An interactive guide to stoolball — the rules, the history, and how to get involved — built for players, captains and curious newcomers in the Eastbourne Red Triangle Stoolball League.
Source: stoolball.app — A Pocket Guide to stoolball and the Eastbourne Red Triangle Stoolball League (ERTSL 2026 season).
I. A very quick introduction
A Sussex sport older than cricket. Two teams, a wooden wicket on a stake, and a ball bowled underarm.
Stoolball is a striking-and-fielding sport originating in Sussex, southern England. Two teams of up to 11 players compete across fourteen overs per side. The bowler delivers underarm from ten yards at a wooden wicket raised on a stake; the batter defends it and runs between the two wickets to score.
Played since at least 1450. Milkmaids used their milking stools as wickets. Shakespeare mentioned it. Sussex still plays.
First recorded by name in the 15th century — more than a hundred years before cricket. Originally an Easter-time pastime, often described as a courtship game. Legend has it milkmaids played with their three-legged stools as targets (hence the older name 'bittle-battle', after the milk bowl used as a bat). Shakespeare and John Fletcher used 'playing stool ball' as a euphemism in The Two Noble Kinsmen. The first recorded named match was Glynde Butterflies versus Firle Blues in 1866.
Its nickname. The wicket sits at chest height. The ball reaches the batter on the full — no bounce.
The wicket is a one-foot-square wooden board fixed to a stake so its top is 4ft 8in (1.42m) off the ground. The ball must arrive at the wicket without bouncing — unlike cricket. That makes stoolball quicker, more compact, and more direct.
Reference: Rule 4.3, 8.5, 8.6
Brought back in 1917 as rehab for wounded WWI soldiers at Brighton's Royal Pavilion. It's been Sussex's game ever since.
Major William Grantham, a Sussex KC and landowner, revived stoolball in 1917 as a rehabilitation sport for soldiers convalescing at Brighton's Royal Pavilion military hospital. He famously wore a traditional Sussex round-frock and beaver hat to matches. In 1923 he founded the Stoolball Association of Great Britain at Lord's.
Officially recognised as a sport in 2008. Played mostly in Sussex, Kent, Surrey. Ladies' and mixed leagues. Eight-ball overs.
The National Stoolball Association was founded in 1979 and renamed Stoolball England in 2010, the official governing body. Stoolball was recognised as a sport by the Sports Council in 2008. Today it is played in multiple leagues across Sussex, Kent, Surrey and the Midlands, in both ladies' and mixed formats.
Think Twenty20 cricket, but underarm — and welcoming.
Children start around 8 or 9 and plenty of players keep going into their 70s. Match fees are usually £1–£3, and an all-day Sunday tournament can cost as little as £1. In mixed games a man and a woman often bat together, and the sport works on any reasonable grassy field in summer or in sports halls through the winter.
II. What you need, where you stand
Two wickets, 16 yards apart. A 40-metre boundary. Bowling from 10 yards out. Kit is minimal, old-fashioned on purpose.
The boundary line shall be, where possible, 40 metres or 45 yards from the centre of the pitch. The wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel at 16 yards apart, on a north-south axis where possible. The bowling crease is 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the batting wicket and 915mm (one yard) in length.
Reference: Rule 4.1, 4.3.3, 4.6
A one-foot-square wooden board on a stake. Top sits 4ft 8in off the ground. The bottom 24 inches is the no-ball line.
Each wicket is a board 305mm (1 foot) square and 12mm (½ inch) thick, mounted on a stake fixed firmly to the ground so its top is level and 1.42 metres (4ft 8in) from the ground. The bottom 610mm (24in) of the stake is painted a different colour to mark the no-ball area.
Reference: Rule 4.3.1, 4.3.2
Shaped like a small frying pan. Up to 19 inches long, 7½ inches across. Stubby handle. Smooth wood, no splinters.
The bat shall not exceed 483mm (19 inches) in length or 197mm (7½ inches) in diameter. Wooden, round, with a short handle — often described as frying-pan-shaped. The surface and edges are kept smooth and splinter-free as a safety matter.
Reference: Rule 4.4
White stoolball. 70 to 85 grams. About seven inches around. Replaced if it gets rough.
The ball is a white stoolball weighing not less than 70g (2½oz) and not more than 85g (3oz), measuring between 178mm and 197mm (7 to 7½ inches) in circumference. It is replaced if its condition deteriorates during play.
Reference: Rule 4.5
No studs. No spikes. No gloves (unless medical and pre-approved). Moulded soles only. Protective kit is fine.
Players may wear any footwear provided the soles do not consist of removable studs or spikes. Moulded soles are the only form of assisted grip permitted. Gloves are not worn — except by a fielder on strict medical grounds, and only with the umpires' and/or captains' prior permission. Other protective clothing and equipment may be worn.
Reference: Rule 4.7
III. Runs, boundaries, and the extras in between
Score runs. Most runs wins. Fourteen overs a side, eight balls an over. Equal scores is a tie.
A match is won by the team that scores the most runs within the agreed number of overs. If the final scores are equal, the match is declared a tie. The league standard is 14 overs per side, light permitting, with a minimum of 10 overs per team if cut short.
Reference: Rule 5.10, 5.11
Run between the wickets. Touch the wicket or stake with bat or hand. Miss it and it's a short run — doesn't count.
A run is scored so long as the batsmen, after the ball is hit or at any time while the ball is in play, have crossed and made good their ground from wicket to wicket, having touched the wicket or stake with their hand, or the bat held in their hand, when completing the run. If they fail to touch it, the umpire calls 'short run' and the run does not count.
Reference: Rule 5.1, 5.4
Four: hits the boundary after bouncing. Six: clears the boundary on the full. Caught on the line? Still a six and not out.
The umpire signals four runs whenever the ball hits or crosses the boundary after first touching the ground. Six runs if the ball clears the boundary on the full. If a fielder catches the ball but any part of their body touches the boundary or ground outside it, the umpire signals six and the batter is not out.
Reference: Rule 5.2, 5.3
No-ball or wide: one run plus an extra delivery. Any further runs count as extras, not to the batter.
A run is added to the score when the umpire calls a no-ball or wide, and an extra delivery is bowled. If a batter hits a no-ball, any runs they make from it are credited to their score. Other runs completed during a no-ball or wide are recorded as extras.
Reference: Rule 5.7, 8.11–8.12, 9.1–9.2
Bye: ball misses the bat, runs scored anyway. Overthrow to the boundary: add four to whatever was already run.
If the bowler bowls a legitimate delivery which is not hit by the bat or the hand holding the bat, and runs are scored, the umpire signals 'bye' and the runs are recorded as byes. On overthrows that reach or cross the boundary, the score is the total runs completed when the ball crosses the boundary plus four.
Reference: Rule 5.8, Rule 10
IV. The six ways your innings ends
Bowled. Body-before-wicket. Caught. Run-out. Hit twice. Timed out. That's it.
There are exactly six modes of dismissal in stoolball. Each is listed in Rule 12 of the official rules. Unlike cricket, there is no 'stumped' or 'obstructing the field' as separate dismissals — those scenarios fall under run-out and related provisions.
Reference: Rule 12
Ball hits the wicket on a legitimate delivery. Still out even if it nicks the bat or deflects off you first.
The striking batsman is out 'bowled' if the wicket is hit by the ball when the bowler has bowled a legitimate delivery, even if the ball has first touched the bat or the hand holding the bat, or has been deflected onto the wicket by any part of the batsman's body.
Reference: Rule 12.1
Your body (not the hand holding the bat) stops the ball from hitting the wicket. Stoolball's version of LBW.
The striking batsman, having hit the ball or not, is out 'body before wicket' if, in the opinion of the umpire, any part of the body other than the hand holding the bat prevents the ball from hitting the wicket.
Reference: Rule 12.2
Clean catch, not on the ground, not on the boundary. Deflects off an umpire or a wicket first? Still out.
The striking batsman is out caught if the ball, from a stroke off the bat or the hand holding the bat, is held by a member of the fielding team, provided: the ball has not touched the ground; the catcher is not touching the boundary or outside it while in contact with the ball; and the ball has not lodged in their clothing. Deflections off an umpire, either batsman, fielders or the wickets still count, if the catch is completed cleanly.
Reference: Rule 12.3
Out of your ground when the wicket is touched by the ball. Taking evasive action doesn't count.
A batter is run-out if, while running or preparing to run or standing out of their ground while the ball is in play, they have not touched the wicket or stake with the bat or hand before the wicket is touched by the ball — thrown or placed — by a member of the fielding team. A batter merely taking evasive action cannot be run-out.
Reference: Rule 12.4
Hit the ball twice on purpose — out. New batter not at the wicket within a minute — out.
The striking batsman is out if the ball is hit twice, unless done accidentally. If, when a batter is given out, the incoming batter has not arrived at the wicket within one minute, they shall be out 'timed out' on appeal by the fielding team.
Reference: Rule 12.5, 12.6
V. How a bowler gets through eight balls
Eight legitimate deliveries per over. Next over starts at the other wicket. Same bowler can't bowl two in a row.
The over shall consist of eight legitimate deliveries bowled to a wicket. When eight legitimate deliveries have been bowled and the ball has settled in the bowler's hands, the umpire calls and signals 'over'. No-balls and wides are not legitimate deliveries. Each over is bowled alternately to each wicket, and bowlers may not bowl consecutive overs.
Reference: Rule 7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5
Bowling is underarm. No throws or jerks. Ball must reach the wicket above 24 inches, and without bouncing.
The bowler shall deliver the ball underarm. The ball shall not be thrown or jerked. The ball must not hit the ground before reaching the wicket, and must reach the wicket at least 610mm (24 inches) above the ground. Breaches in any of these make it a no-ball.
Reference: Rule 8.1, 8.2, 8.5, 8.6
Men and women alternate overs. Male bowlers can't run up from behind the wicket. Batting opens male-then-female.
In a mixed match, a male and female shall bowl alternate overs. The male bowler shall not start their run-up from any point behind the wicket, otherwise the umpire will call no-ball. The batting order is male and female to open, and when a batter is out they are replaced by one of the same sex until none remain.
Reference: Rule 6.9, 7.6, 7.8
Foot on the crease. Ball too low. Ball bounces. Wicket-keeper in front. Dangerous bowling. Any of these — no-ball.
The umpire calls no-ball if: the ball is not delivered underarm; the ball is thrown or jerked; the bowler has one or both feet on or over the bowling crease at delivery; the ball hits the ground before reaching the wicket; the ball reaches the wicket below 24 inches (or would have, had the batter not hit it); there is a wicket-keeper infringement; or the bowling is dangerous. On a no-ball, one run is added and an extra delivery is bowled. A batter can be run-out off a no-ball, but cannot be given out for any other reason.
Reference: Rule 8
VI. A quick reference
VII. How it's meant to be played
Captains are responsible. Umpires are the judges. Fair play matters as much as the rules.
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the rules. The umpires are the sole judges of fair play and may intervene at any time. Stoolball is a sport that owes much of its appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its rules but within the spirit of the game.
Reference: Spirit 1.1, 2.1, 2.2
Never argue an umpire's decision. Not with words. Not with gestures. Not with a look.
It is against the spirit of the game to dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture. If a player fails to comply with an umpire's instructions, criticises a decision, shows dissent, or behaves in a manner that might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire shall report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the captain to take action.
Reference: Spirit 1.2, 5.1
Updated wording for 2026. Same route: talk to your captain, then your DR, then the Management Committee if needed.
The 2026 rulebook clarifies the language around discipline and complaints. The process itself is unchanged: concerns about an opponent, umpire or player should first be raised with your own captain and Divisional Representative; serious or unresolved matters are escalated to the Management Committee. Keep it factual, keep it timely, and keep it off the field.
Reference: Spirit 5.1
Opponents. Your own team. The umpires. The traditions. In that spirit and that order.
The spirit of the game involves respect for your opponents, your own captain and team, the role of the umpires, and the sport's traditional values.
Reference: Spirit 4
No violence. No appealing when you know the batter's not out. No fake enthusiasm to distract.
It is against the spirit of the game to direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire; to indulge in cheating or sharp practice (including appealing when you know a batter is not out, or advancing aggressively on an umpire); or to distract an opponent verbally or with persistent clapping under the guise of enthusiasm. There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.
Reference: Spirit 5.2, 5.3, 6
VIII. Bring stoolball into the classroom
Teacher pack, slide deck, scoring sheet and student flyer — ready to use in PE, History or English at KS3.
Six modular lessons mapping to PE, History and English. Curriculum links, safety notes, equipment list, rules card and a printable scoring sheet for the mini-game.
IX. Eastbourne Red Triangle specifics
Eastbourne Red Triangle Stoolball League. Multiple divisions, mixed teams, summer evenings. Points, promotion, relegation.
The Eastbourne Red Triangle Stoolball League (ERTSL) runs mixed stoolball competitions across multiple divisions. The top two divisions consist of eight teams where possible. Each division has a Divisional Representative (DR), the point of contact with the Management Committee. Trophies are awarded to winners and runners-up of each division.
Reference: League constitution / construction
Start by 19:00. Arrive before 19:45 or you can't play. No calling the game off before 5pm without the DR's say-so.
All matches must start by 19:00. Players must arrive before their allocated batting slot to be eligible; players arriving after 19:45 will not be eligible to play. If a ground is unfit or the weather inclement, the home side must notify the opposing side and the DR immediately. No game may be called off before 5pm on match day without prior approval of the DR.
Reference: Scheduling and Cancellation of Matches
Register with your club within 72 hours of your first game. Adult players: one team per season.
All players must be registered with their club within 72 hours of playing their first game of the season. Data will not be shared outside the league without consent. Other than the cross-division provisions, adult players may only play for one team in any season.
Reference: Player Registration
Text your DR within 12 hours of the final ball. Results sheet in within 3 days.
Results must be texted to the Divisional Representative at the end of the game (within 12 hours). All results sheets must be received within 3 days of the match being played.
Reference: Scheduling and Cancellation of Matches
2 for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss. Top team up, bottom team down. Ties settled head-to-head, then play-off.
Two points for a win, one for a tie, none for a defeat. In each division the top team is promoted and the bottom team demoted where possible. Where promotion or relegation issues are tied, results between those teams are taken into account; if still equal, a play-off is arranged. If a team fails to fulfil a fixture, points are awarded to the opposing team unless both teams and the DR agree to an alternative date.
Reference: League Construction
14 overs a side. Bigger handicaps for Divs 2 & 3 in 2026. Sixes don't count — scored as dot balls.
All handicap cup games must be played over 14 overs per side to allow the full effect of the handicap. For 2026 the handicap totals have been increased: Division 2 teams receive +35 runs and Division 3 teams +75 runs. Sixes will not count and will be scored as dot balls. In the event of a tie, the team with fewer wickets lost wins; if equal, a two-over-per-side play-off follows immediately.
Reference: Handicap Cup
One warm-up ball before their first bat. Year 6 and up. Junior boys can play as ladies with restrictions.
All juniors should be offered one warm-up ball from the bowler before their first bat — it doesn't count and no runs or dismissal can result. Junior players must be in Year 6 at school to play; until Year 10 they are classed as juniors. A team may play one male junior as a lady when short, or a second male junior up to Year 9. Junior males playing as ladies can only bat as last lady, may only bowl one men's over, and no ladies' overs.
Reference: Player Registration
Divs 2 & 3: retire on 50, can return if your side's same-sex batters are all out. Div 1: bat on.
In Divisions 2 and 3 a batter retires immediately on reaching 50 runs. They may return to the crease only if all of their team's remaining batters of the same sex are out. Division 1 has no 50-run retirement rule — top-flight batters carry on. Confirmed and unchanged for 2026.
Reference: League Construction
Club got two teams? A lower-division player can play up in up to 4 games. Max 2 per match. No higher player in a lower match.
Clubs with more than one team in different divisions may use a lower-division player in a higher-division team in up to four games. No more than two lower-division players may play in any one higher-division match. No higher-division player may play in a lower-division match.
Reference: Player Registration
Extracted from the ERTSL 2026 Rules PDF. Cite as e.g. [Rule 4.7.1].
A stoolball match is played between two teams of up to 11 players; in a mixed match there may be no more than six men per team, and each team plays under a captain who tosses for first innings.
The umpires are responsible for judging play, positioning themselves correctly, giving decisions on appeal, and intervening on issues of safety, conduct, or fair play.
Scorers shall record runs and wickets, acknowledge umpire signals, and agree the score at the end of each over and innings.
Rule 4 covers the field of play, wickets, bat, ball, bowling crease, and player equipment including footwear and gloves.
Captains are responsible for ensuring that play is conducted within both the rules and the spirit of stoolball.
The boundary line shall be, where possible, 40 metres or 45 yards from the centre of the pitch, and shall be corded or adequately marked with a line and indicator markers. If natural boundaries are used, these shall be clearly explained to the umpires and teams before the start of the match.
The wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a distance of 14.6 metres (16 yards) apart and shall, where possible, be on a north-south axis.
The wickets shall be the face and all edges of two boards, each 305mm (1 foot) square and 12mm (½ inch) thick, mounted on stakes firmly fixed to the ground so that the top of the wicket is level and 1.42 metres (4 feet 8 inches) from the ground.
The stake of each wicket shall be at least 25mm (1 inch) below the top of the wicket and fixed at right angles to the ground. The bottom 610mm (24 inches) of the stake shall be painted a different colour in order to facilitate the identification of the "no ball" area.
The wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a distance of 14.6 metres (16 yards) apart and shall, where possible, be on a north-south axis.
The bat shall not exceed 483mm (19 inches) in length or 197mm (7½ inches) in diameter.
The ball shall be a white stoolball and at the start of each innings shall: weigh not less than 70 grams (2½ ounces) and not more than 85 grams (3 ounces); measure not less than 178mm (7 inches) and not more than 197mm (7½ inches) in circumference.
weigh not less than 70 grams (2½ ounces) and not more than 85 grams (3 ounces)
measure not less than 178mm (7 inches) and not more than 197mm (7½ inches) in circumference.
The bowling crease shall be 915mm (1 yard) in length, at right angles to an imaginary line between the wickets. The back of the bowling crease shall be 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the batting wicket and have returns of 305mm (1 foot) in length at right angles to the bowling crease.
Protective clothing and equipment may be worn, except as stated below.
Players may wear any type of footwear provided the soles do not consist of removable studs or spikes, however designed, and the only form of assisted grip is the moulded sole of the footwear.
Gloves shall not be worn by any player, except where a member of the fielding team has strict medical grounds for doing so, and then only by prior permission of both umpires and/or captains.
Rule 5 covers how runs are scored, boundaries, wides and no-balls adding runs, short runs, byes, overthrows, and how matches are won or tied.
A run is scored so long as the batsmen, after the ball is hit or at any time while the ball is in play, shall have crossed and made good their ground from wicket to wicket, having touched the wicket or stake with their hand, or the bat held in their hand, when completing the run.
The umpire shall signal "four runs" whenever the ball hits or crosses the agreed boundary after first touching the ground. If a member of the fielding team stops the ball before it reaches the boundary, but part of their body touches the boundary, or the ground outside the boundary, while in contact with the ball, "four runs" shall be scored.
The umpire shall signal "six runs" if the ball shall clear the field of play and pass over or land directly on the agreed boundary. If the ball is caught by a member of the fielding team with any part of their body touching the boundary, or the ground outside the boundary, the umpire shall signal "six runs" and the batsman is "not out".
If either batsman fails to touch the wicket or stake on completion of a run, the umpire shall call and signal "short run" and that run shall not be scored.
In the event of a batsman being "caught", no run shall be scored.
In the event of a batsman being "run-out", the uncompleted run shall not be scored.
A run shall be added to the score when the umpire calls and signals a "no ball" or "wide" and an extra delivery shall be bowled (see rule 8 and rule 9).
If, in the event of overthrows, the ball hits or crosses the boundary, the score shall be the total number of runs completed when the ball hits or crosses the boundary plus four runs. The bowler's umpire shall confirm to the scorers the total number of runs scored.
If, as the ball is thrown in to a wicket, it inadvertently hits a bat or a batsman, no additional runs shall be scored over and above the run in progress when the bat or batsman was hit.
A match is won by the team that scores the most runs within an agreed number of overs.
If the final scores of both teams are equal, the match shall be declared a "tie".
Rule 6 covers the batsman's innings, including arriving at the wicket, staying in ground, retirement, injury, runners, and mixed-match batting order.
The incoming batsman shall pass the outgoing batsman on the field of play and, in order to start their innings, shall touch the wicket or stake, which shall happen within one minute of the fall of the previous wicket.
The bowler's umpire shall call "play" when a new batsman arrives at either wicket.
During their innings both batsmen shall remain within reach of their wicket or stake ("in their ground") or they run the risk of being "run-out" by the fielding team. Each time they move "out of their ground", such as while attempting to score a run, they shall return to touch the nearest wicket or stake with their bat or hand.
The bowler's umpire shall see that the batsman is ready to bat and not allow the bowler to hurry unreasonably between each delivery, giving the bowler a caution if necessary. If a delivery is bowled before the batsman is ready, the umpire shall call and signal "dead ball", no run shall be scored, and the delivery shall not be counted as a legitimate delivery.
In Divisions 2 and 3, as soon as a batsman scores 50 runs or above, they will retire immediately. Should the team's other batting players of the same sex be all out, this batsman can then return to the field to continue to bat.
A batsman may retire at the end of an over, after first informing the bowler's umpire and the fielding team's captain of their decision. The batsman's innings shall be deemed completed.
In the event of a batsman having to leave the field of play through injury or illness, the injured batsman's innings may only be resumed when another batsman is given "out". Exhaustion is not considered an injury or illness.
A player from the same team and of the same sex may act as a runner for an injured batsman, provided the injury was incurred during the current match. The runner shall stand, directed by the umpire, two to three metres to the side of the wicket in a position that does not interfere with play.
In a mixed match: the batting order shall be male and female to open; when a batsman is out, they shall be replaced by a batsman of the same sex; when there are no more players of the same sex to bat, then the remaining batsmen may continue the innings.
In a mixed match, the batting order shall be male and female to open.
In a mixed match, when a batsman is out, they shall be replaced by a batsman of the same sex.
In a mixed match, when there are no more players of the same sex to bat, then the remaining batsmen may continue the innings.
Rule 7 defines the over, alternating wickets, limits on consecutive overs, mixed-match bowling alternation, and how incomplete overs are finished.
The over shall consist of eight legitimate deliveries bowled to a wicket. Both umpires shall keep a count of the number of legitimate deliveries bowled in each over.
At the start of each over, the umpire shall call "play" and the ball shall be deemed to be "live".
When eight legitimate deliveries have been bowled and the ball has finally settled in the bowler's hands, the umpire shall call and signal "over". "No balls" and "wides" are not legitimate deliveries.
Each over shall be bowled alternately to each wicket.
Bowlers are not allowed to bowl consecutive overs.
In a mixed match a male or female shall bowl alternate overs.
The bowler shall complete an over, unless incapacitated or suspended for dangerous bowling. In that event the over shall be completed by another team member (and, in a mixed match, of the same sex).
In a mixed match the bowler shall not start their run-up from any point behind the wicket otherwise the umpire shall call and signal "no ball".
Rule 8 defines a no ball. The umpire shall call and signal "no ball" if any of the following bowling or delivery conditions are not met (see Rules 8.1–8.10).
The bowler shall deliver the ball underarm.
The ball shall not be thrown or jerked as it is delivered.
The bowler shall not deliver the ball with one hand and then the other during the course of the same over.
The bowler has one or both feet on or over the bowling crease or its extended returns at the point the ball is delivered. This shall apply to both feet whether on the ground or in the air.
The ball hits the ground before reaching the wicket.
The ball reaches the wicket less than 610mm (24 inches) above the ground.
The ball would have reached the wicket less than 610mm (24 inches) above the ground had the batsman not hit it.
There is a wicket-keeper infringement (see rule 13).
In a mixed match the bowler starts their run-up from any point behind the wicket (see rule 7.8).
The bowling is dangerous.
Dangerous bowling is that which is likely to cause injury to the batsman. The umpire shall take into account the batsman's stance at the wicket, and their age and ability.
Having first warned the bowler, if both umpires agree they may suspend a bowler for persistent dangerous bowling.
The umpire shall call and signal "no ball" and one run shall be added to the score. The delivery shall be recorded as a "no ball" and an extra delivery bowled.
If a batsman hits a "no ball" any resulting runs shall be credited to their score. Any other runs completed as a result of the "no ball" shall be recorded as "no balls".
A batsman may be "run-out", but cannot be given out from a "no ball" for any other reason.
Rule 9 defines a wide ball, the one-run penalty, the extra delivery, and how any resulting runs are recorded.
If the bowler shall bowl the ball so high or so wide of the wicket and batsman that, in the opinion of the umpire, it is not a legitimate delivery, and the ball has not been hit by the bat or the hand holding the bat, the umpire shall call and signal "wide" as soon as the ball passes the wicket.
One run shall be added to the score and recorded as a "wide" and an extra delivery shall be bowled.
Any runs completed as a result of a "wide" shall be recorded as "wides".
If the striking batsman hits the ball, it ceases to be a "wide".
If the bowler bowls a legitimate delivery, which is not hit by the bat or the hand holding the bat, and runs are scored, the umpire shall signal "bye" and the runs shall be recorded as "byes".
Rule 11 defines when the ball is dead. The ball shall be deemed to be "dead" when: the umpire has called and signalled "over"; the umpire has signalled "four runs" or "six runs"; a batsman is given "out"; a player is injured; there is a deliberate deflection; or play is temporarily suspended.
The ball is dead when the umpire has called and signalled "over".
The ball is dead when the umpire has signalled "four runs" or "six runs".
The ball is dead when a batsman is given "out".
The ball is dead when a player is injured.
The ball is dead when there is a deliberate deflection of the ball, other than by the bat or the hand holding the bat. No run shall be scored.
The ball is dead when play is temporarily suspended for any other reason.
There are six modes of dismissal: bowled, body before wicket, caught, run-out, hitting the ball twice, and timed out.
The striking batsman is out "bowled" if the wicket (see rule 4.3.1) is hit by the ball when the bowler has bowled a legitimate delivery, even if the ball has first touched the bat or the hand holding the bat or has been deflected onto the wicket by any part of the batsman's body.
The striking batsman, having hit the ball or not, is out "body before wicket" if, in the opinion of the umpire, the ball bowled doing so by any part of the batsman's body, other than the hand holding the bat.
The striking batsman is out "caught" if the ball, from a stroke off the bat or the hand holding the bat, is held in the hand or hands of a member of the fielding team provided: the ball has not touched the ground; the catcher is not touching the boundary, or the ground outside the boundary, while in contact with the ball, and is in control of the ball and their own movement when the catch is completed; the ball has not lodged in the clothing of the catcher at any time.
For a catch to be valid, the ball must not have touched the ground.
For a catch to be valid, the catcher must not be touching the boundary, or the ground outside the boundary, while in contact with the ball, and must be in control of the ball and their own movement when the catch is completed.
For a catch to be valid, the ball must not have lodged in the clothing of the catcher at any time.
Unless the batsmen have crossed before the catch is completed, the non-striking batsman shall return to the wicket where they stood when the ball was delivered, and the new batsman shall go to the striking batsman's wicket.
A batsman shall be "run-out" if, in running, or preparing to run, or standing "out of their ground" while the ball is in play, the batsman has not touched the wicket or stake with the bat or hand before the wicket is touched by the ball, thrown or placed, by a member of the fielding team.
If in running, or preparing to run, or standing "out of their ground" while the ball is in play, the batsman has not touched the wicket or stake with the bat or hand before the wicket is touched by the ball, thrown or placed, by a member of the fielding team. When the ball is placed on the wicket it does not have to be dropped afterwards.
The batsman who is nearest the wicket that has been touched by the ball is "out".
If, during an attempt to score a run, one of the batsmen does not leave their wicket and remains "in their ground", it is the other batsman who can be "run-out" at the wicket they have run from.
A batsman shall be considered "out of their ground" and may be given "run-out" unless, with bat in hand, the wicket or stake can be touched.
If a striking "injured" batsman attempts to run and is "run-out", they shall be given "out" even if the runner is "in their ground".
When the bowler is preparing to deliver the ball, if the batsman at the bowler's end is "out of their ground", the bowler may attempt to "run-out" the batsman after one warning has been given. This warning shall be clearly seen and heard by the umpire. An attempt to "run-out" the batsman before a warning is given shall be taken to be a warning. The delivery shall not be counted as a legitimate delivery. If the attempt fails and runs result, the umpire shall signal "bye", and these runs shall be recorded as "byes".
If a batsman is standing "out of their ground", they cannot be "run-out" unless the ball has first been touched by a member of the fielding team before it hits the wicket.
Either batsman can be given "out" if, in the opinion of the umpire, there has been a deliberate attempt to obstruct a member of the fielding team attempting to field the ball or effect a run-out.
A batsman is "not out" if, in the opinion of the umpire, they are prevented from touching the wicket or stake by a member of the fielding team.
A batsman cannot be "run-out" if they are merely taking evasive action to avoid a ball returning to the wicket and not attempting or completing a run.
The striking batsman is "out" if the ball is hit twice, unless this is done accidentally.
If, when a batsman is given "out", the incoming batsman has not arrived at the wicket within one minute of the outgoing batsman having been given "out" then, on appeal by the fielding team, the incoming batsman shall be out "timed out".
Rule 13 covers the wicket-keeper. The wicket-keeper shall remain wholly behind the wicket until the ball is delivered by the bowler and: touches the bat or body of the striking batsman; passes or hits the wicket or stake; or the striking batsman attempts to run. If the wicket-keeper has not remained wholly behind the wicket, this is a wicket-keeper infringement and the umpire shall call and signal "no ball".
The wicket-keeper must stay behind the wicket until the ball touches the bat or body of the striking batsman.
The wicket-keeper must stay behind the wicket until the ball passes or hits the wicket or stake.
The wicket-keeper must stay behind the wicket until the striking batsman attempts to run.
A substitute shall be allowed, with the permission of the umpires, and the opposing team's captain duly notified, if a player is injured or taken ill during a match. A substitute shall not bowl or bat.
In the unlikely event of a ball being lost while in the field of play, any member of the fielding team shall call "lost ball" to the umpire. The umpire shall call and signal "lost ball" and three runs shall be credited to the striking batsman's score if the ball was hit, otherwise the runs shall be recorded as "byes". The batsmen shall change ends, so that the striking batsman is at the non-striking end.
An umpire may instruct a player to leave the field of play for three overs following persistent use of abusive language or unsporting behaviour.
An umpire may instruct a player to leave the field of play for three overs following persistent use of abusive language or unsporting behaviour. If there is a further problem with the player on their return to the field of play following the period of suspension, that player shall take no further part in the match. At the end of the match the umpires shall produce a full, written report which shall be submitted to the MC within seven days.
If a player is found to be unfit to play due to the effects of drugs, alcohol or other banned substances, that player shall take no further part in the match (see the spirit of stoolball). At the end of the match the umpires shall produce a full, written report which shall be submitted to the MC within seven days.
Under no circumstances shall any impediment or obstruction (for example, water bottles or mobile phones) be placed anywhere on the field of play while a match is in progress. Any items required for medical reasons shall be held by one of the umpires.
If drinks are required during an innings these shall only be brought onto the field of play between overs and shall be removed from the field of play before play restarts.
A match shall be played between two teams of not more than 11 players.
There shall be a maximum of six men per team in a mixed match.
Each team shall play under a captain, who shall toss a coin for the choice of first innings.
The fitness of the field of play. It is the responsibility of the home team to ensure that all obvious hazards that can easily be alleviated, such as rabbit holes or molehills, in the field of play are dealt with before the start of a match.
The agreement of both umpires is required to start the match, suspend the match and restart the match.
The bowler's umpire shall stand at the non-striking batsman's end, well positioned to see the bowling crease and the striking batsman's wicket.
The other umpire shall stand at the striking batsman's end approximately 13.7 to 18.3 metres (15-20 yards) square of the wicket, well positioned to determine a "run-out", "short run" or wicket-keeper infringement (see rule 13) and ready to give an opinion if clarification is sought by the bowler's umpire on "wides" and "no balls".
The umpire shall give an "out" or "not out" decision only after an appeal of "how's that?" from the fielding team. The time limit for an appeal expires when the ball is either back in the bowler's hands and he/she is ready to bowl again, or the umpire has called "over".
The umpires are the sole judges of fair play and decisions shall be settled by them at their own wicket.
Umpires shall not coach or provide advice to players during the match other than to make a factual statement regarding a particular decision or to explain the rule(s) pertinent to a specific situation that has arisen.
In the case of any doubt by either umpire, the other umpire may be consulted. The decision of the bowler's umpire shall be final.
All players shall remain within the field of play except when fielding the ball, and shall not leave or rejoin the field of play at any other time without the umpire's permission.
If a problem arises with unacceptable spectator behaviour, it is the duty of both umpires to intervene. In the event of an unsuccessful appeal for restraint, at their discretion, play may be suspended forthwith (see rule 11.6). At the end of the match the umpires shall produce a full, written report which shall be submitted to the league within seven days.
The scorers, preferably one for each team, shall sit together outside the boundary line in a position where they can acknowledge all signals given to them by the umpires. The match shall only progress after both acknowledge the signal.
All runs scored and wickets taken shall be recorded by the scorers and they shall agree the score at the end of each over and on completion of each innings.
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the rules.
In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising, by word or action, the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action (see rule 16).
If a player arrives after a match has started, or a member of the fielding team needs to leave the field of play for any reason during the course of a match, these players shall only join/rejoin the match at the end of an over or fall of a wicket.
Captains shall notify umpires if they are player(s) short and if they are expected to arrive.
The umpires are the sole judges of fair play.
The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.
The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of time-wasting and dangerous bowling and any other action that they consider to be outside the rules of the game.
The spirit of the game involves respect for: your opponents; your own captain and team; the role of the umpires; the sport's traditional values.
Respect for your opponents.
Respect for your own captain and team.
Respect for the role of the umpires.
Respect for the sport's traditional values.
It is against the spirit of stoolball to dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture.
It is against the spirit of stoolball to direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire.
It is against the spirit of stoolball to indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for example: to appeal knowing that the batsman is "not out"; to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing; to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own team.
It is against the spirit of stoolball to appeal knowing that the batsman is "not out".
It is against the spirit of stoolball to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.
It is against the spirit of stoolball to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own team.
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.
Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a stoolball match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.