Grassroots
Development
New Zealand Cricket's Development Programme
Cricket development is about “getting individuals to play and stay in the game.” New Zealand Cricket had this in mind in 1998 when it launched its NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. Since then initiatives have been designed, implemented and delivered at all levels of the game – primary, secondary and club – to achieve this objective. These initiatives are underpinned by clearly defined and closely aligned player and coach development pathways, and an integrated delivery structure.
The initial thrust of the New Zealand Cricket development programme has been at the primary level. The objective is to provide more opportunities for children to participate, have fun and learn the fundamental skills of cricket and at the same time to involve their parents and teachers in the game and train them as coaches as a prerequisite to creating a strong foundation on which to build other initiatives directed at the secondary school and club levels.
Cricket InitiativesThe INITIATIVES consist of the:
The NEW ZEALAND CRICKET SKILLS CHALLENGE is a structured series of lessons which allows Year 7 and 8 students to test themselves in a number of fundamental cricket skill areas against a set of easily measurable standards and achieve a bronze, silver or gold skill award in recognition of their level of performance. The Challenge is an effective, fun way to promote the game of cricket in schools.
The key focus of the programme is to increase the number of 6-10 year old boys and girls playing cricket, mainly through the introduction of Have-A-Go Cricket and the revitalisation of Kiwi Cricket.
HAVE-A-GO CRICKET is an introductory programme for 5-8 year old boys and girls entering the game for the first time. It comprises 12 ninety minute sessions in which beginner cricketers learn the rudiments of batting, bowling and fielding, with the emphasis on skill development, fun and participation. The programme also includes an array of giveaways to excite young cricketers such as a Have-A-Go Cricket cap, posters, player cards, sipper bottle, ball, sticker, certificate and sample.
Have-A-Go Cricket leads into KIWI CRICKET, the already popular children’s version of cricket played by 7-10 year olds. Kiwi Cricket is both a modified game and a skill development programme. It incorporates high participation with the first experience of competition, and provides an opportunity to have fun, learn and practice the essential skills of the game, and use them each week in a real game situation. Giveaways are also available for players including a Kiwi Cricket cap, posters, pen, miniature autograph bat, sticker, certificate and sample.
Both the Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket programmes are designed to gain and train parents and teachers as coaches and provide them with the necessary resources to teach young cricketers the basic skills of the game. The Summer Squad organise and run coach education courses for teachers and parents to become Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket coaches – the first two steps on the New Zealand Cricket coach pathway.
To support the Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket initiatives coaching manuals and videos have been produced. The manuals are distributed free to primary schools visited by the Summer Squad and to coaches trained by them. The videos are also free to Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket Centres set up in schools and clubs, along with starter kit of Kiwi Cricket equipment.
Recently, New Zealand Cricket has developed two CD-Roms ‘Cricket in the Classroom’ and ‘More Cricket in the Classroom’. Each CD-Rom comprises a series of carefully planned lessons on cricket covering all aspects of the curriculum. These are also available to primary schools visited by the Summer Squad.
The junior competitions are contended on a knockout or round-robin basis within New Zealand's six major cricket associations. To reach the national finals, adjacent major cricket association winners playoff to find three of the four finalists. The other finalist is the winner of the association with the most entries. Draws for both contests are completed and distributed to schools in January and preliminary rounds are played throughout February and March. The association playoffs and inter-association matches occur in October and November, with the national finals being held in December.
Cricket development is about “getting individuals to play and stay in the game.” New Zealand Cricket had this in mind in 1998 when it launched its NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. Since then initiatives have been designed, implemented and delivered at all levels of the game – primary, secondary and club – to achieve this objective. These initiatives are underpinned by clearly defined and closely aligned player and coach development pathways, and an integrated delivery structure.
The initial thrust of the New Zealand Cricket development programme has been at the primary level. The objective is to provide more opportunities for children to participate, have fun and learn the fundamental skills of cricket and at the same time to involve their parents and teachers in the game and train them as coaches as a prerequisite to creating a strong foundation on which to build other initiatives directed at the secondary school and club levels.
Cricket InitiativesThe INITIATIVES consist of the:
- Summer Squad of cricket development personnel
- Cricket Skills Awareness Lessons which are delivered in primary schools
- New Zealand Cricket Skills Challenge
- Have-A-Go Cricket
- Kiwi Cricket
- National Primary Schools’ Cricket Competitions – Cup [boys] and Shield [girls]
The NEW ZEALAND CRICKET SKILLS CHALLENGE is a structured series of lessons which allows Year 7 and 8 students to test themselves in a number of fundamental cricket skill areas against a set of easily measurable standards and achieve a bronze, silver or gold skill award in recognition of their level of performance. The Challenge is an effective, fun way to promote the game of cricket in schools.
The key focus of the programme is to increase the number of 6-10 year old boys and girls playing cricket, mainly through the introduction of Have-A-Go Cricket and the revitalisation of Kiwi Cricket.
HAVE-A-GO CRICKET is an introductory programme for 5-8 year old boys and girls entering the game for the first time. It comprises 12 ninety minute sessions in which beginner cricketers learn the rudiments of batting, bowling and fielding, with the emphasis on skill development, fun and participation. The programme also includes an array of giveaways to excite young cricketers such as a Have-A-Go Cricket cap, posters, player cards, sipper bottle, ball, sticker, certificate and sample.
Have-A-Go Cricket leads into KIWI CRICKET, the already popular children’s version of cricket played by 7-10 year olds. Kiwi Cricket is both a modified game and a skill development programme. It incorporates high participation with the first experience of competition, and provides an opportunity to have fun, learn and practice the essential skills of the game, and use them each week in a real game situation. Giveaways are also available for players including a Kiwi Cricket cap, posters, pen, miniature autograph bat, sticker, certificate and sample.
Both the Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket programmes are designed to gain and train parents and teachers as coaches and provide them with the necessary resources to teach young cricketers the basic skills of the game. The Summer Squad organise and run coach education courses for teachers and parents to become Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket coaches – the first two steps on the New Zealand Cricket coach pathway.
To support the Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket initiatives coaching manuals and videos have been produced. The manuals are distributed free to primary schools visited by the Summer Squad and to coaches trained by them. The videos are also free to Have-A-Go Cricket and Kiwi Cricket Centres set up in schools and clubs, along with starter kit of Kiwi Cricket equipment.
Recently, New Zealand Cricket has developed two CD-Roms ‘Cricket in the Classroom’ and ‘More Cricket in the Classroom’. Each CD-Rom comprises a series of carefully planned lessons on cricket covering all aspects of the curriculum. These are also available to primary schools visited by the Summer Squad.
The junior competitions are contended on a knockout or round-robin basis within New Zealand's six major cricket associations. To reach the national finals, adjacent major cricket association winners playoff to find three of the four finalists. The other finalist is the winner of the association with the most entries. Draws for both contests are completed and distributed to schools in January and preliminary rounds are played throughout February and March. The association playoffs and inter-association matches occur in October and November, with the national finals being held in December.
School kids
Primary School Shield
In 2010 a record number of 373 schools and 4476 children have taken part in the Primary School Cup (boy's) or Primary School Shield (girl's) competitions making it one of the largest primary school sporting competitions in New Zealand.
The Cup and Shield National Primary School’s Cricket competitions started in 2000. The competitions give primary and intermediate girls the opportunity to enter into a national competition and encourage children to play cricket.
The preliminary rounds in each of the competitions are played within their major cricket associations either on a knockout or round robin basis and are completed by term one of the school year.
NZCT Secondary School Girls 2012
The National Secondary School Girl’s competition was started in 1994 and is sponsored by the New Zealand Community Trust.
The competition has provided an opportunity for every girls’ or co-educational secondary school in New Zealand to participate in a limited overs knockout cricket competition.
The preliminary rounds in each of the competitions are played within their major cricket associations on a knockout basis.
In 2010 a record number of 373 schools and 4476 children have taken part in the Primary School Cup (boy's) or Primary School Shield (girl's) competitions making it one of the largest primary school sporting competitions in New Zealand.
The Cup and Shield National Primary School’s Cricket competitions started in 2000. The competitions give primary and intermediate girls the opportunity to enter into a national competition and encourage children to play cricket.
The preliminary rounds in each of the competitions are played within their major cricket associations either on a knockout or round robin basis and are completed by term one of the school year.
NZCT Secondary School Girls 2012
The National Secondary School Girl’s competition was started in 1994 and is sponsored by the New Zealand Community Trust.
The competition has provided an opportunity for every girls’ or co-educational secondary school in New Zealand to participate in a limited overs knockout cricket competition.
The preliminary rounds in each of the competitions are played within their major cricket associations on a knockout basis.
Demestic
National Under 21 Tournament
4 x one day matches and 3 x T20 matches, plus one rest day. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament will be declared the winner.
At the premier women's domestic level NZC administers a one day competition and a Twenty20 competition in which all six Major Associations compete over the summer.
At the level below, New Zealand Cricket hosts a National Women's Under 21 tournament at its grounds at Lincoln University, Christchurch.
NZC’s philosophy is that this tournament provides a playing outlet for players who are on the 'way up' in the game. It is about developing players below, or just beginning to play, domestic women's cricket. This season sees a change from Women's Development to an Under 21 tournament, with current or former White Ferns now ineligible to play in the tournament.
Domestic Cricket Competition
These are the teams for each area around New Zealand Auckland Hearts, Canterbury Magicians, Wellington Blaze, Otago Sparks, Northern Spirit, Central Hinds.
4 x one day matches and 3 x T20 matches, plus one rest day. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament will be declared the winner.
At the premier women's domestic level NZC administers a one day competition and a Twenty20 competition in which all six Major Associations compete over the summer.
At the level below, New Zealand Cricket hosts a National Women's Under 21 tournament at its grounds at Lincoln University, Christchurch.
NZC’s philosophy is that this tournament provides a playing outlet for players who are on the 'way up' in the game. It is about developing players below, or just beginning to play, domestic women's cricket. This season sees a change from Women's Development to an Under 21 tournament, with current or former White Ferns now ineligible to play in the tournament.
Domestic Cricket Competition
These are the teams for each area around New Zealand Auckland Hearts, Canterbury Magicians, Wellington Blaze, Otago Sparks, Northern Spirit, Central Hinds.
International
These are players the have been chosen for the White Fern and are playing for New Zealand.