THE Spenser Wilson Halifax League are moving towards giving clubs a choice as to whether they enter the Crossley Shield (second-team cup) and T20 competition.

A proposed rule change to opt out of both competitions will go forward to the league's annual meeting at Pellon Social Club on Tuesday, November 14 as it received a seconder at this month's rules revision meeting.

In addition, there is a new rule being put forward that the T20 winners will automatically be entered into the West Yorkshire Area Cricket Council's annual indoor six-a-side competition, while it is possible that the league's T20 draw might be zonal (two zones or four zones) up to the semi-finals to avoid excessive travelling.

Clubs may also get permission to bring a T20 tie forward to the previous Sunday if the opponents agree in a bid to increase the host club's revenue.

There is also a tweak concerning failure of clubs to attend league meetings, of which there are only five, including the annual meeting.

Punishments are currently £6 for missing one meeting, £12 for missing a second meeting and £24 for missing a third at which point a ten-point deduction of league points will be administered for all of that club's open-age teams, either for that season if it is still in progress or the following season if it is not.

The new proposal is for a £10 penalty for a first offence, £20 penalty for a second offence and a £20 penalty and a five-point deduction for all of that club's open-age teams for a third offence.

The rationale from the management committee is: "There are now only five standard council meetings per year, including the annual meeting, and it is very important that all clubs have a 100 per cent attendance record, which the large majority already have.

"It is thought that should any points deduction have to be invoked then there must be a serious problem within a club."

However, there is also a proposal from a club that the league meetings in May, June and August be reintroduced (meetings are currently held in February, April, July and October, with the annual meeting in November).

Another proposal by the management committee is to remove the 12-month wait from being classed as a professional in another league on or before December 31 of the previous year to being classed as an amateur in the Halifax League.

It is also proposed that clubs be fined £5 per day for each time they fail to submit their match report on the league website by 10pm on the day of the match.

Other proposals by clubs include the introduction of leg-side wides in league matches, Parish Cup and Crossley Shield ties to bring them into line with the T20 competition, as well as extending the tea interval from 20 minutes to 30 minutes in 90 overs-per-side league matches.

The Umpires' Association have proposed that umpires' fees be raised from £30 to £32.