Cricket NSW is starting a slew of new year, Term 1 programs children can register for right now to play cricket until the end of summer, ensuring they won’t miss out on the season.
This has been prompted by the amazing cricket Australia is experiencing this season, especially the Australian Men’s Team winning the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy decisively against India at the Sydney Test early in January, and the Australian women retaining the Ashes against England merely days later.
Meanwhile, the interest in the Big Bash League has piqued, with the two Sydney teams, Sixers and Thunder, performing strongly, the Thunder going on to play the Final to a packed stadium. All the cricket, at stadiums and on televisions, is enough to make a child to want to pick up the bat and play the game.
Cricket NSW is making it happen for the children that missed the start of the season or have been inspired after seeing their heroes on TV. These Term 1 programs and playing competitions in both metro and country areas of the state have either just started or are slated to start in February. All programs are still accepting registrations.
JUNIOR CRICKET IS STARTING IN TERM 1! REGISTER HERE
This is Cricket NSW’s initiative to create opportunities to play the game in what may have traditionally been mid-season, especially at junior levels, and keep the momentum going amongst our youngest players. Term 1 cricket opportunities are now available for NSW’s Stage 1 players, with teams ranging from Under 8s to Under 12s.
They are as suited for new players who haven’t pickup up a bat before to Cricket Blasters who have participated in beginners’ drills earlier in the season and now want to get a taste of competition cricket.
The Camden District Cricket Association in Sydney’s south west, for example, is starting an Under 9s League in February with seven-a-side teams in 14-over games played in 90 minutes on weeknights.
Jock McIllhatton, CNSW Cricket Manager, Macarthur, said: “A gap was identified between Cricket Blast and Stage 1 cricket, which starts with Under 10 players, and this competition will help to bridge it.”
Similar competitions are underway in Blacktown and Parramatta too. The Blacktown area has an Under 9s mixed competition starting in the first week of February, played in two batches at 5.30 and 7pm at the Ponds Stadium for six weeks. Parramatta is in the midst of a Stage 1 competition on Friday nights at Old Toongabbie.
On the Central Coast, the Term 1 competition is a build-up from last season’s pilot at the same time, an eight-round program, the first two rounds were held before Christmas, and the next six rounds will be held in Term 1.
Clare Thornley, CNSW Cricket Manager, Central Coast said that “parents were keen on this, and some kids wanted to play competition cricket. We ran a small-scale trial in Term 1 last year and it was a big success. We also recognised a need for a sort of ‘bridging’ or ‘transition’ program between the play-based Cricket Blast and hard ball junior cricket.”
This season’s competition currently has eight teams from five clubs: The Entrance, Lisarow Ourimbah, Narara Wyoming, Terrigal Matcham, and Central Coast Grammar. Some of the teams are mixed and one is all-girls. The all-girls team kits were funded by Cricket NSW. The games are played on a mix of Flicx and synthetic pitches on Saturdays, restarting February 1.
“Families can contact their local club to register – if their local club doesn’t currently have a team, they can still register and join an existing team or see if there is enough interest at the club to form a new team,” said Thornley.
TO FIND A TERM 1 COMPETITION ON THE CENTRAL COAST, GO HERE
Coffs Harbour is the second home of the Sydney Sixers and a new Sixers-themed Term 1 competition is being launched in early February. The Under 8s competition will be played for five weeks on Thursdays at Bray St, starting February 6. All equipment will be provided, and the matches will be played with a soft ball, suitable for beginners or those with a little experience.
TO REGISTER FOR THE COFFS HARBOUR UNDER 8s, GO HERE
In Port Macquarie, similar format matches will be played on Fridays, 4.30 to 5.30pm, at the Oxley Oval.
TO REGISTER FOR THE PORT MACQUARIE UNDER 8s GO HERE
Further north, an 8-a-side competition is starting for Under 10s in mid-February, with five teams from Far North towns such as Ballina, Lennox Head, Bangalow and Alstonville. The competition will be held on Monday evenings at 5 pm, played on synthetic pitches, with players bringing in their own equipment or the club providing them.
Jacob Graham, CNSW Cricket Manager, Far North Coast, said, “The Term1 programs are designed to provide a great junior cricketing experience to children that are excited to play cricket after watching the Australian cricketers etching their amazing wins this summer and want to try the game. The short, sharp match formats are designed for our young players to start their cricketing journeys and be able to play and love cricket for life.”