At Oxfordshire Cricket our aim is to develop and protect the future of cricket
by making it the sport of choice in Oxfordshire. This may be in the form of playing, volunteering or spectating. We are also very clear that we need to make these opportunities as inclusive as possible to all communities within Oxfordshire.

With this purpose in mind, we would like to invite you to a BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) participation forum on Tuesday 6th of April from 7PM on Zoom. The aim of the forum is to understand how we can further attract people from different communities to participate in cricket within Oxfordshire, and also to understand any current barriers that are in place to that participation.

Questions that we would like to address include:

• How can we encourage more players from these communities to join our clubs?
• How can we engage more children to start playing at our clubs?
• What current barriers are in place?
• What changes would you like to see in Oxfordshire Cricket?

We look forward to your participation and helping us to understand the issues and potential
solutions in greater depth.

If you would like to attend please email [email protected]

Chris Parkinson

Director of People Development, Volunteers and BAME Inclusivity

Oxfordshire Cricket and the Oxfordshire Association of Cricket Officials have put together an
Umpiring and Scoring Quiz. This week sees the “second innings of the quiz”.

Please download the attachment below, and follow the instructions to complete the quiz. After you complete the second quiz, please email them both to [email protected]

1613988320 

1614958843

The purpose of the programme is to give young people between the ages of 14 and 16 the opportunity to acquire new skills and develop leadership skills that will allow them to volunteer within their cricket club and/or school.

Training given is made up of 6 modules: Activator coaching module, umpiring and scoring, grounds keeping, Mental Resilience, First Aid and Fundraising.

In addition to developing new skills, the benefits to the Young Leader include being a role model to younger members of their club, volunteering qualifies for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and the programme can be used in a University Personal Statement and/or CV.

ENTHUSE PRESENTATION EVENINGS:
Anyone that is interested in this programme can register their attendance at the upcoming enthuse evenings. (Please note that by booking onto an Enthuse Presentation, you are not committing to the programme.)

The presentations will take place on:

Tuesday 9th March 2021 – 6.30pm – 7.30pm (via Zoom)
Tuesday 16th March 2021 – 6.30pm – 7.30pm (via Zoom)

To register your attendance BOOK HERE

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMME:

The benefits for a young player include:

• Develop Cricket leadership skills
• Improve understanding of the positive impact coaching can have
• Gain qualifications and life skills
• Become a role model to younger members of the club and school
• Contribute towards PE GCSE
• Contribute towards Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme
• Contribute towards Community Sports Leadership and Sports Leaders UK award in Junior Sports Leadership
• Use in University/College Personal Statement and/or CV

AWARDS & CERTIFICATES:

• On completion of the programme participants will receive an ECB Activators Certificate of attendance (upon completion of volunteering 10 hours)
• Cricket rewards – ECB Cricket polo shirt, volunteering certificate and an invite to an end of season celebration (upon completion of volunteering minimum 20 hours)
• ACO certificate
• First Aid certificate of attendance
• Fundraising certificate

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES:

Participants will be required to volunteer for 20 or more hours in as many aspects of the running of the game as they can:

• Umpiring
• Scoring
• Pitch preparation and ground maintenance
• Coaching
• Warm up
• Managing teams
• Kit management
• Results management
• Fundraising

If you would like further details please contact:

Edward Wilson
Oxfordshire Women & Girls Development Officer
[email protected]

All-Stars and Dynamos Cricket is set to return to cricket clubs in Oxfordshire for the 2021 summer. Cricket clubs are looking forward to welcoming all families to join in on the fun and safe cricket sessions they have to offer!

What is All Stars?

All-Stars Cricket is an ECB National programme that is aimed at children ages 5-8 years.
All-Stars Cricket will help bring new players and families to your club. Your club will receive full support from the England and Wales Cricket Board and Oxfordshire Cricket when implementing All-Stars, including the following:

• All-Stars Cricket equipment and resources provided at zero cost to the centre
• Easy-to-use online system and tools
• National marketing campaign and marketing guide to promote your centre locally
• Online and face-to-face volunteer training
• Dedicated member of County Cricket Board staff to help implement All Stars Cricket at your centre
• Access to the All Stars Cricket helpdesk
• Receive £5 per child (based on recommended retail price of £40 per child)

What is Dynamos Cricket?

In Summer 2021 the ECB is set to build on the success of All Stars Cricket and launch Dynamos Cricket! Dynamos is designed for children aged between 8-11 and is a fantastic opportunity for children to build on the fundamentals skills learnt at All-Stars, along with children who are new to the game.

Dynamos Cricket will be an 8-week course that will run during Summer 2021 either alongside an All-Stars programme or your existing junior cricket offers, beginning in May or during the Summer Holidays alongside the start of the Hundred competition that Dynamos will be linked to.

All participants that sign up will receive a Dynamos Cricket t-shirt, access to an online app and potential money can’t buy experiences. Clubs will receive a kit bag equipped with stumps, bats, balls, cones, activator t-shirts and more. Everything required to run a fantastic Dynamos Cricket programme.

Where can you register for All-Stars and/or Dynamos Cricket?
From the 16th of March, all previous year participants will gain priority access to sign up early. From the 22nd of March, anyone will be able to sign up to a centre for 2021.
You can find your closest All-Stars and/or Dynamos Cricket centre by going to https://ecb.clubspark.uk/AllStars/SearchResults

Contact
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Zoe Pugh on [email protected] or 07500395618

We are pleased to announce that we will be running Girls Cricket Coaching Hubs in May & June at Oxford CC

Aimed primarily at new girls to the game, participants aged 8-12, will get the chance to learn and practice new skills as well as get involved in lots of game-based activities throughout the sessions. For existing players, these ‘Hubs’ are a really good way to further develop your skills and have some fun with new friends and participants from around Oxfordshire.

Cost £6 per session

· Oxford CC, Jordan Hill OX2 8EF

· Time: 17:00 – 18:00 pm on Tuesdays

· Dates: (6 sessions)

May: 4,11,18,25

June: 1,8

To book your place click here

In light of ECB and OCB developments the Oxfordshire ACO is looking to establish posts of Women and Girls Officials Officer and Young Cricket Officials Officer to work with the ACO in conjunction with the County Board.

These voluntary posts would include the responsibilities of:

• recruiting, training and retaining officials (umpires and scorers) in line with
• national and local programmes
• tracking and supporting these officials through the pathway processes
• ensuring they are aware of key opportunities available to them throughout the
• game.
• encouraging ALL officials to take a part in women’s and youth cricket.

Oxfordshire ACO realize that the archetypal “old man in a white coat and funny hat” may not be the ideal person to lead these initiatives but we will be there to support these post holders should they request help and provide necessary information and materials along with local and national colleagues.

If you feel you have the time and energy to take on either of these posts, please
contact:

Andy Grose (Oxfordshire ACO Chairman)
[email protected]
Mob: 07785 351263 
Tel: 01869 573174
to discuss things further.

The Disability Cricket Champion Club initiative is designed to help clubs create time and space for members of their community with different needs to enjoy the game of cricket.

What is a Disability Cricket Champion Club?

Cricket is an inclusive sport by its nature; a sport that many people play, follow and have a passion for, for life. Across England and Wales, the ECB wish to support cricket clubs to open their gates and deliver cricket opportunities for those with disabilities. The Disability Cricket Champion Club Programme will support cricket clubs through guidance, resource and equipment, enabling them to welcome individuals with additional needs and varying abilities to support them to play, follow, officiate and volunteer. Creating a truly equitable club game and providing fantastic new opportunities for cricketers and for the Champion Clubs.

Equipment

Every Disability Cricket Champion Club will receive a free kit bag, containing plastic playing equipment and a range of balls and markers to help facilitate coaching drills and games.

Adapted and easy to use equipment can play a crucial role in enabling coaches to ensure that everyone is involved and able to enjoy the game.

Every centre that registers and goes on to be selected to be a Disability Cricket Champion Club will receive a free pack, including:

1 x ECB kit bag
4 x bats
4 x sets of stumps
12 x plastic balls
15 x tennis balls
2 x large tennis balls
1 x large tennis ball with ball-bearings (audible)
24 x cones
12 x PVC Line markers
2 x 10m ropes

Funding

All Disability Cricket Champion Clubs will be able to access ECB funding to support the promotion and delivery of their inclusive cricket sessions.

Clubs will be able to apply for up to £500 seed funding in their first year, to deploy experienced coaches*; purchase more adapted equipment; or help to promote inclusive cricket sessions.

*A club coach must assist a paid coach to build future sustainability of the programme.

Support

The ECB and Oxfordshire Cricket will provide ongoing assistance supporting clubs to create links with their local schools and service providers; signposting players to further opportunities and supporting clubs to arrange match-play opportunities.

What do you need to become a Disability Cricket Champion Club?

– To be affiliated to ECB via your County Cricket Board (CCB)
– A Constitution
– Valid Buildings, Contents & Public Liability Insurance
– Security of Tenure – Leasehold, Freehold or Rental Agreement (minimum of one year)
– A Club Safeguarding Officer
– Trained first aider on site at all sessions
– Accessible facilities – If this provision is not currently in place, the ECB will support you to address this
– A commitment from the club to provide a fun and welcoming environment for all
– Adequate space to run an additional section
– Full support of the club committee
– At least one qualified coach to lead the sessions

John O’Groats to Lands End Virtually in February

With members of the Oxfordshire Cricket workforce being on flexi furlough, the workforce, staff, directors, players and volunteers of Oxfordshire Cricket will be voluntarily giving up some of their time to do a virtual challenge to walk, run or cycle the same distance as from John O’Groats to Land’s End during February to raise money for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Opening Up Cricket Charity. Our target is to raise £5,000

To donate and support please click https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oxfordshire-cricket

This will be in compliance with national lockdown restrictions.

The facts of the challenge are: –

John O’Groats to Land’s End is 874 Miles
February is 28 days
We would be raising money for two charities

What will we be doing?

In compliance with national lockdown restrictions and whilst on furlough, the Oxfordshire Cricket workforce will voluntarily be giving up some of their time to collectively virtually walk, run or cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End during February to raise money for Opening Up and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The workforce effort will be supported by directors, players and volunteers in our attempt to get to 874 miles of walking, running or cycling in the month of February which is equivalent to the distance of John O’Groats to Land’s End. This will all be for the purpose of raising money for the charities Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Opening Up.

• Challenge delivered over 6 days of each week, with Sundays being a break day
• Participants covering their miles over 3 or 4 days per week
• On each day participants will cover their miles taking between one and three hours, dependant on the distance
• Each participant will set a personal target for the challenge which will be broken down over the four weeks
• Personal targets set
• The challenge mileage will be tracked by a group Strava account.

Why Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust?

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is a community-focused organisation that provides physical and mental health services and social care with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of all our patients and their families.

The Oxford Health Charity enhances the experience of patients, carers, families and staff involved with the services of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. The charity funds activities, equipment, projects and patient-focussed support that is above and beyond the usual expenditure of the NHS budget. No funds donated will be spent on essential NHS services but will instead be used to enhance the experience of those using the services or working with the Trust.

The whole Oxfordshire Cricket community have been touched by the service we have received form the NHS during the pandemic, the Oxfordshire Board recognise the fantastic support our own Chairman received he was given a liver transplant just over a year ago. There are many other examples of how they have supported the local community just as we are trying to do with this fundraiser

For more information please visit
http://www.oxfordhealth.charity/

Why Opening Up?

Opening Up is currently defined as a ‘Community Interest Company’ but is in the process of getting Charitable Status. They dedicate their time to tackling the issue of mental health, and are doing so through the platform of cricket. Specifically aiming at improving and working with sports clubs and institutes to discuss the issue of mental health, find the most effective ways to tackle it and how we can all help each other to improve this growing issue. The charity was formed following the suicide of a player at Sefton Park CC and at the time was aimed at the local area, but has now delivered over 250 sessions to cricket clubs and sports institutes across the UK and Australia.

The issue around mental health is particularly prominent at this moment due to the stresses and strains of the pandemic; with the national lockdown among other increasing pressures in peoples’ lives.

Members of the workforce, knowing people who are going through battles with mental health, with the help of Opening Up or charities with a similar aim, it is important we support them to help spread the word, and their slogan that ‘its not weak to speak’, them having a direct link to cricket and the prominence of the issue they are tackling make them a perfect charity for us to support in our mission through February with currently a prediction of 50% of people suffering a mental health issue throughout their lives, and 15% in a given year according to studies.

For more information please visit
https://openingupcricket.com/

How Can You Track Our Virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End?

You can track our virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End journey by keeping an eye on our social media channels, where we will provide a daily update on how many miles have been completed, how long is left, and who has helped us get to 874 miles.

How Can You Support?

You can help support us by either donating to these two fantastic charities by following the link https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oxfordshire-cricket to our just giving page, as well as help spread the word and support Opening Up and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Oxfordshire Cricket is delighted to announce that Abi Norgrove has been selected onto the Vipers Academy for 2021.

Norgrove, who has come through the Oxfordshire Cricket Pathway, plays for Charlbury Cricket Club and Shipton Under Wychwood Cricket Club in Oxfordshire.

Abi’s has been a prominent feature within the Pathway, with her development journey to date seeing her represent all of the Girls Pathway squads. Abi has transitioned quickly through the Pathway, regularly playing above her age group, whilst at the same time progressing her game and maintaining performance outcomes on the field.

Her contributions and successes have been both recognised and congratulated by her peers and the coaches who have supported her development. In 2019 she was named Player of the Year for the Girls Under 15 age group, as well as Players’ Player of the Year for the Girls Under 17. In 2018, she was named both Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year for the Girls Under 13 age group.

At club level, she has played for Charlbury women’s and girls teams in 2018, 19 & 20. She played Saturday league cricket at Charlbury in 2019 and then moved back to Shipton Under Wychwood for the 2020 season. Prior to 2018 she was playing youth cricket at Shipton under Wychwood but moved to Charlbury to play in the women’s.

In recent years, she has continued to impress, which has led to her being selected to represent the County Women side. 2020, saw the teenager play an important role for the County Women, where she helped guide Oxfordshire to victory with an unbeaten 50 to secure a nine-wicket win over Berkshire.

She will now go onto attend Vipers Academy sessions which will take form in the shape of a twelve-month training program, which will also consist of being involved in 50 over and t20 competitions.

Matthew Barnes, Performance Cricket Manager said:

“Abi and her family should be immensely proud that she has been rewarded with a place in the Southern Vipers Academy this year, which is testament to her dedication over time and their ongoing encouragement, sacrifice and support.

It is an exciting time to be an aspiring female player with now formed regional models providing a clearer path into the professional game for Women and Girls across the Country. Abi’s selection onto the Southern Vipers Academy is the first step on this journey and one that she should very much look forward to.

I speak on behalf of everyone at Oxfordshire Cricket in congratulating Abi on her selection and in wishing her the best of luck with the opportunities that she will be afforded within the Academy.”

Ian Cox, Senior Regional Talent Manager said:
“At such a young age, Abi really impressed in not just her cricketing abilities but also how she embraced the whole assessment process, everybody involved at the Southern Vipers are extremely excited to be working with Abi and all the other cohorts in the new Regional Academy program”

Abi Norgrove said:
“I am thrilled to have been selected for the Vipers Academy and I am really looking forward to the season ahead. I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity”.

2021 will see the 50th anniversary of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, the first winners of the competition in 1971 were Cowley St John. The trophy was labelled the Bernard Tollett trophy in 2000, when the late Bernard Tollett left a £10,000 legacy to run the competition. We have continued to associate his name on the trophy for 21 of the 50 years. In recent years the family of the late Wilf Bennett presented a trophy to partner the senior cup, with a view to offering other clubs the opportunity of winning some silverware.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Senior Cup for 2021 we are offering free entry to affiliated clubs, We are able to do this because of the generosity of the Porter family, who donated a legacy to the Board to honour the life and enormous contribution of the late Simon Porter (Chairman 1995-2005). Rosalyn Porter (Simon’s widow) is one of our more proactive members. Her daughters Genevieve and Eloise have followed in their Dad’s footsteps by playing Women’s cricket for Oxford CC and the County.

‘The family want to use the fund to invest in all Oxon clubs and provide free entry to a competition that Simon had very close connections with.’ – Rosalyn Porter

‘I hope that the memory and goodwill created in the 2020 condensed cricket programme is still in the memories of the Oxfordshire Cricket community. We want to recreate that feeling from ball one of the 2021 season. This fantastic gesture from the Porter family will hopefully energise clubs to enter in and enjoy what has been a great competition over the years.’ Chris Clements

As always the structure of the two competitions will be determined by the number of entries, we are hoping that this gesture will mean that more clubs will come forward and enter a competition which will be completed on Finals day in September. Covid permitting finals day will be at Wormsley.

To this end, we are delighted to open entries for this summer’s competition. Please click on the ClubPlay link to enter your Club Competition Entry

Chris Clements
Chairman
Oxfordshire Cricket