Youth Cricket: Under 9 Festivals
In 2005 Devizes CC initiated an Under 9 coaching programme to supplement the Under 11 / 13 and 15 age groups that were currently running at the club. The reasoning behind this was to try and broaden the base of children that were entering into the coaching system at the club to try and ensure that greater numbers of children were retained through to U15 level. Subsequently there should be greater numbers of youth players involved in adult cricket thus securing the short term future of the youth section and potentially the longer term future of the club.
The scheme was extremely successful in its first year with 20 children regularly attending coaching on a Tuesday night. With numbers secure over a monthly period it was decided to investigate the potential for competitive opportunities for the children to encourage them forward and to provide some focus throughout the summer. The idea of travelling to different venues around the county would also hopefully provide some stimulation and increase the excitement and interest in the game of cricket. This would then hopefully increase the number of children that were retained in the youth system.
Communication with other local clubs found similar situations and it was decided to progress with a couple of informal festivals of cricket based totally on the primary school kwik cricket format. Therefore in 2005 there were tournaments held at Devizes, Trowbridge, Wootton Bassett, Westbury and Chippenham; with up to 9 teams taking part at any one time. It was decided early on that these events would be informal with the emphasis solely on fun and enjoyment. Fixtures were drawn up randomly so that each club would play 3 fixtures at each event and each event was treated independently. This meant that there was no co-ordination of fixtures and some teams could play another club 3 times over the course of the summer and maybe not play another one at all. The events were run at no cost, with the venues being provided for free and entry costing nothing. Clubs were encouraged to provide refreshments for both children and adults which would give them an opportunity to earn a little income for hosting the event.
At the end of the summer coaches from clubs that had taken part were questioned and all agreed that the tournaments had been a great success. It was also agreed that by and large the events should be kept informal for the time being although it was suggested that it could fall under the umbrella of the Wiltshire Youth League at some point in time.
2006
It was such a success that 2006 saw an unofficial league produced over the course of a 5 festival season. 13 clubs in the county took part to some degree in the season and all have expressed an interest in taking part in the 2007 programme which is currently taking shape. South Wilts were the inaugural winners of the ‘league’ having won 14 out of their 15 games. Wootton Bassett were runners up having lost just 2 games and Devizes came third with 9 victories in their 15 games.
2007 will see the programme taking an extra step in terms of the outcomes it achieves. In addition to the ‘League’ format being continued, the Festivals will be used as a talent identification opportunity for youngsters to be watched and guided into County U11 Winter coaching schemes. The programme will then look to become the chief process in picking up young players at an early age with a view to county representation in U10 and U11 hard ball county cricket.
