Setting up a sustainable girls section AND HOW YOUR CLUB CAN BENEFIT
Why have girls? Shows your club to be friendly & welcoming to all More participants More volunteers Sustainability Increased income Potential sponsorship Wider community engagement
What s on offer already for girls in Hampshire Girls only leagues in 2 districts Girls club championships Progressive pathway Junior coaching and officiating courses Fun, friendly, inclusive indoor tournaments Exciting year round holiday camps Schools coaching & competitions W10 & softball festivals for girls 12+ Ticket offers to see the Southern Vipers Support for clubs wanting to enter girls only teams into boys leagues
What opportunities does cricket offer girls? To be the best they can be To make new friends To be inspired To travel To keep fit To have fun To meet their heroes To learn new skills
How the Hampshire Cricket Board can help Club programme for new and struggling clubs Provide positive role models Opportunities for play competitions & festivals Progressive girls pathway Softball & hardball opportunities Support clubs in setting up a girls section Advise on how to manage sustainability Training in girls specific coaching
Planning a taster session Same night as regular girls training Ensure you have plenty of support Encourage female role models from your club to attend Make it fun relaxed, fun games & drills; music Have someone specifically to welcome girls & parents, take players details and share information about the club Check loos and facilities are clean and welcoming Include food & drink BBQ, bar, tuck shop Group girls with people they know if possible
Considerations Expense girls are often involved with a number of other activities already: offer a couple of trial sessions before subs are paid girls kit bag with a selection of clean, used kit that is just for girls, so players don t have to buy all the protective equipment required to play hardball Mixed cricket girls can play down 2 years in mixed cricket and, if they wish to progress, should be encouraged to do so. However that shouldn t preclude them from playing girls only cricket too should they wish Senior cricket girls can play senior (men s or women s) cricket from 13 yrs old and should be given the opportunity if they would like Kit girls traditionally don t like whites. Wearing club training kit for matches is an easy and cost effective alternative
Sustainability Identify individuals who could be involved in the future to ensure sustainability: coaches, committee members, umpires, scorers etc. Train parents to score at junior matches Encourage women & girls to attend female only scoring & umpiring courses run by HCB Encourage district and county players U13 up to attend Young Sports Leader course Identify positive female role models from within your club
Sustainability Build relationships with local schools Offer to host school competitions Run taster sessions at other local clubs, guides & brownies using club role models Produce female friendly flyers and posters Target girls from your All Stars activity Encourage girls to come as a group or with a friend as more likely to attend
Keeping girls interested Fun sessions should be planned and have a focus, but should also be fun Equality allocate girls equal access to facilities, times and pitches Competition and opportunities for progression Social build in time to chat; provide activities outside cricket e.g. film & pizza night after training ; trip to watch the Southern Vipers Inclusive formats that include all, a chance to play with friends Right coaches (male or female) friendly, approachable, supportive & high quality
Keeping girls interested Sign up with friends or groups encourage girls to sign up as a group, perhaps offer an incentive for a bring a friend day Ask them what they want more likely to buy into what you are doing involve them in kit design/team name decisions Role models try and have a positive role model at the first session This could be a district/county player or a player from your ladies team
Keeping girls interested Girls teams in open leagues Publicise HCB girls only activities holiday camps, indoor tournaments Welcoming atmosphere Clean & inviting facilities Support of whole club Challenge inappropriate behaviour/language
Softball cricket offering an alternative Explore possibility of W10/softball festivals for those aged 12+ who haven t played hardball cricket Send out a note to colts sisters and mums and senior players wives & girlfriends to establish interest Target local secondary schools Put posters up and target schools; leisure centres; girl guides; football and hockey clubs Invite to a taster session
Hampshire Women & Girls Pathway
Giving girls confidence is key She believed she could so she did