Cricket booming for youngsters

As children across the country race to take up cricket this summer, Cricket Australia is on the front foot to educate young players about the Spirit of Cricket.

Initial feedback from state and territory cricket associations suggests that junior cricket registrations are already up by 26 per cent on last year’s total.

Cricket Australia will use its successful MILO Cricket Superclinics to start teaching and promoting a special “children’s” version of the Spirit of Cricket.

The children’s Spirit of Cricket code is based on the broader Spirit of Cricket preamble in the Laws of Cricket, and follows the Spirit of Australian cricket pledge developed by the Australian men’s cricket team in 2003.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said now was the right time to start educating young players through the successful Cricket programs.

“Interest in cricket right now is booming, and one of the first things we want to teach young players is about the Spirit of Australian cricket,” said Mr Sutherland.

“The Cricket programs help take the game to more than half a million children around Australia each season, and we see them as the perfect vehicle to start reinforcing the Spirit of Cricket messages to young players.

“Since we launched the Spirit of Cricket initiative in 2003, Australian cricket has taken tangible steps forward in the quest for all participants to play the game hard but fair, respecting the game’s values, its spirit and its history.

“Launching the children’s Spirit of Cricket messages through the Cricket programs is an ideal way for us to reach and connect with young cricketers and hopefully start to instill in them a real sense of what Australian cricket is all about.”

The Spirit of Cricket messages will be reinforced by members of Australia’s male and female teams who attend the Cricket Superclinics in each state and territory.

Young cricketers will be introduced to a special children’s version of the Spirit of Cricket, promoting four key messages:

• To have fun;
• To show care for others;
• To play fair and by the rules; and
• To do your best.

During the course of the season, over 20,000 palm cards featuring the four messages of the children’s Spirit of Cricket will be distributed to Cricket participants.

The first Cricket Superclinic will be staged in Queensland on Monday 31 October.

Eight clinics are held around Australia each season, with one Superclinic in each state and territory.

The Cricket Superclinics, are part of the broad group of Cricket programs which include:

• Have-A-Go – a fun, safe introductory cricket program aimed at 5–10 year old children and their families. The program is run by volunteers predominately at clubs, and provides the perfect beginning for children to play cricket.
  
  
• Kanga Cricket – a primary school program which includes lesson plans to incorporate cricket as part of the physical education and sport curriculum, clinics and competitions. Over 90 per cent of primary schools in Australia have the Kanga Cricket program and philosophies as part of their curriculum.
  
  
• Super 8s – a secondary school program consisting mainly of competition with fast-paced cricket action for teams of eight players. Super 8s competitions can be conducted both inter and intra school. The program also includes lesson plans for inclusion in secondary school physical education and sport education curriculum.

To find out more about the cricket programs available for young players, visit www.cricket.com.au