EARLY indications that overseas players would not be able to coach in local clubs in the coming summer have been dispelled somewhat.

Clubs may sign an overseas player for season 2004 from anywhere in the world but, if the club then wants that overseas player to work with the club's juniors as part of his time in England, the club must then ensure that the coach has obtained an International CRB Check prior to his arrival in England.

However, players from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will not be allowed to coach as their country's CRB-checking procedures are not yet acceptable to the ECB.

International CRB Checks are available for players from the following countries: Philippines, Jamaica, South Africa, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, The Netherlands and Australia.

When a club's overseas player arrives for this summer he will have to bring his international clearance with him.

Airedale and Wharfedale League Secretary Howard Clayton has had to back track on an earlier statement that overseas players would no longer be able to coach in the league following the issuing of further advice from the ECB.

The Yorkshire Cricket Board, for whom Clayton also works, has formulated its policy for Child Welfare Procedures as as the Airedale and Wharfedale League.

Clubs in the league will all have to have a Child Welfare Officer and all member clubs have now appointed one.

The League's Management Committee now requires those 35 individuals to attend a special meeting on Child Protection as one of their two club representatives.

This will be held as part of the AGM of the league's Junior Cricket Association at Otley RUFC on Tuesday, April 6,at 7.30 pm. The main purpose of this meeting will be to hear a talk by Ian Chappell, Secretary of the Yorkshire Cricket Board, on the recently introduced Child Welfare Policies.

Club Child Welfare Officers will also have to attend two other seminars on Lead Officer Training (the NSPCC's "Time to Listen") and Child Welfare Good Practice, run hopefully by Andrew Watson, the YCB's Senior CDO and Child Welfare Expert.

The whole issue of child protection has brought a host of new problems for clubs

The days of sports clubs being a one man band with one volunteer doing everything are certainly past.

Many accredited helpers are now needed and clubs have a mountain of paperwork to comply with if they are to run their junior sections properly.

There are child welfare self declaration forms, forms to fill in for transporting young players about to matches, incident forms, forms for clearance for overseas coaches and child welfare junior membership forms and consent forms.

Young players now selected in adult teams have to have written permission from their parents to get changed in the same changing room as adults.

There has certainly been a wind of change in our cricket set up but it seems our local leagues are well abreast of all the rules and regulations and have been quick to implement them.