The Grades Review team came back with a very interesting proposal which would drastically change the current setup for the turf grades. We are very interested in hearing your thoughts on the proposal, or any alternative proposals you might have.
GRADE AND DIVISION STRUCTURE
The Group entrusted with undertaking the Review of Match Conditions during the Review of the Association asked the Board to consider introducing one-day cricket to Divisions 1 to 3 and suggested two options to achieve this aim.
For your consideration and discussion at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting, the options are outlined below.
The options were developed by the Group on the basis that cricket and its players have changed in the last ten years and that the WASTCA should be “moving with the times” by looking to where cricket might be in ten years time, rather than simply catering to the current “system”. In doing so, it looked at the WAAFL which has an 18 week plus finals season with general byes during the season for all grades. The Group particularly noted that the player numbers in WAAFL are apparently increasing whereas the number of players in the WASTCA has stagnated or decreased slightly with a significant turnover each season.
Making the game more interesting is but one approach. There was also a view expressed on a number of occasions by various clubs to the Group that two day cricket all the time has become a bit boring. The Group also acknowledged that with the introduction of a Twenty20 Competition, senior players are now required to play more cricket and spend more time away from families.
The Group is not claiming that either of the above Options will be the panacea for all the “ills”, but it is of the strong view that there should be at least a two year trial of one of the options with a review at the end thereof to determine its suitability and whether to return to the current format or trial the other option for two years.
The benefits of a restructure of divisions 1 to 3 would be:
- More selection & presentation nights for clubs this would mean more turnover and better club attendances.
- Improved numbers at training as there would be more games played. At the moment there is a drop in numbers at training on the second week of a two day match.
- Bring into line the fixturing between division 1 – 3 and Division 4. This would eliminate situations where players may drop down grades because they are only available for one week.
- To give batsmen and bowlers more opportunity to play. For example under the current format at player may bat on the first week of a match and not have another hit until the second week of the following bat. This could mean as many as 3 weeks without a hit in the middle and the difference between being in or out of form.
- May help retain senior players in higher grades thus improving the standard of cricket.
- May help attract younger players who are more interested in a shorter form of the game.
- By having one day fixtures played at the start of the season and either side of Christmas this would assist with the availability of players as these are times when players are less likely to be available.
- One day games in the top grades could be good preparation for CricketWest games.
- May help the association find new clubs.
Options for Grades and Divisions.
Option 1
| Division 1 | Grade 1 | 16 team grade, divided into 2 pools.
Each team would play a two day game against the other teams in its pool and play all of the teams from the opposite pool in a one day match. Finals would be played between the top two sides from each pool. The first team from one pool would play the second team from the opposite pool. The winners would play off in the Final. The last placed teams from each pool would be relegated to second grade. This would be a 22 weeks season plus finals. To be a Grade 1 club you must be able to field a team in grade 3 & 5 |
| Division 1 | Grade 2 | 8 team grade
This would be the first team for clubs not playing Grade 1. Each team would play each other twice as per the current format in division 4. This would be a 21 week season plus finals. |
| Division 2 | Grade 3 | As per grade 1.
This would be a clubs second team. |
| Division 2 | Grade 4 | As per grade 2
This would be the second team for clubs playing grade 2. |
| Division 3 | Grade 5 | As per grade 1 & 3
This would be a clubs 3rd team. |
| Division 4 | Grade 6 down. | As per the current system. |
| One day comp. | As per the current system. | |
The benefits of this option would be that there would be more 1st grade clubs and clubs would play a larger array of teams. The down side would be fewer teams playing finals.
It is recommended that each pool in Divisions 1, 3 and 5 be named rather than numbered to emphasise that one pool is not stronger nor more favoured than the other.
As indicated above, the teams on the bottom of the ladder for each pool in Grade 1 would be relegated to Grade 2. Promotion from second grade would be to the two pools in Division 1, with the actual positioning in the pools of the promoted teams being determined by the Competition Committee.
Of course, the option is based on the perfect situation of 24 clubs whereas there is currently only 22 clubs. Accordingly, it is recommended that each pool in Grades 1, 3 & 5 comprise 7 teams only, thereby creating a bye (as in Grade 10 last season). Discussions with younger players, ie those that might be playing in 10 years time, suggest that a bye situation will provide significant benefits towards retaining players.
On this basis, in the first year of competition under this option, the top two teams in Grade 2 (as per the current promotion policy) would be promoted to Grade 1, leaving 8 teams in Grade 2. The Competition Committee would allocate teams to the two pools in Grade 1. In the following years of operation, the same promotion would occur matched by a demotion by each of the teams on the bottom of the ladder of each pool in Grade 1. The Competition Committee could then either allocate the promoted teams to either pool or it could completely reconstitute each pool.
The respective promotions and relegations in Grades 1 & 2 would be mirrored in Grades 3, 4 and 5.
Option 2
| Division 1 | Grade 1
Grade 2 Grade 3 |
8 team grades playing each other twice as per the current format in division 4.
There would be promotion and relegation between the three grades. Each clubs first team shall play in division 1. This would be a 21 week season plus finals. |
| Division 2 | Grade 4
Grade 5 Grade 6 |
As per division 1.
This would be a clubs 2nd team based on the position of their first team. |
| Division 3 | Grade 7
Grade 8 Grade 9 |
As per division 1.
This would be a clubs 3rd team based on the position of their first team. |
| Division 4 | Grade 10 down. | As per the current system. |
| One day comp. | As per the current system. | |
The benefit of this option would be more teams playing finals and more competitive grades. This option creates a 21 week season for all grades, thereby providing a very small element of flexibility in fixturing.
This option has also been predicated on 24 clubs rather than the existing 22. With 22 clubs, there are six possible ways of determining the number of teams for the three new grades. Using the numbers 1 to 22, based on where the clubs finished last season on the ladder, there are the following options for allocating clubs to each of the top three grades:
| Grade | A | B | C | D | E | F |
| 1 | 1 – 8 (8) | 1-8 (8) | 1 – 6 (6) | 1 – 8 (8) | 1-7 (7) | 1 – 7 (7) |
| 2 | 9 – 16 (8) | 9-14 (6) | 7 – 14 (8) | 9 – 15 (7) | 8-14 (7) | 8 – 15 (8) |
| 3 | 17 – 22 (6) | 15 – 22 (8) | 15 – 22 (8) | 16 – 22 (7) | 15 – 22 (8) | 16 – 22 (7) |
Options A, B or C will not involve a bye but options D, E and F do for two of these grades. Adoption of the latter options could allow this “bye” to be spread such that half the teams play a one day game one weekend and the balance on the next weekend. A possible problem with the adoption of a bye during the season would be that all games in Divisions 1 to 4 would be required to commence on the first weekend in October.
Given the reduced number of teams in each grade, it might be appropriate under this Option to re-think the existing policy of promoting and relegating two teams for each new season. Under this option, if two teams are promoted and relegated, Grades 2, 5 and 8 will each have four new teams each season. In these circumstances, it might be appropriate to have only one team promoted and relegated for each new season so that there is not a large “turnover” of teams within these grades.
On the other hand, retaining the two team promotion/relegation policy may ensure that clubs do not become too “familiar” with the opposition, ie variety is the spice of life.
Summary
The above Options were derived by the Group primarily on the basis that the WASTCA must be looking at least ten years ahead and implementing strategies to retain younger players, including planning for future members, not only those that currently play.
In this context, a two year trial of either option is essential to determine its effectiveness.
What you may also consider are:
- Whether a shorter season is wanted? This might eliminate problems that arise when there are not enough Saturdays in the season to accommodate the required number of fixtures in the current format;
- Scheduling a general bye into the fixtures;
- If the current format is retained, must each team play each other once?
- Renaming the One Day Competition Divisions as Grades 11 and 12 in, say, Division 5.
WA Suburban Turf Cricket Association 