RADCLIFFE ON TRENT CC SELECTION POLICY – MATCHES & TRAINING

OUR AIMS & VISION

We understand children enjoy testing themselves and playing for an older age group and we support this in principle. However, this will only be permitted where in the opinion of the coaching staff it is not detrimental to or will supersede the needs and development of the children in any particular age group.

It is the aim and the purpose of the Club to encourage Junior players of all abilities to participate in and play recreational and competitive cricket. Our coaching strategy is based on the idea that each player should be developed as far as possible to his or her maximum potential, in line with his or her desire to improve.

We also must be mindful of the amount of cricket a child plays and are bound by strict ECB guidelines that govern junior cricket.

We understand a child may want to play in every game possible and we may want this too; but, if we feel that this would be against the playing guidelines, the number of games played may be restricted. We also must be mindful of the amount of match exposure all our children receive and must provide an equal opportunity for all our members.

It is a vital part of being a Club member that parents understand and are supportive of our selection policy. How each age group chooses its teams is ultimately the decision of the age-group team manager/coaches but elements of the following will be common to team selection policy :-

OUR APPROACH TO SELECTION

We will try to select an appropriately competitive and balanced team where possible, but we will also balance that with giving boys and girls throughout the age group match exposure.

There are a variety of match types – League matches, Cup matches and Friendlies. Some matches are Tier 1 level and teams will be selected on merit. Other matches are Tier 2 or 3/Development League, and could feature a number of less experienced players. There are also friendlies, where the standard will vary, and the team may be adjusted during the match to ensure a good game for all.  Typically Tier 1 would be cup games, Tier 2 league games, and Tier 3 friendlies.

Roles, captaincy and batting orders will vary through the season. It is important that any established ‘lead’ player doesn’t dominate to the detriment of the others in the team but we do love to celebrate both individual and team successes.

Your Coach will try to ensure that less able players are not exposed at an inappropriate level as this can be demotivating and inhibit a player’s enjoyment, the most important part of Junior Cricket. However, he/she will attempt to push your child’s learning by getting them to play at a level that challenges them.

Please respect the Coach, because it is not an easy job and they are trying their utmost to do the best for the children playing in the team. If you have an issue, please do not hesitate to speak to them but do so respectfully so you can work together to come to a resolution which benefits the cricket development of your child. Please also remember all our coaches are volunteers who devote a lot of their own time to coach the group and have also spent many hours learning how to develop their skills as coaches to enhance and improve the children’s experience.  

Motivation, Commitment and Attitude

Players who try hard at training and in matches serve as a valuable example to their teams and such commitment may also be used as a criterion in match selection.

Behaviour

To be selected to represent the Club is a privilege and not a right. As such it needs to be earned. Poor behaviour by players will not be tolerated and the team manager/coaches have the discretion to use team selection as a sanction against bad behaviour if he or she sees fit.

Ability

Cricket is a competitive sport and the Club has a responsibility to develop allplayers to their full potential, whatever their level of skill or experience. This may mean that some age groups will operate squads streamed on ability to help ensure that the coaching is delivered to a level most appropriate to players’ abilities. Especially for older juniors, team selection will be based partly, though not exclusively, on ability. Some team selection may also be affected by the ability of the opposition since it is not in the interests of any Club to be on either side of a mismatch, as such coaches may select accordingly.

Age

Children will normally be available for selection in the team for their age group. Subject always to league regulations, specifically nominated younger players may be available for regular selection for a higher age group team with the approval of their parents and the team manager/coaches. Other children shall not normally play for a higher age group if there are children in that higher age group available and happy to play in a scheduled game, though this will be dependent on availability numbers and the type of match. In addition, subject to league regulations, girls may play in their age group and also up to 2 years below at the discretion of the team managers/coaches. Hence an U12 Girl may play for U10 and older.

Attendance and Availability

Players need to attend training sessions as well as matches. Players who turn up week in week out for training and who make themselves regularly available for matches will, to some extent, be given precedence over those that do not. The extent to which attendance and availability may be used as the basis for selection is decided by the managers and coaches.

If you have any questions regarding the policy, please speak with the appropriate age group manager or with the Club’s Junior or Club Chair.

HOW YOU CAN HELP;

Matches are a fantastic experience, both for the children themselves and for their parents (and other relatives!). Your children will undoubtedly want to share what happened and discuss events in the match with you. It is a fantastic opportunity for a shared family experience and learning for your child. Please therefore make every effort to attend the match yourself and to stay around to support both your child and the other adults running the match.

Radcliffe on Trent Cricket Club appreciates that everyone has busy lives, but if you are able to stay and support then this is strongly encouraged and welcomed.

Please be clear about availability and respond to availability invitations from your coach promptly.

Please make every effort to meet on time to enable your child to warm up with their team-mates.

Please help the Coach set up the match.

Encourage your child to watch the game they are playing so they support the team and understand the situation they will be batting/bowling in.

Do volunteer to score (it’s not that hard!) or lend the coach a hand – this may simply mean encouraging the kids to watch or helping organise drinks.

Please do not coach from the sidelines – especially shouting to them to run! In many Leagues, from Under 11 upwards it is against League rules to give on-field assistance to the team.

Please stay until the end of the game and for the debrief. Even if your child has finished their direct involvement in the game, please stay and support your team.

Please help clear the equipment away.

Please do stay, socialise, have a drink, let the children play some more in an unstructured and free way. It’s a great way for players and parents to develop new friendships.

THE VALUE OF TRAINING

Cricket can be a technically difficult game. It is important to develop skills to ensure that the players are improving and able to perform the way they want to when they are 13-15 years old and to then install good habits in learning and technical efficiency to help players express themselves and to be able to excel in adult/older age teams too.

Also due to the nature of cricket, batters may only face 10-15 balls in a game(or less!), and only bowl 12 balls in a 2-3 hour game. Compared to a 2 hour training session where in a batting drill they may play in excess of 70 balls (in a net they only get to face approx. 25-30 balls every 10 mins) and they would get to bowl 30 to 40 deliveries with a focused learning objective.

Although children understandably want to play games, please encourage them to train and develop their skills.