3

Split Format ; 9 Games 50-50 Win Lose – 9 Games Win/Lose/Draw, 100 overs

Tier 4

Present 3 Options for Voting to the teams playing in the Tiers/Hubs

(option 1) — 100 overs Win/Lose/Draw

80 / 90 overs Win/Lose/Draw

80 / 90 overs Win/Lose

Tier 5

Allow 3 Options for Voting to the teams playing in the Tiers/Hubs

(option 1) — 100 overs Win/Lose/Draw

80 / 90 overs Win/Lose/Draw

80 / 90 overs Win/Lose

Tier 6 – 7

Present 3 Options for Voting to the teams playing in the Tiers/Hubs

80 overs Win/Lose/Draw

80 /90 overs Win/Lose

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Time Scales and Next Steps When: Proposed to come into effect from the 2018 season — 2017

positions determine 2018 starting positions. Club and Player consultation during 2016 Summer - Clubs to Vote on Proposals during Autumn 2016.

How: Steering group, including a member from each of the 8 leagues across the region to continue to shape the proposal and run the process of consultation with Clubs and Players to occur during the 2016 Summer

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FAQ Section: 1.Due to the sheer size, is there a is a danger that the new structure may be unmanageable and impersonal? This is an area for further thought and consideration. Efforts to date have focused on coordinating the most effective ‘Cricket Structure’ over the ‘Management Structures’. There are examples of other leagues in this country of this size for us to consult. Initial thoughts and ideas from the steering group include one overarching ‘Executive group’ to manage the strategy and overall operations of the whole structure. Reporting into this group may include ‘sub-groups’ that sit within the different tiers/hubs who would manage operations more locally. This may seem vague and it is obvious a clear governance and management structure will need to be in place, but at this stage the current priority is doing what is right for cricket, then structuring the management structure around that. 2. What would happen if we progressed to a vote to all the clubs in the region and there were a number of clubs not wishing to join the new structure across the region? This situation would be complex and would be hard to give a firm answer without knowing the number of clubs and their geographical split. The overarching intention of this project is to improve the experience and accessibility of cricket for the players, teams and clubs to sustain and grow participation. When giving the clubs the choice of joining the new structure (through a vote), if it becomes clear that is not being achieved, the validity of the new structure would clearly come into question. Quite clearly full-support or close to full support to join the new structure from the clubs would be needed to progress, otherwise we would not be driving the intended benefits for the game.

3. What about the quality of grounds, registration regulations, policies and playing format throughout the structure? Throughout the structure being proposed the ‘Tiers’ will have a staged set of ‘minimum quality standards’, policies and differing sets of playing regulations and conditions. In the main, the tiers are likely to look similar to characteristics within the current leagues in operation. Within the voting process with clubs, it is intended to give clubs the opportunity to table proposes (as the case in all leagues currently) and be voted on in order to proceed in the most democratic fashion with the needs and wants of players addressed.

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4. Difference in Formats has been highlighted as one of the largest challenges, how are the formats going to be decided? Formats will need careful consideration, as across the 8 leagues involved there are some differences currently. The important factor here is the choice of the players. The aim of the new structure will be to provide format options that are appropriate to the different tiers, as seen in the ‘League Summary Matrix’. A localised player survey and clubs will be able to heavily influence and ultimately vote for the options they want. 5. I have heard about the need for a Full Time League CEO position, is this in the plan? In a word, no. The steering group at present is committed to the principle that the new structure would be managed by a committed, volunteer workforce as per the leagues in operation in their current form. There are no plans or suggestions that any officer be remunerated, other than expenses in the conduct of their duties for the league. This would be included in the Constitution. 6. All the leagues have reserves, what will happen to them if this goes ahead and the leagues will cease to exist? Existing League funds would be distributed to existing member clubs (as in constitutions). The new structure is expected to be financed by a low cost joining fee and an annual subscription thereafter. It is the strong intention that the cost to clubs for playing their league cricket in this structure will cost no more, but ideally less than the current level. Through the efficiencies of one body, the initial feeling is that there are considerable cost saving opportunities and that is intended to pass on those savings to the clubs in the region. 7. What are the next steps, process and timeline? The steering group, who have a member from each of the leagues, plus the 3 County Boards and ECB are working hard to add the detail to the full proposal for consultation. This consultation will start at the end of May and finish in July/August and will include involvement with all clubs and players in the region. The exact structure of that consultation will be discussed and planned by the steering group during May, but may include regional workshops, electronic meetings, surveys and 1:1 and small focus groups. The opportunity for submission of proposals from clubs, will then be possible after publishing of the final draft during August 2016, ready for club voting during September/October.

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It is then intended for 2017 to be played within the current structures of the 8 leagues, all the while have visibility of where the current and ending positions will place all teams within the new structure, starting in full for the 2018 season. 8. Are the ECB in support of this proposal and what involvement have they had to this point? And what is the reason for the County Board involvement? County Boards have the role purely as ‘facilitators’ within this process, attempting to champion the wants and needs of the players to retain and attract players for cricket. This is through a national programme of ‘League Engagement’ run by the ECB and delivered locally by their County Boards. The ECB have run 1 session within this process and are acutely aware of progress throughout and very supportive of the methods being employed and the positive benefits to the game in the region. They will support the wishes of the clubs and players within the structure that is being shaped and proposed. 9. Will the 8 leagues in their current form cease to exist? Yes, within the current proposal, if voted for by the clubs, the 8 leagues currently in operation would cease and all teams and clubs would move across to a new organisation and fit into the relevant part of the integrated and tiered structure. 10. Would the new league have ECB premier league status? This is something that has not been discussed in detail, but the teams currently playing in the Home Counties Premier League, would form part of the new structure (if approved by the clubs). This process has not been started or continued in order to gain premier league status from ECB, we have been targeting the most effective structure for cricket in the region. At this stage, considering Premier League Status nationally is being reviewed by ECB anyway, it is felt that not much more thinking is required within this topic presently.