Information for Match Managers

Match Fees & Submission of Reports

£10 for half day match, £25 for all day, with discretion to reduce these fees for students & guests. Use the ‘Match Report Submission’ button on the SOA home page to submit match report and finances.

The SOA Match Manager

The Committee would like to thank you for agreeing to manage an SOA match.  Without your efforts we would not be able to continue our traditions and the great name the SOA has for playing cricket as it should be played. That said - you have accepted responsibility for an important position which has implications for the Club, its members and our opposition.  

These notes have been compiled to assist you; points that may seem obvious to the experienced Match Manager may be helpful to those new in the job.  If you are in doubt about anything you should not hesitate to approach any member of the Committee.  Without exception they will be prepared to offer advice and may also be able to help out in a practical manner.                                 

Your ‘XI’

Experience has shown it is essential to raise your team well in advance.  Personal invitations to individual players are more likely to prompt positive replies than a blanket invitation such as ‘Anyone fancy a game at …..’. If you have not started speaking to prospective players at least 1 month in advance of your match - you certainly will need to start moving very, very fast!  Please involve SOA members (especially those who have ‘applied’ to play) and prospective members where possible. Note that your objective is to field a balanced XI that at least matches the strength of our opponents.  If you are uncertain as to the likely strength of your opponents, feel free to contact me and I will do my best to ensure you are well informed.  As Match Manager you would be expected to ‘skipper’ your side – but you are at liberty to make other arrangements.

The experienced Match Manager will also possess a secret cunning plan on how to handle the possibility (probability !) of a player dropping out of his side anytime during the 48 hours leading up to the match.  For the desperate match manager I have known this to involve going underground and not answering the phone.  For most situations however I would recommend holding the line of ‘if you now drop out of a match you have committed to play in, you run the risk of embarrassing the Club and your team members, and also causing me, the match manager, a lot of stress and additional effort.  If you cannot play I assume you have, or will, find a suitable replacement for yourself.’  However, wise Match Managers will also have an alternative plan in their pocket to cover this very real possibility!

Umpires, Scorers, Caterers and Groundsmen

These are all key to your match and hence your day.  The ground and lunch / teas will have been organised / agreed by our Fixture Secretary.  However these ‘volunteers’ are not your servants!  On the day it will be much appreciated if you ask the groundsman and caterers if they need any assistance with their duties, and act accordingly.  You are an ambassador for our Club.  Apart from the overriding need to be courteous, remember the SOA is only a ‘guest’, as we do not maintain our own ground facilities, and are likely to need to play at that ground again. Ensure that all catering is paid for on the day (be prepared to pay in cash).

Please make every effort to organise an umpire, and if possible, a scorer.  Ensure they are compensated for their time if that is the basis of their participation - again cash is preferred. Our club is blessed to be able to call on some of the best umpires in the area, in fact in their playing days many were great servants as players.

The following would be very pleased to receive requests to umpire an SOA fixture – 

Dave Binningsley (01235 533073), David Hall (07803 987825), Mike Knox (01494 673735), Andrew Moss (01865 372399), Colin Muttitt (07748 633 069) Wednesdays preferred, Andrew Smith (07831 690 592), John Smith (07980 864 883).

Neil Harris (01869 350202), Mick Warren (Mobile 07777 613285 warrenmick@me.com), Miles Hedges (01908 520102), David Hall (07803 987825) and Peter Coleman (07729 032921 coleman53@hotmail.co.uk) have offered to score some SOA matches.

Weather Problems

Our fixture secretary will have written to you with the name and phone number of the fixture secretary or captain of your opponents.  He will also have sent to the opponents the SOA fixture card containing your contact details.  If we are the ‘home’ club, and you have any doubts about the weather causing disruption to the game, you must keep in touch with the Opposition, Groundsman, Caterers, Scorer and Umpire.  Consider in advance how you will achieve this. They should be the first people you advise of any cancellation.

On the Day

Even if you have no snags with your ‘XI’, there is a lot to do on the day especially if we are the ‘home’ side i.e. greet the opposition, be prepared to help (or preferably get your players to help) with the ground especially when bad weather has held up preparation, see that the score box is open, scorer and umpire in place with scorebook and new ball. Whether it is a home or away fixture – the SOA flag should be flown.

Before the toss, agree the conditions and hours of play with your opposing skipper, and also check whether your opponents have arranged a scorer and umpire.  It is also advisable (jointly?) to assess the relative strengths of the XIs.  We play to the Laws of Cricket – leaving the initiative to the captains to declare when both sides have a chance of winning.  If, during the match, your opposition lose a fielder for whatever reason – as an SOA Match Manager you should offer a suitable substitute fielder to your opponents. 

Your own side also deserves your attention.  Ensure that introductions are made so that your team know each other.  The best match managers would have taken steps to issue a team list to all players before the day of their match. As match manager you are also responsible for the wellbeing of any U18 players in your side – in fact, in a legal sense, you are their ‘guardian’!

During the match do your best to actively involve every player in your side, with either bat or ball. They have all volunteered or agreed to play – and I would hope that every player would desire to play a part.  In the field the typical SOA side is also likely to offer you, as captain, a vast range of fielding talent for your ‘disposal’!!  Prepare yourself in advance for this challenge.  For example, it would be highly desirable (for player and captain) to ‘hide’ a less mobile/energetic player and it would be poor practice if your keen athletic fielders come off the field not having worked hard!

Before you leave the ground you would be expected to thank your hosts – whether that be the SOA ‘host’ club or our opposition – and also umpires, scorers, groundsman and caterers.  Ensure you have also collected match fees from your team (£10 for half day match, £20 for all day with discretion to reduce these fees for students & guests).  You will need these match fees to pay towards catering, possible ground hire, umpires & scorers. Please meet all requests for payment before you leave – in fact you may want to take steps beforehand to ensure you have sufficient cash in hand. Our fixture secretary will have written advising of any agreed fees for ground hire and food, but, if not, contact Andrew Smith (admin@soacc.co.uk). 

You are also responsible for ensuring the SOA scorebook is completed, and you will find it useful to keep notes of the key performances and overall match details as these will be essential for your match report to be submitted within 2 weeks of your game. To submit the report simply use the ‘Match Report Submission’ button on the SOA home page.

The SOA ‘Diplomatic Bag’

This is a vital piece of equipment containing a supply of new and used balls.  Inside will also be the SOA Flag and this season’s scorebook. It would be unusual for the SOA to be expected to supply both balls for a match – the usual approach being for the Club to provide one new ball which should be returned to the diplomatic bag after the match for use as a ‘spare’. It is very important that the diplomatic bag arrives at the next SOA fixture, and it is your responsibility, as Match Manager, to make arrangements that it does.  Please consider how you intend to achieve this by consulting with the ‘next’ Match Manager in advance of your match day.  If you have not received the diplomatic bag prior to your match you should contact the Match Manager of the prior SOA fixture.  

Most importantly – enjoy yourself.  As the above suggests, preparation is key to enjoying the ‘day’.