JUNIORS
Registration open days - 8th and 21st September
If you would like to head down to the club to register or just to talk with grade convenors about the upcoming season, we will be holding open days at our Windsor Park clubrooms on the following dates:
• Sunday 8th September from 12:30-2:30pm
• Saturday 21st September from 10am-12:30pm
Players Sports will be providing some sample playing shirts to try on for size to help get the right shirt for those of you who would like to order online at www.playerssports.co.nz/cricket rather than heading in-store.
Registrations for 2019/20 are open.
NEW CHANGES ON THE JUNIOR FRONT FOR 2018/19
NZC is mandating change for 2019/2020. National, District and School Competitions use new formats. Most of NZ has changed formats and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. ACA has changed Girls junior formats and Boys U/10, U/11, U/12 and U/13 formats with overall positive feedback.
Our Objectives:
✓Grow the game at grassroots level
✓Develop better ability cricketers
✓Develop more people who love the game for life
Why Change?
In Auckland playing numbers drop drastically from Year 4 to Under 10, Under 10 to Under 11, Under 11 to Under 12 – over 30% drop off after the first year of “real” cricket and Under 13 to Under 14 – over 35% drop off as they enter College. These are not numbers anyone can ignore.
Quality of junior games are low leading to less development of better players:
✓Across all grades (including premier) 68% of all balls bowled were dot balls.
✓Across all grades 19% of all runs came from wides and no balls
How Can We Stay Relevant?
We need to adapt junior cricket to provide:
✓More opportunity
✓Greater skill development
✓More fun
✓Greater involvement
How Do We Achieve This?
We need to change the experience for kids playing cricket:
✓Less players
✓Shorter games
✓Shorter pitches
✓Reduced boundary sizes
✓Ensure every player has more opportunities
What Positives Are We Looking For?
✓More balls in play (less wides and no balls)
✓Better running between wickets - more singles
✓Improved fielding
✓Throwing will be about accuracy and technique, not distance.
✓All fielders experience all positions – no more hiding weaker fielders.
✓Throwing will be about accuracy and technique, not distance.
✓Higher scoring = more excitement
✓Accelerate development of advanced cricket skills for all players
✓Improve retention rates
✓Experienced and qualified coaches will improve player skills.
✓Reduced time commitment –change the perception of parents who resist cricket.
✓Replicate the excitement of T20 Cricket
✓Everyone has an opportunity to bat, bowl and develop
✓Develop better ability cricketers!
Not Convinced?
Watch the following video’s from Gary Stead (Former Blackcap and Current Canterbury Coach) who has first hand experience with his own children who play in Canterbury using the new formats:
Gary Stead on Representative Cricket
Gary Stead on New Formats Specifics
Gary Stead on Skills developed using New Formats