Thames Valley Cricket League Open Meeting 5 th March 2018 If at - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Thames Valley Cricket League

Open Meeting – 5th March 2018

Purpose of meeting? To discuss openly and ask any questions or seek clarifications on the imminent formal proposals due to be published by 6th March for the SGM (21st March) surrounding:

• Discuss the Implementation/Variation of WinLose Match Rules in Levels 3 to 9.
• See separate draft proposals document
• Discuss the Championship Structure options to either add the Feeder into:
• The current Mixed Structure
• A potential new Hybrid Structure
• AOB

Ground rules:

• Speak briefly and concisely; listen carefully

(& please do not speak over each other.)

• Start with an open-mind

“If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” Albert Einstein

TVCL Structure Introduction

• From 1972 to 1999 (until 2001 for 3rd XI’s) there used to be a

segregated “Team Structure” model, with 1st XI, 2nd XI and 3rd XI

• nly championships.
• With the introduction of the HCPCL in 2000, this required the TVCL

to restructure to its current “Mixed Structure” model due to the loss

• f those 1st XI Teams.
• Following the League Expansion project, and now with the

introduction of our own underlying Feeder Link League, we currently have the opportunity & critical mass to choose/revisit our future structure.

SGM(1): Feeder into Mixed Structure

TVCL 1 DIV 2a DIV 3a DIV 4a DIV 5a DIV 2b DIV 3b DIV 4b DIV 5b BCMB Berks League Chiltern League Levels 1-3 No Regionalisation + Stricter G&S Mid Bucks Standard* Relegation of: 5 Teams from Level 4 Standard* Promotion of: 4 Teams from Level 5 + 1 Team from BCMB

(*subject to HCPCL & BCMB eligibility)

HCPCL Only 1 promotion place DIV 6a DIV 6b DIV 7a DIV 7b

This structure works, but does not address any of the current challenges.

Challenges with current Mixed Structure (1)

• 1. There is a bottle-neck between Div 1 and Div 2a&b – as only the

Champions of Div 2 are promoted. Often one of the two promotions is for a 2nd XI.

{only 1st XIs can be promoted from Div 1 to HCPCL, so 2nd XI’s cannot progress further}

• 2. Panel Umpire coverage is applied to the top divisions – but this

includes 2nd (& 3rd) XI’s, whilst other Club 1st XIs do not benefit from this service.

• 3. “Strengthening of 2nd XI’s” in divisions playing against other 1st XI’s

causes upset and dissatisfaction.

• 4. We have conflicting demands for regionalisation vs aspiration

championships and this is not easily achieved within a Mixed XI structure. Continued…

Challenges with current Mixed Structure (2)

• 5. Match Formats are set per Division/Level – but in a Mixed Structure –

this can mean for example a 3rd XI being treated the same as a 1st XI.

• 6. The Mixed Structure has tended to favour “stronger clubs” as now

after 17 seasons, we have 5 Clubs with a 3rd XI Team in or above Division 4 – which is the Entry Division for our new Member Club 1st XI’s. (And now the Feeder Entry Level)

– Grading & Standards is stricter for Home Grounds, so “Out-Grounds” for 3rd XI’s will struggle to be eligible for promotion further up the structure. – Duckworth Lewis Stern – is achievable on the Home Ground, but more difficult on Out-Grounds for 3rd XI’s.

So we in effect have additional blockages developing between Levels 2&3 and 3&4 – where successful 2nd & 3rd XI’s can prevent 1st XIs from promotion / competing against other Aspirational Club 1st XIs. Ultimately leading to a gridlock scenario in the coming years.

TVCL 1st XI 2nd XI 3rd XI Total 1st XI %of Level Level 1 8 2 10 80% Level 2 15 5 20 75% Level 3 10 8 2 20 50% Level 4 10 7 3 20 50% Level 5 3 12 5 20 15%

SGM(2): Feeder into Hybrid Structure

2nd XI Div 1 BCMB Regionalisation Level 5 & below Only 1 promotion

place via Feeder Links

1st XI DIV 1 1st XI DIV 2 1st XI DIV 3 HC Premier 1st XI DIV 4 2nd XI Div 2 3nd XI Div 1 DIV 5a & 5b (1st & 2nd XI only) DIV 6a & 6b (Mixed XI) DIV 7a & 7b (Mixed XI) Creation of Aspirational 1st XI pathway directly to HCPCL

Normal 2 promotion places per Division Winners of Div 5a&b / 6a&b promotion guaranteed. (Conditional for Runners-up)

Creation of 2nd XI & 3rd XI “Premier” Divisions

Benefits of a Hybrid Structure (1)

• “The Club is King” – aim to treat Member Clubs more equally to be

able to compete 1st XI to 1st XI (50* Clubs in 1st XI only Divisions + remainder in Mixed Levels).

• 1st XI pathway to provide a clear route for all club 1st XIs in the

region – up through to the Premier League, either via TVCL or BCMB divisions.

• Embraces both the benefits of the Team XI structure & retaining the

Mixed Structure for managing Regionalisation and supporting our developing clubs reach the 1st XI pathway.

• Reduces the dangers of the spiral of player drain from lower club 1st

XIs that currently can only play against 3rd XI’s of other local clubs.

Continued…

TVCL 1st XI 2nd XI Total 1st XI %of Level HCPCL (TVCL) 11 (of 20) 11 100% 1stXI Div1 10 10 100% 1stXI Div2 10 10 100% 1stXI Div3 10 10 100% 1stXI Div4 10 10 100% Level 5 7 13 20 35%

Benefits of a Hybrid Structure (2)

• Creation of 2nd & 3rd XI “Premier” Divisions to maintain level of

competition and reduces blockages in the Mixed Levels. Plus reduces Yoyo promotion/relegation experienced currently at higher Mixed Levels which also causes blockages to other Club 1st XIs.

• Regionalised Mixed Level 5 for growing Clubs and fully Mixed

Levels 6 & below for all.

• The Panel Umpire service can be in future years be applied more

fairly to Member Club 1st XI’s. (Encourage provision and training of Club umpires for lower XI’s).

• Different Parts of the Structure, can more easily have appropriate

match rules/formats/ground standards/player eligibility requirements.

• Removes the Bottle-Neck between Divisions 1 & 2a/b. (though a

different bottleneck is created lower in the structure, which may allow us to potentially be more creative…)

Challenge of a Hybrid Structure

Moving back from a Mixed Structure to a ‘full’ Team Structure has been discounted as would not allow for much regionalisation at lower levels. However adopting a Hybrid Structure means that there is a ‘junction’ between the 2 models that has potential for a new bottle-neck depending on which Teams win the Mixed Divisions.

Optional: To Prevent such future Blockage to Teams – a WinLose Format “Play-off” system could be added. Play-Off Conditions

• Play-off Scenario – is very complex to describe in words, and has multiple variables, but the aim would be to

ensure that there is a chance of promotion available to the Team XI’s in the Mixed Structure to gain access to the “Team XI” Divisions – regardless of the blockage caused by either 1st or 2nd Teams dominating Level 5.

• Such Play-off’s would be hosted by the ‘Challenger Club’ in Week 19*. Panel Umpires available.
• Any BCMB 1st XI due for relegation from 1st XI DIV4 would not have a Play-off Option & would be simply relegated.

Example: 1st XI Only / 2nd XI Only from the Mixed Level 5 1st XI DIV 4: 2x 1st XI would be due to be relegated (“+ 1” relegation to accommodate BCMB Feeder if eligible). 2nd XI DIV 2: 2x 2nd XI would be due to be relegated. Division 5a&b – the Winner of each Division would be promoted automatically. Noting that a maximum of 2x 1st XI & 2x 2nd XI will be promoted to replace the Relegations as above.

• So when 2x 1st XI + 2x 2nd XI finish as Winners & Runner-up of Level 5 – then all are simply promoted.

However:

• If 2x 1st XI (or conversely 2x 2nd XI) are the Winners, if then either runner up is a 1st XI (or conversely 2nd XI) – then

that runner up would not be promoted as there is no capacity for a “3rd“ promotion. Whereas:

• If 4x 2nd XI (or 4x 1st XI) are the Winners & runners up – then this would cause a complete blockage to any 1st XI’s

(or 2nd XI’s) from achieving promotion to their respective Team XI Division. (Default position would mean the Teams due to be relegated being reprieved.) How likely is this scenario to occur ? Is this problematic in the longer term?

TVCL Play-off Example

ONLY 2nd XI WINNERS & RUNNERs-UP IN LEVEL 5

TVCL 1st XI Div 4 TVCL 2nd XI Prem Div 2 1st XI 2nd XI 1st XI 2nd XI 1st XI 2nd XI 1st XI 2nd XI 1st XI 2nd XI 1st XI 2nd XI 1st XI 2nd XI 1st XI Not Relegated 2nd XI 1st XI Playoff 1 2nd XI Relegated to Level 5 1st XI Relegated (to BCMB) 2nd XI Relegated to Level 5 TVCL Regional Division 5W TVCL Regional Division 5E 2nd XI Promoted to 2nd XI 2nd XI Promoted to 2nd XI 2nd XI Not promoted 2nd XI Not promoted 2nd XI 1st XI Playoff 1 2nd XI 1st XI 1st XI 1st XI 1st XI 1st XI 1st XI 2nd XI 2nd XI 2nd XI 1st XI 2nd XI 2nd XI 2nd XI

Re-cap of Hybrid Structure

Remove 3x bottle-necks from top of league caused by current Structure, Match Rules and Grading & Standards. Creates a clear aspirational pathway for all Regional Clubs to reach the Home Counties Premier Cricket League. Retains Regionalisation in lower levels and maintains competitive 2nd & 3rd XI Divisions. Treats Member Clubs more equally & therefore allows them to compete

• n an equal footing.

Creation of Team XI Divisions removes the imbalance of Team strengthening for the majority of 1st XI’s. (though still possible lower down in the Mixed Structure.) Solves all TVCL challenges. “Simple Structure and Benefits” – once you have read it several times... Play-Offs could be an interesting experiment able to generate an end of season “cup final” crowd.