Junior Club cricket allows participants to transition from Woolworths Cricket Blast programs and is designed to be fun, active and social for all kids.
Junior Community Cricket
Participating in Junior Community Cricket is a great first step or path of progression from the Woolworths Cricket Blast program for children and parents alike.
Junior Competitions are played in close to 100 locations across the State with a standard of competition to suit everyone. Most competitions are organised according to age-groups however ability levels are factored in to help ensure an appropriate level of competition.
Junior Competitions most often commence at the Under 10 level and progress through to Under 18s in some jurisdictions. A parallel series of Representative Competitions are also available via merit-based selection and these competitions often extend into U19, U21 and U23 age groups.
Organisation
Junior Community Cricket is organised under the supervision of three distinct organisations in NSW:
Country Cricket New South Wales (CCNSW) – responsible for the administration of Cricket Zones and affiliated Cricket Councils Associations and Clubs outside of the Sydney metropolitan area
Cricket NSW Youth Championships – responsible for the administration of the NSW Youth Championships competitions
Playing
Participating in a Junior Community Cricket competition as a player is as simple as going to play.cricket.com.au and searching for a local club to register with*. If you have any question about participating, contact details for a committee member of each club are available on the website.
*The NSW Youth Championships competitions administered Cricket NSW are merit-based and selection criteria is determined by the local association that is competing in the competition
Coaching
Coaching a cricket team is a rewarding experience and a great way to contribute to players having a fun, enjoyable and rewarding experience whilst participating in Junior Community Cricket. Cricket NSW in partnership with Australian Cricket is pleased to be able a variety of resources and accreditation programs to support coaches throughout NSW.
From the Introduction to Coaching and Woolworths Cricket Blast Co-ordinator Online Courses, to formal accreditation at Community, Representative and High-Performance Levels there is educational opportunities to coaches at all stages of their coaching journey.
Click here for more information about becoming a Coach
Umpiring
Umpiring is a great way to participate in Junior Community Cricket and demand for suitably knowledgeable or qualified umpires is always high. For opportunities to umpire in local competitions, we recommend that you contact a local Cricket Club or Association directly to understand what qualifications or requirements may apply, including a mandatory Working With Children Check*.
To obtain formal qualifications as an Umpire, the NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association run numerous Umpiring Courses each season. Membership of the Association is available to those that sit and pass the entrance exam offered at the end of an eligible course.
*A Working With Children Check is not applicable to any parent acting as an Umpire in a match in which their child or children are participating.
Scoring
Acting as the Scorer of a game of cricket is an enjoyable pastime for many. If you have a good understanding of the game or would like to learn more, and have a good attention to detail, then scoring is for you! Scoring a game of cricket is traditionally performed with the use of a specifically designed scorebook but most Junior Community Cricket matches are now scored via an electronic scoring app on a smartphone or tablet. Electronic scoring simplifies the process for recording the events of a match making it easier for beginners to learn the ropes.
To become involved as a Scorer, we recommend enquiring with a local club directly by using the contact details contained within the play.cricket.com.au website. Local clubs and associations will often host training sessions for prospective Scorers, particularly in the use of the electronic scoring app. Additional training is also offered by the NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association and a Working With Children Check* may be applicable.
*A Working With Children Check is not applicable to any parent acting as a Scorer in a match in which their child or children are participating.