Schools & Youth Cricket
Increasing participation in and improving the standard of youth cricket at both school and club level is a continuous aim for Wiltshire Cricket and forms a huge part of the daily work programmes for all Wiltshire Cricket staff. We recognise the importance of offering high quality opportunities for today's young cricketers so that children are inspired to play cricket and so that we can continue to produce high quality representative teams and, hopefully, future First Class and England cricketers.
At school level there are many opportunities for children to experience Cricket through the Chance to Shine scheme which encourages school:club links and recognises the importance of matchplay in Cricket. On the subject of match play there are opportunities at both primary and secondary school level for schools to get involved in Cricket competitions and this is very important to Wiltshire Cricket as we want to encourage children to enjoy playing the game at every opportunity.
At club level, there are over 40 clubs in Wiltshire with junior sections. This means that if you are new to the county and looking for a club that offers junior cricket there are plenty of clubs to choose from. There are also many junior league and cup competitions for clubs in Wiltshire and these provide excellent opportunities for young cricketers to further enjoy the playing of the game.
Wiltshire Cricket wants to ensure that youngsters can enjoy the game in a safe and enjoyable environment and so there are much guidance and legislation in place to ensure that the welfare of young people in Cricket is protected. We also want the game of Cricket to be open and accessible to all and it is for that reason that Wiltshire Cricket is currently trying to develop and improve opportunties for disabled cricketers.
Understanding the Umpire
Understanding the laws of Cricket and abdiding by the Spirit of Cricket is a very important part of a young Cricketer's development. To assist with this the Wiltshire Association of Cricket Officials (WACO) run a course entitled 'Understanding the Umpire' that consists of a powerpoint based presentation lasting 60-75 minutes with discussion on the ECB ACO structure, the role and duties of the umpire, umpire education, where to get umpire appointments and general information on wides, no balls and LBW. There is also a section on 'Spirit of Cricket'.
If you are a young person between the ages of 13-18 or are a coach or parent and would like to attend this course please contact Michael Cornwell or Peter Hemmings.
