English cricket wants to inspire the next generation © ECB
All Stars Cricket, a major grassroots initiative for children aged between five and eight, has gone live today.
From midday, parents can sign-up their children online to become All Stars in an ECB scheme that aims to introduce the game to 50,000 boys and girls across the country.
A clue to the ECB’s priorities comes in the fact that the media release came with enthusiastic quotes not from the MCC or any traditional cricketing body but from the CEO of Mumsnet, Justine Roberts, who spoke on behalf of parents in celebrating: “Fun sporty activities that their children will love.”
The initiative has been almost two years in the making since the ECB appointed Matt Dwyer, who had successfully promoted the game at age-group level in Australia, as its director of participation and growth.
Upon sign up, participants will receive a cricketing backpack including a bat, ball and everything they need to try the game for the first time. They will then start an eight-week programme at their local centre in May where they will be introduced to the game in “a fun and safe environment”.
As a gesture towards educational advantages, children will also learn the social development skills that team sport brings.
Each session of the eight-week programme – developed with input from Andrew Strauss and the England performance team – aim to give children the basic skills they need to develop a lifelong love of cricket.
Participating centres will receive free All Stars kits, volunteer training and support via a central marketing campaign, celebrating ‘Big Moments’ as children take their first steps in the game. The programme reflects ECB’s strategic framework for growing the game at every level.
The ECB has promoted All Stars at a series of meetings in county clubs around the country. Some of those already running successful youth cricket have reservations, bemoaning the fact that they will have no choice but to9 join a more expensive and glitzy marketing-led scheme.
With cricket participation levels down, however, after a decade without free-to-air coverage, and with all team sports feeling a fall in numbers, and pressure on facilities, All Stars comes at a crucial moment for English cricket.
Dwyer said: “We have big ambitions to significantly grow the game and this programme is all about putting a bat and ball in the hands of more children at an earlier age. First and foremost, we want to make playing cricket a fun and enjoyable experience for children and give them a passion for the game to last a lifetime.
“Drawing kids to the game at an early age will develop more players, create more fans and show the power of cricket in developing physical and social skills.
“We also want to make sure that parents have a great first experience at the club and give them the chance to have an hour back with their kids every week. We will be encouraging parents to get involved with sessions, whatever their prior knowledge of the game.
“Within weeks of unveiling the programme to clubs we had 2,000 of them sign up to deliver All Stars Cricket and this summer we hope to have 50,000 kids trying the sport all over the country through this exciting nationwide programme.”
England men’s and women’s stars Jonny Bairstow and Lauren Winfield and the former England captain Michael Vaughan are all supporting the scheme at a formal launch on Monday in Olympic Park in London.
David Hopps is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo