Chingford Cricket Club
Colts Membership Information Pack
Season 2022
1. INTRODUCTION
Chingford Cricket Club is proud to be a family friendly inclusive club with a passion for developing youth cricket in the local community. The Club plays at the highest amateur level in the Essex Premier Division. Our aim is to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to grow and develop as confident young people through learning and playing cricket in a safe and encouraging environment.
The Club has a well-established Colts section, with a long, successful and proud history. In recent years, the Colts section has seen significant growth and this Colts Membership Information Pack seeks to provide parents and carers with all the information needed to join the Club for the 2022 season.
Many people are involved to ensure that the Club is run in a professional manner. The Club have a team of ECB qualified and dedicated coaches which aims to inspire and teach your child(ren) the great game of cricket. The coaching team is supported by a Colts Committee, which is made up of parents and other volunteers who assist with the overall running of the Colts section.
The Club has been successfully accredited as a Clubmark club by the England and Wales Cricket Board, which demonstrates that the Club takes issues like child welfare and safeguarding seriously.
The Club is extremely proud that in recent years former Colts Members have progressed to playing cricket at the highest level. For example, Dan Lawrence is currently representing England, while Beth Macgregor has represented England Woman.
After a long winter, the Club is looking forward to a successful Summer of cricket in 2022.
2. WHAT CHINGFORD COLTS SECTION OFFERS
The Colts section offers cricket training and matches to children from age 7 (school year 2) to 19 years old. The Club enters at least one team at U9, U11, U13, U15 and U19 age groups. Depending on ability and confidence, from the age of 15, children can also progress to train and play for the Club’s adult teams. Matches are a mix of friendlies, formal league games and cup competitions. During the winter, the Club also enters teams into indoor leagues.
For children under the age of 11 (school year 6), the Club also runs the All Stars and Dynamos programmes during the middle part of the Summer (https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars). These are ‘beginner’ courses, with the focus on basic cricket skills aimed at introducing children to cricket. These courses are separate from the Colts section. However, the aim is for children to progress from these courses to join the main Colts section. Please contact Mark Campbell (see section 11 – Key Club Contacts), for more details if All Stars and/or Dynamos may better suit your child.
The Club also arrange Cricket Camps for all age groups and abilities during school holidays (further information to be provided). Cricket tours may also be organised.
As Colts Members, the Club’s training facilities are available for you to use throughout the year, which extend to the outdoor and indoor nets to the rear of the Clubhouse. Use of the nets is subject to availability and by appointment only. There are specific nights for Colts Members practice, depending on the age. Older Colts can also take part in adult practice sessions if they wish.
The Club is keen to develop cricket for girls. Girls can and have successfully played alongside boys in mixed teams. In formal competitions they are allowed to play in age groups two years below their actual age (e.g. an under 13 year old girl can play alongside under 11 boys). The Club recognise this is not for everyone and the Club can provide and cater for differing requirements. The Club has seen recent growth in girls playing cricket, attracted through the All Stars and Dynamos programmes. The Club are working towards establishing a girls team at each age group.
The Club prides itself on being a social, friendly and family orientated club. As part of your child joining as a Colts Member, parents and carers will also get free social membership to the Club. The Club organises a range of social events throughout the year. Further information on events will be provided throughout the season.
3 OUR CLUB PHILOSOPHY TO YOUTH CRICKET
The Club believe that our Colts Members are an essential part of our Club and are vital to both its present and future success.
The Club aims to do all we can to encourage our Colts and make them feel a valued part of the Club, irrespective of their age, race, gender, religion or level of ability.
The Club expects that Colts should be able to enjoy their cricket and develop their abilities to their full potential in a safe and encouraging environment. The Club wants our Colts to develop a lifelong love and passion for cricket.
The Club wants the skills our Colts Members learn playing cricket to also help them develop as confident young people. The Club wants our Colts to build strong friendships with fellow Colts Members and the wider Club community.
At U9 and U11 age groups, teams are selected on a rotational basis, depending upon availability, ensuring that as many Colts Members as possible experience regular competitive cricket. The aim is to play friendly cricket as early as possible so that our Colts Members can experience game situations and develop their skills and knowledge of cricket. From U13, depending on availability, individual performances are also taken into consideration when selecting teams for league and cup matches. Winning isn't everything, but we want our young players to be able to take pleasure in success.
The Club’s aim is for Colts Members to progress through the various age groups and eventually play for one of our five adult teams. Our track record shows that if your child demonstrates a high level of ability at cricket, the Club will identify this and provide pathways towards potential District and County representation.
4. THE CLUB'S EXPECTATIONS AND CODE OF CONDUCT
The Club expect Colts Members and parents (and their families) to behave in a reasonable and sociable way when at or when representing the Club. On joining the Club, Colts Members and parents sign up to the Chingford Cricket Club Colts and Parents Code of Conduct set out below. Please take the time to read through this section with your child to ensure they are clear on the Club’s standards.
- Learn the laws/playing conditions of cricket;
- Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials;
- Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results;
- Never force your child to take part;
- Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all;
- Publicly accept officials’ judgement;
- Support your child’s involvement and help them to enjoy their cricket; and
- Use correct and proper language at all times.
In line with ECB policy, all coaches will hold a valid DBS check, First Aid certificate and will be trained in the safeguarding and protection of children. Other members of the Club who have regular contact with youth members will also hold a valid DBS check.
Parents/carers are asked to ensure that coaches are made aware before coaching sessions or matches of any medical condition which might affect their child’s performance or which might require specific attention (e.g. asthma), or of any injury which may prevent a child from taking part in elements of coaching (e.g. sprain).
5. MATCHES AND TRAINING SESSIONS
Each age group will be assigned a team coach to focus on developing individual players skills, team tactics and team spirit. They will also lead on team selection. Each age group will also have a Team Representative (see section 11 – Key Club Contacts), who are volunteers to help with team administration and communication.
Matches are generally played on Sunday mornings each week from May – September, 9am for a 9.30am start. Games are played both home and away. Home games are generally played at Chingford Cricket Ground. Away games are generally within the East London and West Essex area (e.g. the furthest we travelled last season was Hornchurch). Matches generally last 2 – 2.5 hours. Scorecards and results of matches are posted on www.chingford.play-cricket.com
U9
U9 matches are played with a soft ball and are 8v8, with each side bowling a maximum 16 overs. Each player bowls a minimum 2 overs.
At U9 all matches are friendlies played using ‘Terriers rules’. These rules basically mean that each team starts on 200 with the aim to score as many runs as possible. Batters are paired and bat for a maximum 4 overs. If a batter gets ‘out’ during their four overs, they do not leave the field, rather they switch ends with their batting partner and continue to bat. However, each ‘out’ results in the team being deducted 5 runs. Wides and no balls count as two runs and are not rebowled (other than in the final over). The format is designed to enable all players get a fair go at batting, bowling and fielding during each match. It should also be noted that there are no LBWs in Terriers format.
U11
U11 matches are played with a hard ball and are 8v8, with each side bowling a maximum 16 overs. Each player bowls a minimum 2 overs. Friendly matches are usually played using ‘Terriers rules’ (see above) and may involve more players per side. U11 play in a league competition during June and July. These matches are played using traditional rules i.e. when you’re out, you’re out. However, a batter must retire if they score 25 runs (but can return if the team is bowled out). Wides and no balls count as two runs and are not rebowled (other than in the final over). Should the team be successful and finish in the qualifying positions, they will progress to the final ‘knock out’ stages of the tournament which is played in September. If the team is unsuccessful, friendly fixtures will be scheduled instead. It should also be noted that there are no LBWs in either Terriers or U11 League format.
U13
U13 matches are played with a hard ball and are 11v11, with each side bowling a maximum 20 overs. Bowlers can bowl a maximum of 3 overs each. Batters will retire at 30 and cannot return. Coaches may retire batters before this in order to give other players an opportunity. Friendly matches are usually played using ‘Terriers rules’ (see above) whilst league matches are played using ‘traditional rules’, (other than wides and no balls counted as two runs and not rebowled). The LBW rule is applied at this level.
U15 and U19
U15 matches are played with a hard ball and are 11v11, with each side bowling a maximum 20 overs. Bowlers are permitted a maximum of 4 overs. Batters retire at 30 and do not return. These conditions may be varied in friendly matches by agreement. Otherwise’ traditional rules’ apply.
Summer Outdoor Training
The Colts train as individual squads every Friday evening at the Club. This should be attended as often as practically possible, as it is a key part of the team’s development. Summer outdoor training will start on Friday 22nd April 2022 and continue through to the end of September.
Friday - Training Times
U9, U11 and U13 - 5.45 pm – 7pm.
U15 and U19 – 7.15pm – 8.30pm
A second training session at the Club will take place on Wednesday evenings starting Wednesday 27th April 2022. The majority of Colts members also attend this session as the extra practice really helps improve their cricket skills.
Wednesday - Training Times
U11 and U13 - 5pm – 6pm.
U15 and U19 – 6pm – 7pm (Depending on ability older Colts can also train with the adult teams that train following this session).
All training sessions are led by the Club’s Head Coach Hassan Malik and the Club’s qualified coaching team. The cost is £5 per child per session and is paid on a pay as you play basis. If it rains before or during the session, whilst not ideal, sessions may be moved into the indoor cricket nets at the rear of the Clubhouse.
Hassan Malik also provides private coaching sessions. If you are interested, please contact him for further information (see section 11 – Key Club Contacts).
The Club also aim to organise Cricket Camps during Easter, Summer half term and at the beginning of the Summer school holidays. Further information, including dates and times will be provided in due course.
The Club will communicate Winter training plans at the end of the season.
6. PLAYER AVAILABILITY
As cricket is played over the Summer months, players availability can vary, particularly during the holiday periods. The Club hope to be able to have squads large enough at each age level to be able to cover absentees, so that we can successfully field a team each weekend.
At the start of the season, the Club will ask you to provide details of your child’s availability throughout the Summer (as far as is possible). This will enable us to manage squads over the course of the season. While the Club appreciates that availability can change, it is extremely helpful if parents are able to advise on unavailability well ahead of scheduled matches to minimise potential cancellation of fixtures.
Depending on squad numbers, we may need to rotate players from time to time, to ensure each Colt Member gets sufficient game time to enable them to develop and improve their cricket skills over the course of the season. The aim would be to marry squad rotation with planned absentees/holidays etc, so Colts Members can play in as many matches as possible.
7. MEMBERSHIP FEES, INSTRUCTIONS FOR JOINING AND FUNDRAISING
Colts membership of Chingford Cricket Club costs £85 per child per year (18 years and under – up to school year 13). This fee includes membership of the Club, the cost of matches (excluding indoor matches in the Winter) and a set of Club Whites (team kit) – trousers, shirt and cap.
Training sessions are an additional cost, as set out in section 5.
Colts aged 18 and over (i.e. that have left Sixth Form or College but play U19s) should join as Junior Members (£100).
Indoor matches played during the Winter are £5 per child per match.
As part of your child joining as a Colts Member, parents and carers will also get free Social Membership to the Club.
All Membership Forms and payments of fees need to be returned before or on 22nd April 2022.
Please note that Colts Members will not be selected for matches until the Club has received both Membership Forms and formal payment.
You can pay your membership directly to the Club using the following link: https://membermojo.co.uk/chingford
You must also complete a Membership form.
Training fees can be paid online by using the following details:
Sort Code: 20-52-74
Account Number: 50254444
Name: Mark Campbell
(Please note that the Club will use new account details ahead of the new season. The Club will provide these details once finalised)
Please reference your child’s name so that the Club can identify your payment.
Cash payments are also accepted and should be paid at the beginning of each training session when registering your child’s attendance.
The Club relies heavily on payment of training fees to help fund the Colts cricketing activities. The Club will keep a record of training payments. Please make every effort to promptly pay your child’s training fees each time they attend.
The Club wishes to ensure that the cost of membership is not an obstacle to anyone who wishes to play cricket. If your child is eligible for Free School Meals, the Club has a fund which may entitle your child to receive support in payment of membership fees, training sessions and cricket equipment. If you have any difficulty with the financial aspect of becoming a Colts Member, please speak to any of the coaching team or a Team Representative in confidence.
The Club reserves the right to restrict numbers within age groups to ensure that the coach to children ratio is adhered to and the Club reserves the right to refuse admission to new Colts Members at any point during the season based on coach availability. The demand for Colts Membership is growing across all age groups. Therefore, please submit your forms at your earliest convenience to enable the Club to be able prepare sufficiently for the new season and enable us to be able manage and allocate resources to meet demand and avoid potential disappointment.
Fundraising and Sponsorship
The Club is always seeking to fundraise and generate sponsorship to develop and improve the Colts Section. If you have any fundraising ideas or are willing to sponsor an aspect of the Colts Section, please contact the Colts Committee Member or a Team Representative (see section 11 – Key Club Contacts). The Club will provide details and updates of fundraising events and activities which require support throughout the course of the year.
8. EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY
All Colts Members are required to wear Club whites for matches (which you will receive on joining as a Colts Member). Non-whites sportswear can be worn for training sessions.
U9
U9’s play with a soft ball. However, it is recommended that Colts Members bring their own bat, batting gloves and abdominal protector (box).
U11, U13, U15, U19
All of the above age groups play with a hard ball. This means Colts Members will be required to wear the appropriate protective equipment. Protective equipment should include bat, leg pads, thigh pad, abdominal protector (box), batting gloves, helmet. This is best contained and transported in a cricket bag/coffin.
Most Colts prefer to use their own equipment. However, the Club understand that a full set of equipment can be expensive and we do not want potential players being put off by this expense. The Club will therefore provide a spare set of equipment (except for whites and abdominal protector) for each age group so that individuals can use as necessary. Spikes (cricket shoes/trainers) are also recommended. As games start early, overnight rain/morning dew can make the outfields wet and therefore slippery. Spikes help to avoid slipping.
Advice On Choosing A Bat
This is likely to be the most expensive item of equipment you will purchase and Colts do rapidly outgrow them, so you will need to use some judgement when deciding on a bat for your child. In terms of quality, it is true that you are likely to get what you pay for and you are unlikely to be able to get a ‘good’ bat for less than £50-60. In selecting a bat, choose one where you can see the grain of the wood on the face. Although some coverings look good, they can be used to hide lower quality material (this obviously doesn’t apply to fully transparent protective coatings). In terms of size, the bat should be able to rest with the top of the handle at the top of the inside leg. Your child should be able to comfortably lift the bat in a normal cricket backlift. Bats should be given a thin coating of linseed oil and then needs to have some time being ‘knocked in’ before being used against a new hard ball in match conditions.
If you have any questions or need any advice on equipment, please don’t hesitate to ask either the coaching team or a Team Representatives (see section 11 – Key Club Contacts).
9. VOLUNTEERING AND PARENT/CARERS SUPPORT
As with all well organised sports teams, parents/carers help and support is key. While it is important for you to help your child through the emotional highs and lows of the season, in practical terms, the Club also needs help to ensure the season runs smoothly. The Club always welcome additional help with running the training sessions, organising matches or other social events.
For example, the Club need to provide one umpire and scorer for each match. For home games, the pitch needs to be set up and marked out (and packed away after). Players may need a lift to games from time to time. If you are a novice or need a refresh, the Club are happy to provide help and support. For example, the Club will run training/refresher courses for parents/carers for scoring and umpiring.
The Club also frequently need volunteers on Friday training evenings to collect monies, assist with barbecue duty or running the Club bar.
If you are interested in helping with coaching, please contact Head Coach Hassan Malik (see section 11 – Key Club Contacts). The Club can provide help and support if parents/carers are interested in gaining formal cricket coaching qualifications.
The aim would be to have as many volunteers as possible, so that the responsibility can be shared. Therefore, please contact the Colts Committee Member, a Team Representative or any of the coaching team if you can help in any way (see section 11 – Key Club Contacts).
All help and support, no matter how small, is valued and welcomed!
10. SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP
As part of your child joining as a Colts Member, parents and carers also get free Social Membership to the Club. The Club appreciate that joining is a major commitment for both Colts and parents/carers. Given this, the Club aim to create an environment where parents/carers also enjoy coming to the Club as much as their children. To facilitate this, the Club organise a range of social events throughout the season for new and existing Colts Members.
Events can vary from BBQs, to quiz nights, to watching major sports events in the Club bar and parent/carers vs kids matches etc. Further information on events will be provided during the course of the season. Any ideas about different events you would like to see are more than welcome.
However, the main social event is the Friday club training night. The Club bar is open and parents and carers can enjoy some peace and quiet with a drink (hopefully in the warm sunshine) while their child plays cricket. This is very popular and a great way to get to know fellow parents and relax with friends at the start of the weekend.
There are competitive adult matches every Saturday and most Sunday afternoons are you are more than welcome to come along to support the Club or simply appreciate some sporting action in pleasant surroundings.
If you are interested in playing cricket (perhaps after many years!), the Club also welcome new playing members. The Club run five adult teams, so if you are interested playing competitively or would prefer a more social game, the Club can cater for all needs. Please contact either Hassan Malik or Mark Campbell for more information.
11. KEY CLUB CONTACTS
Head Coach
Hassan Malik
Tel: 07951 242 393
Coach
Mark Campbell
Tel: 07958 021 005
U19 Team Representative
Hassan Malik
Tel: 07951 242 393
U15 Team Representative
Ronak Shah
Tel: 07846 209 960
U13 Team Representative
Candice Smith
Tel: 07548 268 168
U11 Team Representative
Ian Butcher
Tel: 07763 174 391
U9 Team Representative
Altus Basson
Tel: 07922 863 519
Other contacts:
Colts Committee Member
Ian Butcher
Tel: 07763 174 391
Club Safeguarding Officer
Mark Campbell
Tel: 07958 021 005
General Email Enquiries: chingfordcccolts@gmail.com
Follow the Club at:
Website: https://chingford.cricketclubwebsite.co.uk/default.aspx
Twitter: @Chingford_CC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chingfordcc/
Club Tel: 020 8529 5849
Home Ground: Forest Side, Kimberley Way, E4 6DE
Team Representatives will usually communicate with parents and carers via individual team WhatsApp groups in relation to fixtures and team specific matters. The Club also have a Colts Members WhatsApp group for more general communication.
The Club will also issue Colts Newsletters during the season providing regular updates, Club news and highlighting future events.