All DDCA Clubs with a turf grade side(s) must have a set of approved covers for covering their turf wicket as required or allowed by this policy.

The covers will be kept in good repair with no holes or tears in the covers. The covers must have tie down straps affixed to the outer edges to secure the covers to the ground.

Clubs must have covers which extend over the match pitch to be used plus a pitch width either side. The covers must extend at least 1 metre beyond 20 metre pitch length on each end of the wicket square.

The Home Clubs are allowed to cover their wicket area starting from Thursday. Should a club choose to cover their match pitch they must have sufficient persons available to remove the covers before wicket curators wish to prepare the match pitch on Friday and Saturday.

The Home Clubs MUST cover the match pitch when directed to by the DDCA Match Committee. Notification of this requirement will be done via the DDCA Website no later than Wednesday.

When directed to cover the pitch by the DDCA Match Committee the match pitch must be covered by 5pm on the day of the direction.

The Home Clubs MUST have sufficient persons available to uncover the match pitch to allow wicket preparation by the curator.

Where the DDCA Match Committee has directed the match pitch to be covered it must be covered again after match day preparation has been completed by the curator. The wicket must remain covered until one hour before the scheduled start of play on match day unless rain is occurring or due to occur at that time.

On match day the wicket must be uncovered by the Home Club at the direction of an official DDCUA umpire, or where no umpire is present, one hour prior to the scheduled start of play unless rain is occurring or due to occur at that time.

The Home Clubs MUST have sufficient persons available to uncover the match pitch when directed to by an official DDCUA umpire, or where no umpire is present, one hour prior to the scheduled start of play.

After an official DDCUA umpire has taken control of the match pitch the Home Club will cover the match pitch when directed to by the umpire prior to the start of play.

After the start of play both clubs involved in the match MUST assist in the covering or uncovering of the match pitch as the umpire(s) direct.

Any breaches of this policy will be reported to the DDCA Rules and Permits Committee who may take whatever action they deem appropriate. Repeated breaches of this policy may result in withdrawal of the offending clubs turf side(s) from the match fixtures.

For the purposes of Finals the clubs at which the finals matches are scheduled are deemed to be the Home Clubs up to one hour prior to the scheduled start of play on a scheduled finals day. During hours of play both participating teams MUST assist in moving the covers as directed by the umpire(s).