Following feedback from our recent Captains’ Survey, advice from BSUK and BSF, and based on the availability (or lack thereof) of pitches, the LSL committee has agreed that the only viable option for this year is to organise a one-off tiered league season. While final details will depend on how many and which teams enter, we expect the following to broadly apply:

Promotion/Relegation: as a stand-alone season there will be no promotion or relegation and final standings will have no implication on future seasons. Prizes, however, will be awarded at the end of the season!

Schedule: we expect the season to start later than usual, likely towards the end of May, and conclude at the end of August. There may be the possibility of pre-season friendlies, subject to team interest, pitch availability and volunteer support.

Structure: we expect to split the league into multiple divisions. The size and number will be determined by how many teams enter and fixture availability. Divisions will be organised by expected ability, matching levels as much as possible. Note that this may result in each division having a broader range of ability than in a usual year.

Ringers and Handicaps: to mitigate the ability levels within divisions, ringer rules are likely to be more generous and handicaps may be introduced.

Mashup Teams: existing teams that have too few players are welcome to combine with another team for this season alone. Players who are without a team will be supported in securing as much gameplay as possible within other teams.

Pitches: while every effort will be made to accommodate usual home grounds and fixture nights, some regular pitches are simply unavailable for the full season, therefore the fixtures schedule will likely be more flexible and no guarantees on preferences can be made yet. Due to this, when registering your team you will be asked to name a number of pitches that you would be able to use as your home ground, thus helping us to manage a successful schedule. For those teams who have no available home venue for the year, we will support them in securing a location for this season.

Insurance: the BSF has secured insurance coverage until 30 November 2021 for all paid-up LSL members from the 2019 season plus any new teams from 2020 (further details will be communicated in due course).

Fees: this year’s fees are likely to be different to previous years. Final fees are yet to be confirmed, but will be kept to a minimum, hopefully less than previous seasons. Payment is not required during registration below, but will be collected before the season starts. (Important: if your team paid fees for the 2020 season, these will be carried over to the 2022 season, because a) these seasons should be more similar and thus have closer fees, and b) it avoids complex refund and repayment processes mashup teams and others may face.)

Covid-19: the above season takes serious consideration of how the pandemic has, and continues, to affect our players. Some of the ways we have tried to address this are:

  • starting the season later to allow for more players to have received their vaccination
  • considering the option of self-umpiring to reduce the number of people travelling to a fixture
  • supporting individual players to find new teams for this season should they prefer to play as a ringer at pitches nearer to home
  • removing promotion and relegation so that teams don’t feel compelled to encourage a full roster if they have players who are uncomfortable with cross-London travel for a specific fixture
  • following the Return to Play guidance from BSUK at all fixtures

This season will be different and we can’t know all details until registration closes, but with teams’ support we aim to make it as successful as restrictions allow.

REGISTRATION: If your team would be interested in playing in this season, please complete the Team Registration form by 6pm on Friday 9 April 2021 via the following link: CLICK TO REGISTER. (NB: only captains should complete this form on behalf of their team.)