PLAY BY DATES

• U10 Softball – play by date Saturday 4th July 2026. No Final. Each Division has a winner.
• U11 Hardball – play by date Saturday 4th July 2026. Final to take place on TBC (Venue – TBC).
• U12 Hardball – play by date Saturday 4th July. Final to take place on TBC (Venue – TBC).
• U13 Hardball – play by date Saturday 4th July. Final to take place on TBC (Venue – TBC).
• U14 Hardball – play by date Friday 17th July. Final to take place on TBC (Venue – TBC)
• U15 Hardball – play by date Saturday 4th July. Final to take place on TBC (Venue – TBC).
• U17 Hardball – play by date Friday 17th July. Final to take place on TBC (Venue – TBC).

GENERAL RULES AND NOTICES

Other than as set out below, all Girls matches will be played according to the Laws of Cricket and the MJCA Outdoor Competition rules.

1. The U10, U11 and U12 Girls competitions will all be played as pairs cricket – see below – and the U13, U14, U15 and U17 Girls competitions will be played as normal cricket.
2. If a Girls’ League fixture is cancelled because of the weather, it may be rescheduled if both Clubs agree and as long as it is played before the play by date for that division. Otherwise the date of Girls fixtures may not be changed after 17 April 2026.
3. In matches at U12 and above, players should wear Club branded coloured clothing and, for younger age groups, it is highly recommended.

GIRLS PAIRS RULES (U10 SOFTBALL, U11 HARDBALL AND U12 HARDBALL)

1. Teams shall comprise 8 players, each of whom shall only be a bona fide member of the Club she represents. If both teams can field more than 8 players, i.e. 10 players per side, then the match can be played with a greater number. This would be agreed by the team managers in good time prior to the scheduled date for the match.
2. Innings to be 16 overs per side, unless agreed prior to the start of the match. In the event that the team sizes are increased to 10 players per side, the number of overs per side will be increased to 20 overs.
3. For U10 Softball matches, an incrediball should be used; for U11 and U12 Hardball matches, a new pink 4 3/4oz Junior hardball should be used.
4. Plastic bats are only permitted in U10 Softball matches.
5. Each team starts with a score of 200 runs.
6. The batting team shall be divided into pairs. Each pair shall bat for 4 overs, assuming a 16 overs per side match
7. Batters shall have unlimited wickets but each wicket shall result in 5 runs being deducted from the total score. No batter who is out shall face the next ball. Batters shall change ends at the fall of each wicket except if a wicket falls from the last ball of an over.
8. All players except the wicket-keeper must bowl and no player may bowl more than one over more than any other bowler.
9. In the event of the umpires being satisfied that a player is incapacitated, her place may be taken by a reserve who shall bat and/or bowl in her place. If no reserve is available, any over due to be bowled by the injured player shall be bowled by another player without exceeding her quota. The captain of the fielding side shall choose one of the players in the first 3 pairs to bat a second time to make up the 4th pair.
10. In the event of a team having only 7 players, the number of overs in the match will be unchanged and any overs that would have been bowled by the missing player, should be bowled by one of the other players without exceeding her quota. The captain of the fielding side shall choose one of the players in the first 3 pairs to bat a second time to make up the 4th pair. There should be no expectation that an extra fielder to replace the missing player should be provided by the other team.
11. Wicket-keepers may be changed during the course of an innings.

GIRLS U13, U14, U15 AND U17 HARDBALL RULES

1. At U13, U14, U15 and U17, teams shall comprise 11 players.  If a Club is not able to field 11 players, the match can still go ahead on the proviso that they have at least 8 players.
2. Innings to be 20 overs per side, unless agreed prior to the start of the match.
3. There is no mandatory retirement for batters.
4. A wicket-keeper may be changed if ill or injured. In other circumstances, wicket-keepers may be changed, but there should be no stoppage in play. If a wicketkeeper is to be changed, other than where there is an illness or injury, this should be agreed prior to the match and the umpires and scorers must be informed.
5. In U13 Girls’ Hardball matches, the pitch length is 19 yards, and a pink 4 3/4oz AJ Sports Super Test hardball, provided by MJCA, should be used. Wides and no-balls must be recorded as 2 runs plus whatever is run (with no extra balls), except in the final over, when they should be re-bowled.
6. In U14 and U15 Girls’ Hardball matches, the pitch length is 20 yards, and a pink 5oz AJ Sports Super Test hardball, provided by MJCA, should be used. Wides and no-balls must be recorded as 1 run plus whatever is run with balls re-bowled throughout the innings.
7. In U17 Girls’ Hardball matches, the pitch length is 22 yards, and a pink 5oz AJ Sports Super Test hardball, provided by MJCA, should be used. Wides and no-balls must be recorded as 1 run plus whatever is run with balls re-bowled throughout the innings.
8. In U14, U15 and U17 Girls’ Hardball matches, a free hit will be awarded following a front foot no-ball. Where there is a free hit, the field should not change from the previous delivery.
9. Umpires, match managers or other spectators shall not give advice or instruction to any player who is on the field of play.

Rules 2 to 8 of the Girls’ Hardball rules, as set out above, are consistent with the main outdoor competition rules and are included here as a summary for ease of reference. In relation to any of these rules, Clubs should refer to the main outdoor competition rules for further details.

GIRLS CUP RULES

1. The U11 Girls Cup has the same playing conditions as the U13 Hardball Girls League (out / out), however the pitch length is 17 yards.
2. The U13 Girls Cup has the same playing conditions as the U13 Hardball Girls League.
3. The U15 Girls Cup has the same playing conditions as the U15 Hardball Girls League.