ECA Turf grades – Team Grading procedures (October 2022)
For the 2023-24 cricket season, all people involved in cricket matches in Victoria must always comply with directions from the State Government / Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). Where there is any conflict with the procedures below, the requirements from the State Government / DHHS shall take precedence.
If rounds/matches are lost due to Covid during the 2022-23 season, the ECA Executive may re- consider these procedures.
Promotion and relegation procedures
The team of a club winning the premiership in the Grand Final of each Grade, except in Dunstan Shield, shall be promoted to the next highest Grade in the following season. The team of a club occupying the lowest position on the ladder of each Grade at the end of the season (except for the lowest Grade) shall be relegated to the next lower Grade in the following season.
The ECA Executive may vary, in its discretion and in the best interests of the ECA, the promotion and relegation procedures outlined above, if:
- The promotion or relegation of a team would result in two teams from the same club being in the same Grade; or
- Playing facilities for the team are not of a sufficient standard for the Grade in which the team would compete in the next season; or
- There are circumstances which, in the opinion of the ECA Executive, require a team of a club to be promoted, relegated, refused promotion or is not relegated; or
- Clubs wish to enter new team/s into the ECA turf grades.
The ECA Executive, in its discretion and in the best interests of the ECA, may decide that promotion and relegation procedures do not apply.
Clubs entering teams for the ECA turf grades
A club wishing to enter a current or new team into the ECA turf grades will be graded into the Grade determined by the ECA Executive based on a number of factors including:
- What is in the best interests of the ECA;
- The desire of the ECA to maintain 8-team turf grades;
- The existing grading of the team;
- The impact of the ECA Turf promotion and relegation procedures;
- The proposed ranking of the team within the club;
- The standard of players who will likely be in the team;
- How the competitive the team will be in the proposed Grade; and
- Any other information considered relevant to the ECA Executive.
The introduction of a new team into the ECA turf grades for the 2023-24 season may result in circumstances which require a current team of a club in a Grade to be promoted, relegated, refused promotion or is not relegated. A new team into the ECA turf grades may not necessarily be graded into the lowest turf Grade in its first season. The overriding principle to be applied in relation to the grading of a current and new team into the ECA turf grades will be what is in the best interests of the ECA.
The ECA Executive, in its discretion and in the best interests of the ECA, may not accept the application of a club wishing to enter a team into the ECA turf grades.
ECA Turf Wicket Committee October 2022