Is your child at the right cricket club?

As parents we always want what is best for our kids. So why should this be any different when it comes to choosing a cricket club?

It shouldn’t, and to maximise the potential of our young cricketers it is important to let them flourish in the right environment.

So how do I know if a club provides suitable cricket for kids?

Here in England we can find out if a club has a credible junior section by asking the following questions:

Do they have Clubmark status?

Clubmark status was introduced by Sport England in 2002 to create common criteria for sports clubs to follow. A cricket club with this status can demonstrate that minimum acceptable standards are being met.

These criteria including CRB (police) checked coaches, first aiders, safeguarding children courses, facilities, etc.

Over the past few years cricket clubs have been pushed very hard to achieve this status and if they haven’t by now, they are well behind the eight ball and should be avoided!

Does the club have a qualified cricket coach for each group of kids?

The better cricket club junior sections will have a minimum of level 2 qualified cricket coaches with each group. These are coaches who are permitted to run a hardball group on their own with kids.

As an ideal minimum each softball group should have a level 1 qualified coach (ideally level 2) and the other groups should have a level 2 qualified coach.

Does each group have at least 2 CRB checked adults and no more than 20 kids? (16 for Under 8 or younger)

This is the ideal ratio for club based coaching sessions.  Any more than that and the coaches are unlikely to be attentive enough for each child.

Healthy competition is vital in the development of young sports people. Therefore Kids cricket matches should be arranged during the summer and they should be age and ability specific.Does the club allow kids the opportunity to play at least 6 cricket matches each summer?

Once kids are in the Under 9s group, they should have the opportunity to play cricket at least once every two weeks on average during a 12 week season, in an appropriate level team.

So what does the above say for a cricket club?

If you are not satisfied that the above criteria are being met then it’s time to reconsider where your kids play cricket.

These are the most important years in the development of an athlete, so let’s give them the best possible chance of success.