Jane Bale, Finchampstead CC Sunday 20 th March 2016
As we all know cricket clubs rely on volunteers to run a club. Many volunteers and players are leaving the game of cricket. The ECB want to encourage youths to get involved and so designed the Cricket Activator Programme.
In 2014 Finchampstead Cricket Club were considering these challenges and asked Berkshire Cricket CDO to help by running some training for our youth section. Solution was the Cricket Activator pilot to encourage 14 17 year olds to get involved in the running of a cricket club but to also encourage them to learn other cricket skills.
So we looked at the current positions within the club who does what? Like many clubs we found that only a handful of people do most of the jobs; but what will happen when those persons decide to step away? What happens to the future of the cricket club? Will we still be here in 20, 30 or even 50 years time?
The following were identified as key areas : Coaching Umpiring Scoring Maintenance Teas Fund raising Integration to Senior Cricket Appointing someone to manage it!
So we held a meeting with the parents and youths to discuss the course we wanted to run and with the help of the ECB and Berkshire Cricket we embarked on an initial course through which the youths who wanted to be a part of the programme learnt the basics of Coaching, Umpiring and Scoring. 26 youths aged between 14 17 joined up
Once they had all done the initial course we got the youth and parent to sign a pledge. Finchampstead Cricket Club will: Create and friendly and supportive environment for all young volunteers In conjunction with the Berkshire Cricket, arrange for each young volunteer to undertake the ECB Cricket Activators Course, as appropriate Before the end of the course identify and discuss the range of volunteering projects available to young volunteers at the club Ensure all young volunteers are well supported and managed Make sure that the contribution of all young volunteers is recognised and rewarded Help activators progress onto other volunteering roles at the club The Young volunteer will: Be committed to attending the course and volunteering within their cricket club To agree to support the key projects identified by your club Attend each course, notifying the course provider of any delay or absence within good time Volunteer at each level for at least twenty- five hours within the same season. As a Young Leader, continue to be a role model to Finchampstead CC younger cricketers and an ambassador for Finchampstead CC in the wider community Record all volunteering activity in the V cricket booklet as appropriate and return to club co-ordinator in timely fashion Parents / Carers will: Ensure their son/daughter attends each course, notifying the course provider of any delay or absence within good time Ensure their son/daughter promptly attends each volunteering activity for Finchampstead CC Ensure their son/daughter records all volunteering activity in their V cricket booklet as appropriate and returns to club co-ordinator in timely fashion Printed and Signed Candidate Parent Club Programme Officer
Through out the summer of 2014 and 2015 we had youths participating in the following: NatWest Force Day - Helping to get the ground ready for coming season Learning coaching techniques from level 2 coaches and then putting these into practice on a Friday evening with a Senior coach helping to coach U7,U9 and U11`s both boys and girls Umpiring at youth games not their own but younger age groups Scoring at youth games not their own but younger age groups On Saturdays the older youths scored at Senior matches. Helping to make and serve teas. Helping with the weekly Club barbecue. Helping out on the tote on a race night. Selling raffle tickets at our club day. Coming down on club day and helping out Scoring, umpiring, car park, selling food etc. Attending an additional coaching course to develop their skills further. This all helped the older youths to integrate more successfully into Senior Cricket. Each time an activity was undertaken the youths obtained reward hours. It became competitive amongst the youths but also the girls V boys. Senior members supported and stepped back from their roles. Other clubs saw the impact of what we were doing. General club atmosphere and comradery was improved
So what has this done for Finchampstead Cricket Club 26 youths have achieved their 50 hour awards and are nearly at 100 hours. 6 of the 26 have achieved their 100 hour awards. 4 have been working during the holidays with our club coach delivering coaching to other clubs and schools. Fun and Laughter within the youth section with the younger generation respecting their peers and each year new recruits. 2 OSCA awards. 6 Duke of Edinburgh Awards achieved. 26 CV`s that will have this award recorded, which will make them stand out from others. 26 youths who one day will take on more senior roles and ensure that cricket continues to be played at Finchampstead Cricket Club. 26 youths who still play cricket
Invest in the youngsters and encourage them to learn and acquire the skills that not only make them stand out but improve their future and the future of CRICKET
Awards Night
If your club is interested in holding a Cricket Activator course, the Surrey Cricket Foundation will be happy to help Contact: Andy McBride, Cricket Development Officer amcbride@surreycricket.com 07793 223511