Season 1 • Fall 2026

League Rules & Match Format

The league's 10-over rules for tennis ball and taped tennis ball cricket, based on the October 9, 2026 rules document and confirmed league decisions.

Illustration of a wooden cricket bat leaning on stumps beside a tennis ball, with a roll-out mat and autumn trees behind

10 overs per side

Every match is scheduled for 10 overs per innings. Teams field equal sides of 8–11 players on a 22-yard roll-out mat.

10-Over Match

  • Ten overs per innings; six legal balls per over
  • Each team bats once, with equal playing sides of 8–11 players
  • Matches are played on a 22-yard roll-out mat

Saturday Triple-Header

  • Regular-season matches start at 3:30, 5:00 and 6:30 PM
  • Every team plays two of the three matches on the published schedule
  • Be at the field and ready 10 minutes before your match starts

Match Format

  • Every match is 10 overs a side, with 11 players a side on a 22-yard roll-out mat. Equal sides of 8–11 players are permitted under the team rules.
  • An over is six legal balls. Each team bats once, for up to 10 overs.
  • The first-listed team on the schedule calls the toss. The winner chooses to bat or field.
  • Each Saturday is a triple-header at 3:30, 5:00 and 6:30 PM. Every team plays two of the three matches, as shown on the published schedule.
  • Teams must be at the field and ready 10 minutes before their start time so the previous match can clear.

Teams & Players

  • A team plays with 8–11 players, and both teams in a match field the same number.
  • Every player is registered, has signed the waiver, and plays for one team all season.
  • Each captain gives the scorer the playing list and batting order before the toss.
  • A team with fewer than eight players 15 minutes after the start time forfeits, unless the opposing captain lends players.
  • If one team has more players than the other, its captain lends the extras so both sides are equal. A lent player plays for the borrowing team for that match only.
  • Players not in the match may field as substitutes. They cannot bat or bowl.
  • Players aged 14–17 play on the same team as the family member they registered with, and bat and bowl under the same rules as everyone else.

Bowling Limits

  • With five or more bowlers, each bowler may bowl at most two overs. Example: 2+2+2+2+2.
  • A team using only four bowlers may let at most two of them bowl three overs. Example: 3+3+2+2. Three or fewer bowlers is not allowed.
  • Any player can bowl, including a batter filling in as the fifth bowler.
  • No bowler bowls two overs in a row.
  • The captain tells the umpire before the innings if the team is using four bowlers.
  • If a bowler cannot finish an over, another bowler who did not bowl the previous over completes it. The over counts toward the original bowler's limit.
  • These limits stay the same whether a team has eight or eleven players. The innings is always 10 overs.

Batting & Scoring

  • An innings ends after 10 overs or when the team is all out, meaning only one batter is left. With eleven players, that is ten wickets.
  • A batter is out if bowled, caught, run out, stumped, hit wicket, or LBW.
  • Runs are scored by running between the wickets. A ball that reaches the boundary on the ground is four; a ball that clears it on the full is six.
  • Byes and leg byes are scored as extras.
  • The winning team is the one with more runs after both innings.

Extras, Umpires & Scoring

  • Wides and no-balls each cost one run and the ball is bowled again. The umpire's call is final.
  • Wide: a ball too wide or too high for the batter to reach with a normal shot.
  • No-ball: the bowler oversteps the crease, bowls a full toss above waist height, or bounces the ball above the batter's shoulder.
  • The ball after a no-ball is a free hit. The batter can only be out run out.
  • In each match, the team that is not playing provides two umpires and one scorer. The scorer records the match live in CricHeroes.
  • Only the two captains may speak to the umpires about a decision.

Equipment & Ground

  • Matches use an Indian heavy tennis ball or a taped tennis ball on a roll-out mat, with boundaries set for safety first.
  • One ball type is used for the whole match, held by the umpire. A lost or damaged ball is replaced with the same type.
  • The league provides balls, stumps, bails and wicket-keeping gloves.
  • Players may bring their own bats. No metal bats.
  • The 22-yard mat is staked down before the first match and rechecked before each match. Report any raised stake or curled edge to the umpire.
  • Organizers mark the boundary with cones before play. The side toward the parking lot and E Ramapo Avenue is marked tighter than the open side.
  • No fielder chases a ball beyond the parking lot or road boundary. The umpire stops play until the ball is brought back.

Results, Points & Playoffs

  • A win earns two points, a tie or washout one point, and a loss zero. Six regular-season rounds lead into a semi-final and a final.
  • Standings are ranked by points, then net run rate (runs per over scored minus runs per over conceded), then the head-to-head result.
  • A team bowled out early is charged its full 10 overs for net run rate.
  • If weather or light stops the second innings after at least five overs, the team with the higher run rate wins. With fewer than five overs, there is no result and each team gets one point.
  • Semi-Final: Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Second place plays third place; first place rests.
  • Championship Final: Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM. First place plays the Semi-Final winner.
  • For a tied playoff, each team bats one Super Over with two batters. If still tied, the higher-ranked team wins.
  • Trophies are awarded on the field after the Final.

Weather, Light & Conduct

  • The umpires stop play whenever the ball cannot be seen or the ground is unsafe. Organizers make the final call on cancellations.
  • Organizers decide whether a match is cancelled and post it in the WhatsApp group. Captains do not call matches off.
  • Play stops at once for any lightning or thunder and resumes only after 30 minutes with none.
  • A washed-out regular-season match is not replayed and each team gets one point. A washed-out playoff match moves to the next Saturday.
  • Spectators stay behind the cones and well away from the road-side boundary. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
  • No abuse of players, umpires or scorers. Follow all Mahwah Township park rules. A player ejected by the umpires sits out the next match for that team.
  • Captains raise disputes with the organizers after the match. The organizers' decision is final.

Safety and sportsmanship come first

The organizer or umpire may stop play whenever the field, weather, equipment, or player conduct is unsafe. Respectful behavior is required toward opponents, teammates, officials, spectators, and park users.

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