Sefton Park Cricket Club Outdoor Net Policy

Updated: January 2026

You may only use the outdoors nets if:

1. You are a paid up playing member of Sefton Park Cricket Club (Social Members cannot use the nets)
2. You are following these net safety rules.
3. You are abiding by the kit and equipment rules (below). The issue of the code to the combination lock on the nets is deemed to be acceptance of these rules.
4. You must not pass the combination on to any other individual.
5. Following use you must scramble the code and lock again to avoid unauthorised access.
6. Use of the nets is subject to availability with the club and other booked sessions take priority.
7. The committee reserves the right to withdraw the privilege of net use from members who do not follow these rules.

Kit & Equipment Rules

8. Kit bags should be placed outside the nets.
9. Suitable footwear must be worn i.e. rubber-soled (non marking) cricket shoes or trainers. Spikes, smooth soles and non-sports shoes are not permitted.
10. Batters working with a hard ball must wear adequate protection - pads, gloves, abdominal guard as a minimum. A helmet is also strongly advised, including neck guard.
11. All juniors (any player under 18) must bat in a helmet (ECB guidance suggests helmets should include a neck guard).
12. The surface of the nets must not be marked with chalk or any other material. Cones, discs or similar non marking items can be used instead.
13. Only proper leather cricket balls, bowling machine balls, tennis balls, wind/incrediballs to be used in nets.
14. No footballs or other sporting balls to be used in the nets.
15. All rubbish/litter is to be removed and the net area left tidy after each session.
16. No kit or other items are to be left in the nets following use.

Net Safety Rules

17. All junior players to be accompanied by a coach/adult.
18. Spectators are to watch from outside of the net facility.
19. There should be no more than 4 bowlers per lane.
20. Batters should pad up outside the net area and not in the batter’s line of sight.
21. Bowlers should only bowl when the batter is ready, and face the batter at all times. They should not bowl if a loose ball is in the net.
22. A loud cry of “STOP” should stop activity in all nets immediately to address any safety problem.
23. Balls should be returned immediately by the batter and not left to lie loose in the net.
24. Bowlers should take care not to cross into another lane to retrieve a ball.
25. Bowling must be in accordance with the laws of cricket. (From legal distance, legal action, no deliberate excess of short bowling).
26. Bowling machines. These should only be used by those qualified and/or authorised to do so.
27. The nets must be locked after use.

Use outside normal practice sessions

28. The club will not accept responsibility for unaccompanied juniors using the nets facility.
29. People using the nets without the supervision of a qualified coach do so AT THEIR OWN RISK.

Any issues of concern should be brought to the attention of the Club Chairman or Safeguarding Officer immediately.

Sefton Park Cricket Club Management Board 2026