Junior Cricket at Avoncroft

In 1998 the club became perilously close to extinction because of a largely aging team. At this time Paul Athey, a young member of the Club, agreed to organise coaching sessions for youngsters. With the help of a qualified coach, regular Saturday coaching began and teams were entered into competitive Worcestershire Junior Cricket.

Such was the success of this early venture that the Junior Section rapidly grew and teams between ages 11 and 17 have, for several years, competed very successfully, not only in Worcestershire but also in knockout cricket involving several other Midland counties. The under 16’s reached the semi-finals of the Midlands Competition in 2004, beating several major clubs on the way.

Avoncroft Cricket Ground

The club has always played in delightful surroundings at Avoncroft and enjoys the support of their landlords, The Fircroft Trust. A valuable extension to the ground was obtained in 1994 providing excellent coaching facilities as well as much larger parking and spectator areas.

The club continues to improve the ground, coaching equipment and most importantly the playing square. The Club enjoys the active support of the Police and local residents in ensuring the facilities stay free from vandalism and thoughtless dog owners as much as possible.

Photography

This cannot be ruled out as parents often require photographs of their children in action. However, if strangers are seen taking photographs they will be challenged.

Under Age Drinking

The bar staff will not serve alcohol to under age persons.

Changing Rooms

Coaches and club captains are responsible for supervising changing and showering where juniors are involved and abide by the ECB instructions.

Appointment of Club Officials

The Club Committee will always supervise in this area including:

Investigating previous history of applicant
Criminal Records Bureau checks
Registration details to include in the register of existing players, coaches, officials and other club assistants.

Care of Juniors

The following Code of Conduct is observed for Coaches, Captains and others involved with Juniors:

To be qualified to at least Level 1
To proceed to greater levels of qualification as personal circumstances will allow.

Several of the coaches have been introduced to the club by their own children. This growth has been vital in the coaching area. Other parents often assist in coaching, during matches and other activities. The club greatly appreciates this help and hopes this will increase.

Parents assisting in these areas are subject to the Code of Conduct as above and are under the control of the club organiser.

The Code of Conduct, as well as the “Sports Coach UK” leaflet, which deals with rights, relationships and responsibilities, is issued to all coaches.

Partnerships

The clubs participation in the Crusader Worcestershire County League, highlighted by promotion to Division 2 in 2008, has further enhanced an active partnership with the League with representation at all League meetings and, just as important, our full support of junior activities.

The club is also connected with Bromsgrove District Council and W.A.S.P. (Worcestershire All Sports Partnership) in our efforts to become an Accredited Club for youth development under the “Club Mark” scheme.

Junior Cricket Objectives

Avoncroft have 6 qualified coaches at present and hopes to add to this number. They concentrate on all aspects of the game, the objectives being:

To encourage young people to develop a love of cricket
To improve their cricket skills
To play to the highest standard of sportsmanship
To engender, even at the youngest age, a sense of team spirit
To provide a facility for local youngsters with equal opportunities for all
To promote youngsters into the senior teams whenever possible

To date all these objectives are being met and this has been the major reason for the clubs steady but considerable success in recent years. Juniors are given every opportunity of promotion to our league teams through a 3rd Xl, 2nd Xl and 1st Xl structure of Saturday games. Many of our youngsters turn out regularly for the Sunday Xl in friendly matches

Welfare of Young People in Cricket

The club is aware that the parents of youngsters attending coaching and participating in teams entrusts their welfare to the club. To protect juniors the club has taken the following action:

CRB Checks – all adults involved with juniors at the Club are required to produce current and acceptable CRB disclosures to certify they have no relevant criminal convictions.

Welfare Officer - A senior member of the committee has been appointed to this position and has obtained certification after attending “Sports Coach UK” and “Time to Listen”, the latter run by the Child Protection in Sport Unit of the NSPCC. The club chairman (an ex headmaster) acts as his deputy. The Welfare Officers assist with coaching and lines of communication are always open. They are the Club Secretary Len Keen (01905 772713) and Club Chairman, Rod Braithwaite (01905 774714)

Safety - The club has appointed a Health & Safety Officer and endeavours to provide a safe environment with recommended protection gear, for instance helmets always being used.

However the very nature of cricket involves using a hard ball and accidents cannot be ruled out, also when playing away the clubs influence can be reduced. It is vital that the Club is informed of any medical condition that may be relevant should a child fall ill or be injured whilst at the Club. Please ensure details of any such condition are specified on the membership form enclosed.

Transportation – Travel to and from Avoncroft and away matches must be the responsibility of parents who assist with travel. Coaches and organisers will help where possible.

Unauthorised Use of the Ground – The club bears no responsibility for any use of the ground which has not been authorised by the club committee.

Insurance - The club has adequate liability and property insurance. Due to the prohibitive cost, the Club does not insure for personal accident and it is for players, coaches and officials to effect their own cover against accidents or injury.

If an accident occurs where the club may be legally liable for injury or damage to third party property, written details must be taken at the time of the occurrence by the club official in charge and the secretary immediately advised along with the identity of any witnesses. No admittance of liability must be implied.

All third party property (including vehicles) at the ground or elsewhere in connection with any club activity is at the owner’s risk.

The Future

The club always needs money for the renewal and improvement of facilities. A sub-committee has been formed to investigate methods of raising finance, but if anyone has skills that may assist in either raising funds or saving costs, the Committee would welcome them with enthusiasm.

The pyramid structure of the Worcestershire Leagues means the club could advance to the highest level of Midlands cricket.

However, our priority at present is to build on our recent success in achieving Division 2 status, to keep and develop the excellent young players rapidly emerging from the clubs junior teams and attract new players of ability.

Final Thoughts

This web site only summarises the Club’s activities, facilities and best Practices Procedure in line with the advice provided by Sport England and the England & Wales Cricket Board.

Avoncroft CC is in the process of adopting all the recommendations that will enable us to achieve the “Clubmark” accreditation, which incorporates the child welfare policy “Safe Hands” and other codes of conduct.

Full documentation of this activity, as well as any details about the club, is available upon request from any Committee member.

To protect against any form of abuse from adults, fellow players and opponents
To create as safe an environment as possible for practice, playing and travelling
To discourage the use of bad language
Never use force or tolerate bullying.
To encourage youngsters from any social or ethnic background
To inform juniors regarding the rules of cricket

To apply as a Junior Member of Avoncroft, please complete the form below: