With a fantastic summer of cricket behind us, Devon Cricket have been doing our bit to inspire young girls into cricket and with me, Ann-Marie Presswell, in post as the Women and Girl’s Development Officer since March, our focus has been to provide girls with greater opportunities to play cricket with other girls in the county...
UNDER 11 FESTIVALS
Bideford Cricket Club: 11thMay 2019: 11 girls attended
Chagford Cricket Club: 31stMay 2019: 27 girls attended
Cornwood Cricket Club: 16thJune 2019: 13 girls attended
Exmouth Cricket Club: 23rdJune 2019: 15 girls attended
We are aware that many clubs have girls active in their junior training and matches, but cannot make a girl only team, so we arranged and ran festivals for Primary School girls to give them the opportunity to play with other girls.
The festivals ran all day, starting with cricket skills activities and then after lunch games were played with the focus being game development and awareness. Each girl that attended received a free bat and ball set linked to the Cricket World Cup. Feedback from the sessions was very positive, with one parent emailing to say that her daughter’s confidence had soared and “without the girls-only events she might not have picked up a cricket ball and bat in the first place”. This young lady now plays regularly in all the under 10s matches at her club.
Next season, as well as the Lady Taverner’s Competition for under 11s and under 13s, we will continue to offer the development festivals days throughout the playing months.
HARDBALL CRICKET WORLD CUP
On the 9thJune, we sent out an open invitation to girls at clubs who play hardball cricket at under 13s and under 15s to take part in a hardball cricket World Cup Festival at The University Ground at Topsham. The girls came from a variety of clubs and made up teams to represent the countries of England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and West Indies.
The girls played in pairs to see who would take home the coveted World Cup Trophy. It all came down to the last ball as Australia, who were scoring quickly needed 4 to win. But with an excellent last ball, no runs were scored and England were triumphant!
An excellent day was had by all and the girls from Bovey Tracey, who made up the England team, took home the World Cup Trophy, which has taken pride of place in the trophy cabinet in the clubhouse!
HARDBALL TRANSITION CAMPS
Hatherleigh Cricket Club:6thAugust- 9 girls attended
Plymouth Cricket Club:12thAugust – 18 girls attended
Ottery St Mary: 21stAugust – 16 girls attended
Throughout the summer holidays we ran three hardball transition camps. These camps were aimed at girls who would be moving into hardball cricket next season or had played hardball cricket this season and wanted to gain more confidence. The sessions started with basic throwing and catching skills – using a raw egg to develop soft hands! It was great to see the development and confidence of the girls grow during the day and enjoying the match to finish.
LITTLE STORMERS
On The 30thJuly we teamed up with the girls of Western Storm. Four players – Ellie Mitchell, Freya Davies, Sophie Luff and Naomi Dattani - led cricket skills and activities with the girls, including umpiring and scoring. After a fun and competitive game of bats, the players held a Q and A session for the girls. There were some great questions, but the general message that came through from the Western Storm Players was that you should work hard and practice and make sure that it is fun, and you are always enjoying your cricket.
All the girls were pleased with their goodie bags and they also had the opportunity of some free tickets to see a Western Storm Game at Taunton. One young lady and her mum went to see a live cricket match for the first time and enjoyed it so much they went back the next week to watch again!
INDOOR CRICKET SESSIONS
This winter we are holding indoor cricket sessions at Torbridge High in Plymouth, South Dartmoor Academy in Newton Abbott and King’s School, Ottery St Mary. Click on the link below to book into the winter sessions.
http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/vhq7g5
The aim of the sessions is to make sure that the skills, fitness and confidence the girls have gained over the summer continue over the winter.
BROWNIES AND GUIDES
From Ernesettle to Culmstock, Braunton to Kingsteignton, we have been visiting Brownie and Guide sessions to give over 250 girls a taste of cricket and link them with their local cricket clubs. These have been great fun and this winter we are training Leaders and Rangers in cricket activities to take back to their groups so that they can enter the Devon Brownies and Guides Cricket Tournament next year.
I would like to thank all the clubs who have given up their grounds for us to use at all of these events. It was much appreciated.
Ahead of next season, we are busy planning more opportunities for girls to be involved in cricket, so please look out for them. If you would like me to come and visit your club and speak to your junior coordinators about developing the girl’s section in your club and providing greater opportunities for them, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Ann-Marie Presswell
Women and Girls Development Officer
ann-marie.presswell@devoncricket.co.uk
07494151557
