Apologies for the long message but we wanted to give you all the details about what to expect from the Junior programme for 2024 now we have had the club AGM and finalised most of the remaining items.
I will try to be succinct but please read as a lot of work is going in to make our Junior offering amongst the best in the county from both a coaching and fun perspective and we really want people to engage / feedback to us about what they are looking for.
Winter Nets
Many of you may have come to our two Half-term cricket events already.
Winter Nets Start at Buzz About Cricket (Kentisbeare) for U9 / U10 / U11 (hardball) as well as U12 / U13.
Weekly from Friday 1st March – 6.30 – 7.30pm for the U12/ U13 nets
Weekly from Sunday 3rd March – 10am – 11am for the U9 / U10 / U11 nets
Both are hardball and events will appear on Spond with the invite / further details.
All Stars / Dynamos (Soft Ball Cricket)
We will again be running both programmes at both sites. Rectory Road (Kentisbeare) on a Monday and Kensham Park (Bradninch) on a Friday.
There is a separate sign-up for this option. Details will follow once the sign-up window opens (it’s a National Programme) but we will share the sign-up link etc.
Timings will be 5.30 – 6.15 for All Stars and 6.30 – 7.30 for Dynamos at both sites, commencing 6th & 10th May respectively. Please look out for more details.
Outdoor Summer Training
We will be running Hardball training for U10 – U13 at Kensham Park (Bradninch) on a Friday night this year. Final timings tbc but likely 6.30am – 8.30pm.
We have a group of qualified coaches and senior players available to assist with coaching throughout the Summer so it was felt this was the best way to get the Juniors access to more coaches with the additional facilities (roll-on nets, two fixed net bays, more training kit, bowling machines etc).
The U17s will train at Rectory Park (final dates tbc) and the U19s will train at Kensham Park.
Games
We have entered 6 Junior Teams this year – U10 Softball, U10 Hardball, U11, U13, U17 & U19.
We have Managers at each Age Group with Senior Players and experienced cricket folk primed to help support match days.
Games will be added to Spond shortly well in advance of the season.Hopefully in the next few weeks.
We are keen to make sure as many people as possible translate the coaching/ training into taking part in games.
Again, we have managed to secure a group of Senior Players to assist with Match days so there is more Cricket experience at the games. It has been fed back that as many parents don’t play cricket themselves, this experience has been a bit lacking. We hope this will encourage others to get involved.
If there are any obvious issues with the dates when they are published on Spond, please make us aware. We will try and change. it would be great if we could get regular availability and commitment to playing all the games (10 in each age group) from all our Teams.
Please look out for games on Spond and feedback if any major concerns,
Kit
All Junior teams will play in the Coloured playing shirt and white trousers this year. If your child doesn’t have a shirt from last year, the club will provide at our expense once membership has been paid.
Club protective equipment (pads, helmets, gloves etc) will be provided at training and games for all those that need it.
Membership
Junior Membership is £40 for the season but can be reduced to £30 if paid before the end of April. This includes all winter and summer training as well as a playing shirt for those who need it and will be playing league games.
There will be a small match fee per game for the fixtures.
If the cost of any of the above is an issue for your child taking part, please speak to the club in confidence and we will resolve the matter. We do not want to lose any children due to the costs of cricket and will do what we can.
Sadly the general cost of running the club is extortionate so whilst we are happy to subsidise the section with the cost of coaches, ground preparation, facilities, training, kit etc, there are only so many losses we can carry as a club and as such, the membership has been set as low as possible within the framework of what the club can afford.
Please be aware, if you are planning to sign your child up for All Stars / Dynamos, you don’t need to pay the club membership as well. They will become a member if they join a programme and can play games if old enough and they want to.
Coaching / Volunteers
The Friday night sessions will be led this year by Andy Buzza and supported by a number of qualified coaches and Senior Players.
Dave Hooper and Alan Rodgers will lead the Monday night All Stars / Dynamos sessions at Rectory road.
We have tried to ensure we have large numbers of coaches available to support training and games throughout the summer alongside the team managers and other volunteers.
Whilst the club is providing all it can, any additional help, be it administrative, organisation, sorting drinks etc would be most appreciated. All training can and will be provided.
Age groups / Experience
We are aware many children are either new to cricket or new to hardball cricket. It is entirely normal to feel a little nervous about moving to hardball cricket if you haven’t played before. We will ensure that every player feels confident and comfortable playing in whatever standard or format they want to. Hardball cricket can be played from Year 4 (U9) and above so we are very keen to build confidence at all levels so that all our Juniors have a great time and cricket experience.
The club hopes that gives everyone a picture of everything going on behind the scenes. It has been really busy but we are looking forward to a really strong summer of cricket and hopefully, one that all the juniors will love.
Any questions, concerns, feedback or other, get in touch.