In June last year, 26 young cricketers took the opportunity to be part of the Young Storm Champions Leadership Day. The day was designed by the regional women and girl's team in partnership with Western Storm and gave the girls the opportunity to develop their coaching, officiating and leadership skills to take back and use at their clubs. Eleven different clubs across the county were represented by the girls that attended. 

 

Once the course was completed, the girls took away with them a volunteer log, where they could keep a record of the hours that they volunteer at their clubs and then receive rewards. Depending on the hours they volunteered, they would receive: 

 

Drinks Bottle: 15 hours

Power Bank: 25 hours

Western Storm Hoody: 35 hours

 

Western Storm Goodies 

All the girl's greatly enjoyed the course and there was some positive feedback about how the day went and the impact it had on the girl's confidence to return to the club and volunteer to help. One parent said " This course has really inspired my daughter and since doing the course she has volunteered to support coaching All Stars and is also supporting the girls dynamo sessions. In addition to that she has also volunteered to help with the ladies' softball team we are setting up" 

Lucie has since achieved an amazing 38 hours of coaching at her club and received a Western Storm Hoodie for her efforts! 

Here are some pictures showing some of the participants of the course in action. 

 

 

Kat is helping with the under 11 girls sessions. She planned and ran all the sessions under adult supervision and has since taken the team to a festival. 

 

This photos shows Mae and Holly at a very wet under 11s festival in Chagford. Despite the challenging conditions, the girls continued to coach the girls in the pouring rain, smiling and giving the participants a positive experience. It is so important for younger girls to have such positive role models in sport and during their events.  

Daisy came to help with an under 11s festival at Plympton Cricket Club. She helped regularly at her club and was one of two girls from the course that managed to clock up 39 hours and get her Western Storm Hoody - what a fantastic achievement. 

 

 

It has been a pleasure to see the girls grow in confidence and provide positive role models at their clubs. As well as Western Storm Rewards, several of the above girls were nominated for Grassroot Cricket's Rising Star award for the county. As a county we were extremely lucky that Holly (pictured below) was nominated and was the Devon County Board Rising Star of the Year. She was then shortlisted for the national winners - well done Holly. On her nomination it stated 'When it comes to cricket, Holly always has a smile on her face. She never gives up and has dedicated much of her time to being a great role model for young girls at her club and around the county"

Holly receives her certificates as a National Rising Star Volunteer

 

It is so important that in your club to have female role models to create a positive and welcoming environment for girls. Next season we will be running another Young Storm Champions Course on Monday 30th May and if you are interested for your daughter, then please contact Ann-Marie Presswell and she will give you more details.