Fixture Management

FIXTURE MANAGEMENT

For the greater good it is expected of all teams that they demonstrate as much flexibility as possible to enable the primary objective of The Slam, which is more cricket for more people.

As particular areas of cricket grow (including adult, short-format), the pressure on facilities intensifies, as such the following processes should be adhered to for the benefit of all in striking a balance between getting the game on and not over-burdening the host teams.

fxa.1 - FIXTURE RELEASE AND PUBLISHING

FXA.1a - The Slam will issue full details of all group stage fixtures and all team prime contacts for each competition no later than the LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY in the given year to at least each team's nominated prime contact. These will clearly show the dates that fixtures are required to take place within and who is responsible for hosting them. If this is not possible for any competition then The Slam will contact all affected teams and may elect to amend the subsequent deadlines for fixture arrangement accordingly.

FXA.1b - The Slam will publish all group stage fixtures on its PLAY-CRICKET SITE no later than two weeks after they were issued to each team's nominated prime contact. This allows for any unintended anomalies to be managed prior to publishing in the public domain.

fxa.2 - GROUP stage fixture ARRANGEMENT

FXA.2a - At least TWO dates are to be agreed in advance for EVERY Slam group stage fixture, this is except for the Sussex Women's Shield and the majority of the Hampshire Women's Shield, where fixtures are allocated to particular dates by The Slam. The rationale for this is that it decreases the chances of fixtures being completely lost to inclement weather as teams can proactively prepare a team for an alternate date that may be relatively soon after the initially planned date.

FXA.2b - No later than the LAST DAY OF MARCH in the given year the nominated home team will make contact by either email or WhatsApp with the nominated Prime Contact of their visitors for ALL of their group fixtures.

FXA.2c.i - In the contact from the home team they will identify AT LEAST TWO dates that are on Mondays (inc. Bank Holidays), Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or ONE Friday within the given window, that they are able to host the fixture. The home team may offer dates on Saturdays, Sundays or the other Friday in the given window, but these must be in addition to at least two other midweek dates.

FXA.2c.ii - FOR SURREY WOMEN'S CUP, SURREY WOMEN'S SHIELD AND SUSSEX WOMEN'S CUP ONLY: In some instances a fixture shall be allocated to a window that has at least one Sunday within that is void of any County League fixtures. Any such weeks shall be clearly highlighted as such by The Slam when it issues the fixtures in accordance with FXA.1a. Where this is the case, In the contact from the home team they will identify AT LEAST TWO dates that are on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, ONE Friday or any void Sunday(s) within the given window and may offer any other dates in addition to those.

FXA.2d - Where the home team has offered more than two dates in accordance with FXA.2c, the visitors shall confirm in writing no more than SEVEN DAYS later, which TWO dates they would like to accept as being the first and reserve dates for that fixture. For the avoidance of doubt, the first of those two dates chronologically will be the initial date and the other will be the reserve.

FXA.2e - Where the visiting team fails to respond to the home team within seven days in accordance with FXA.2d, the home team will select the TWO dates instead from those that were originally offered and then issue notification of those two dates alone as per FXA.2f and continue the process from there.

FXA.2f - Where the home team has identified ONLY two dates, and they are in accordance with FXA.2c and FXA.2d, by default these are the two dates allocated to that fixture, nevertheless the visitors shall confirm in writing acknowledgement of these dates no more than SEVEN DAYS later. For the avoidance of doubt, the first of those two dates chronologically will be the initial date and the other will be the reserve. Whilst such a scenario means the visitors are not offered a choice of dates, they will have at least one full calendar month's notice of that fixture, which is considered sufficient to manage player availability.

FXA.2g - Where the visiting team fails to respond to the home team within seven days in accordance with FXA.2f, these dates will automatically be considered as acknowledged regardless and the home shall notify The Slam as such.

FXA.2h - Following confirmation of the TWO DATES for each fixture, the HOME TEAM shall amend the fixture listing on the PLAY-CRICKET SITE to reflect the initial date no later than 14TH APRIL.

FXA.2i - Where only one date is confirmed by both teams, The Slam shall be informed and the fixture will be scheduled on the one confirmed date and if that fixture does not proceed due to inclement weather the match will be awarded to whichever team DID adhere to all of FXA.2.

FXA.2j - Teams may MUTUALLY agree to amend either of the two dates for their fixture(s) any time after 14th April in the given year, but it is advised that this is managed in writing and any communication is retained should any dispute arise. Whichever team instigates the amendment shall update the PLAY-CRICKET SITE accordingly.

FXA.2k - For clarity, the outcome in FXA.2g and FXA.2i are the ONLY occurrences whereby The Slam needs to be contacted in relation to fixture arrangement in the group stages. In all other cases it can be managed by the teams involved.

fxa.3 - NON FULFILMENT OF GROUP STAGE FIXTURES

FXA.3a - Should the group fixture not be concluded on the initial date due to inclement weather then the two teams shall try again on the pre-agreed reserve date. For the avoidance of doubt, the fixture will still take place at the nominated home team's ground, but the two teams may mutually agree to alter the venue and/or the date if it increases the changes of the fixture being fulfilled, but if no such agreement exists then the fixture will proceed at the home team's venue on the agreed reserve date. In whichever case, the team now expected to be the HOME TEAM shall amend the fixture listing on the PLAY-CRICKET SITE to reflect the new date and/or venue as soon as possible.

FXA.3b - Should the reserve date also not be concluded due to inclement weather then the fixture shall be marked as abandoned UNLESS the two teams can mutually agree on another date to attempt to play the fixture. This can be mutually agreed to be played on any date and at any venue but it MUST NOT be played any later than the end of the last group fixture window and it MUST NOT adversely effect the participation of either side in any other Slam fixture. Any rearrangement shall be communicated to The Slam at the earliest opportunity and the team now expected to be the HOME TEAM shall amend the fixture listing on the PLAY-CRICKET SITE to reflect the new date and/or venue as soon as possible.

FXA.3c - For the avoidance of doubt no team shall be compelled to participate in a date in addition to the two that were pre-arranged. If a mutual agreement cannot be reached then the game is marked as abandoned and each team receives 1 point.

FXA.3d - Where only one date for a fixture was confirmed and the fixture does not conclude on that date due to inclement weather, the match will be awarded to whichever team DID adhere to all of FXA.2

FXA.3e - Where one team is unable to fulfil a fixture on the initial agreed date for reasons other than inclement weather, the opponent MAY offer to play the match on the reserve date instead. If the match is then played on the reserve date and does not conclude due to inclement weather than the result will be a concession by the team that DID NOT fulfil the fixture on the initial date. For the avoidance of doubt, once it has been mutually agreed to play on the reserve date instead then both teams are bound to participate on that new date and any failure to do so (other than inclement weather) will be considered as a concession.

fxa.4 - knockout stage FIXTURE arrangement

FXA.4a - At least TWO dates are to be agreed in advance for EVERY Slam knockout stage fixture. The rationale for this is that it increases the chances of fixtures being completed in what is already a tight timeframe.

FXA.4b - The Slam will notify all teams involved in the knockout stages of their opponents and the dates within which a match needs to be played as soon as possible once it becomes known who they will play. Within 24 hours of receiving that notification the nominated home team will make contact by either email or WhatsApp with the nominated Prime Contact of their visitors. Where possible the draw for the knockout stages will be fixed so that teams can see in advance who they are likely to play (and where) in later rounds so that they can plan ahead accordingly.

FXA.4c.i - In the contact from the home team they will identify AT LEAST TWO dates that are on Mondays (inc. Bank Holidays), Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or ONE Friday within the given window, that they are able to host the fixture. The home team may offer dates on Saturdays, Sundays or the other Friday in the given window, but these must be in addition to at least two other midweek dates.

FXA.4c.ii - FOR SURREY WOMEN'S CUP, SURREY WOMEN'S SHIELD AND SUSSEX WOMEN'S CUP ONLY: In some instances a knockout fixture window will have at least one Sunday within that is void of any County League fixtures. Any such weeks shall be clearly highlighted as such by The Slam when it confirmed the fixture in accordance with FXA.4b. Where this is the case, in the contact from the home team they will identify AT LEAST TWO dates that are on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, ONE Friday or any void Sunday(s) within the given window and may offer any other dates in addition to those.

FXA.4d - Where the home team has offered more than two dates in accordance with FXA.4c, the visitors shall confirm in writing no more than 48 HOURS later, which TWO dates they would like to accept as being the first and reserve dates for that fixture. For the avoidance of doubt, the first of those two dates chronologically will be the initial date and the other will be the reserve.

FXA.4e - Where the visiting team fails to respond to the home team within 48 hours in accordance with FXA.4d, the home team will select the TWO dates instead from those that were originally offered and then issue notification of those two dates alone as per FXA.4f and continue the process from there.

FXA.4f - Where the home team has identified ONLY two dates, and they are in accordance with FXA.4c, by default these are the two dates allocated to that fixture, nevertheless the visitors shall confirm in writing acknowledgement of these dates no more than 48 HOURS later. For the avoidance of doubt, the first of those two dates chronologically will be the initial date and the other will be the reserve. Whilst such a scenario means the visitors are not offered a choice of dates, they will have at least one full calendar month's notice of that fixture, which is considered sufficient to manage player availability.

FXA.4g - Where the visiting team fails to respond to the home team within 48 hours in accordance with FXA.4f, these dates will automatically be considered as acknowledged regardless and the home shall notify The Slam as such.

FXA.4h - Following confirmation of the TWO DATES for each fixture, the HOME TEAM shall amend the fixture listing on the PLAY-CRICKET SITE to reflect the initial date no later than 24 HOURS after the fixture has been acknowledged, whether that be by the away team or by default.

FXA.4i - Where only one date is confirmed by both teams, The Slam shall be informed and the fixture will be scheduled on the one confirmed date and if that fixture does not proceed due to inclement weather the match will be awarded to whichever team DID adhere to all of FXA.4.

FXA.4j - Teams may MUTUALLY agree to amend either of the two dates for their knockout fixture at any time so long as it does not move outside of the appointed fixture window, but it is advised that this is managed in writing and any communication is retained should any dispute arise. Whichever team instigates the amendment shall update the PLAY-CRICKET SITE accordingly.

FXA.4k - ALL knockout fixture date confirmation and subsequent amendments shall be directly communicated to The Slam.

FXA.4l - ALL fixture arrangement in relation to Finals' Days will be managed by The Slam and communicated with the participating teams accordingly.

fxa.5 - NON FULFILMENT OF knockout STAGE FIXTURES

FXA.5a - Should the fixture not be concluded on the initial date due to inclement weather then the two teams shall try again on the pre-agreed reserve date. For the avoidance of doubt, the fixture will still take place at the nominated home team's ground, but the two teams may mutually agree to alter the venue and/or the date if it increases the changes of the fixture being fulfilled, but if no such agreement exists then the fixture will proceed at the home team's venue on the agreed reserve date. In whichever case, the team now expected to be the HOME TEAM shall amend the fixture listing on the PLAY-CRICKET SITE to reflect the new date and/or venue as soon as possible.

FXA.5b - Should the reserve date also not be concluded as scheduled due to inclement weather then the two teams should work co-operatively to agree a new date in no more than 7 DAYS of the reserve date, which can be at any venue. If agreement cannot be reached within 24 HOURS of the reserve date being abandoned then The Slam should be contacted to help manage a resolution. In such cases all parties are expected to operate pragmatically and in the best interests of the wider game.

FXA.5c- Where only one date for a fixture was confirmed and the fixture does not conclude on that date due to inclement weather, the match will be awarded to whichever team DID adhere to all of FXA.4

FXA.5d - Where one team is unable to fulfil a fixture on the initial agreed date for reasons other than inclement weather, the opponent MAY offer to play the match on the reserve date instead. If the match is then played on the reserve date and does not conclude due to inclement weather than the result will be a concession by the team that DID NOT fulfil the fixture on the initial date. For the avoidance of doubt, once it has been mutually agreed to play on the reserve date instead then both teams are bound to participate on that new date and any failure to do so (other than inclement weather) will be considered as a concession by whichever team fails to participate