The success of any cricket club is surely the well being of its junior section. We began the section in earnest in the Winter of 2006, running several coaching programmes. Since then the junior section has flourished. In the 2009 season we entered both an under 11 and under 13 team in the New Forest Cricket Association League. The under 11 competed very well and won over half their games. The under 13 found things harder going and won just three league games but will stand taller for the experience.

We were also very pleased to have four under 9 friendly matches, which we did very well by winning three of them. We now have 70 junior members from age 7 to 15.

District and County Honours

We are very proud to announce that seven young cricketers from Winterslow Cricket Club successfully made it to either County or District squads.

John Boucher – Under 10 District

George Diaper, Harry Daiper, Adam Moussa & Sam Waters – Under 11 District

Will Harries – Under 14 District

Lewis Wakeford – Under 10 County.

Well done lads lets hop for more representative honours in 2010!

 2010

Following the success of the Lashings match at the end of the 2009 season we have been able to purchase a mobile net and a bowling machine for use by our junior members. This equipment is vital in the development of young cricketers and puts us up there with seniors clubs in the facilities we can offer.

Following a review of our junior section we feel that we need to move on a stage and provide a better standard of coaching on a more individual basis. Firstly I can confirm that by the start of the season Russell Rowe will be a UKCC Level 2 coach, we are also very close to securing the services of a second Level 2 coach who is a former Indian First Class Cricketer, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and different methods of coaching. We have also arranged to employ the services of Winterslow’s Wiltshire under 19 player Shaun Dixon who is a level 1 coach and a spin bowling specialist, and finally confirm that Tom Boucher our Under 9 manager will be a UKCC Level 1 coach before the start of the season. Nick Rowe, Brian Pike and Becky Rowe remain qualified coaches and Lee Irwin, Will Page and Jamie Key will again assist the coaches. This together with our new equipment will enhance young player development and hopefully enable the club to produce yet more County players.

Our 2010 Coaching Plan

Outdoor Coaching

The second phase of our programme will commence outside on 22^nd April 2010. Due to the numbers of players and our wish to provide a better level of coaching on a more individual basis we will now be running two coaching nights per week. The Under 9’s and under 11’s will be on a Thursday evening between 4.30pm and 6pm and the 13’s and 15’s will be Friday evenings between 5pm and 6.30pm. There will always be at least one Level 2 coach present with level one assistant.

Thursday Evening – Under 9 and Under 11 - 4.30pm-6.00pm

Friday Evening – Under 13 and Under 15 – 5.00pm- 6.30pm

I can also confirm that the Club has entered four teams into the New Forrest Cricket League for the coming season. These are at under 9,11,13 and 15 age groups.

Under 9 Friday Evenings – 6pm Starts – Manager Tom Boucher

Under 11 Sunday Mornings – 10.30am Starts – Manager Russell Rowe

Under 13 Thursday Evenings – 6.30pm Starts – Manager Nick Rowe

Under 15 Sunday Mornings – 10.30am Starts – Managers Nick Rowe / Keith Bayford

We may also have occasional friendly matches, which will be notified as and when. The coaching will run through to the end of the summer school term which will be mid July. This is some 14 weeks of coaching and matches.

The objective for the 2010 season is to see a more consistent level of performances and successes.

Administration

Clearly with some 70 junior members, four matches per week and some 32 coaching sessions the administration is substantial and in attempt to ease this we intend to make some alterations to our system. To save Claire making some 70 phone calls a week we would like to set up an email system for those that can, to keep everyone informed of ongoing events and to notify of team selection. This of course will have its own issues but may save a high percentage of phone calls. Please let us have your email address.

I can also confirm that we have to increase the annual subscription to the club. This is being done mainly to cover the costs of the new coaches we have brought in. We feel that they are excellent value and will clearly enhance the development of your child’s skills. For the last two years we have charged £10.00 as an annual subscription. To put us in line with other sporting clubs the annual subscription will now be £30.00, as agreed by the mothers committee. This will include full membership to the club giving your child full use of facilities and also all the summer out door coaching. I think you will agree £1 an hour is excellent value.  We are asking that this will be paid prior to the 1^st May 2010. There will also be a £3 per child match fee, paid by those that play in each game, the same as last year. We feel that these costs are reasonable for what is being offered.

Club Kit

As you may recall at the start of last season we arranged for some playing shirts and caps for most of the boys, this year the club kit that will include shirts, jumpers, training tops, casual shirts, caps etc will now be available via our website to order directly. It looks good when our teams our turned out smart so we would encourage at least the purchase of a club shirt if you are in a position to do so.

I hope this gives you a good idea of our thinking and the way we are moving to make Winterslow CC one of the most attractive and competitive junior sections in the south of the county.

Anyone wishing to get more information on our Junior cricket programme please contact Russell Rowe This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Claire Stone on 01722 324743.