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[ScottParko]

Our second 11 is struggling badly this weekend due to the 1sts having next to no-one! Big shame is there is a big divide between 1sts and 2nds with the 1sts treating the club as somewhere just to play and aren't really bothered so to take the majority of the 2nds away from the team that I would say are club lads is a big shame. All this after filling he first team with aussies/other random people. Knocking people who have been at the club a long time, established players in that division out of the side. I'd hope the firsts captain has learnt from now having next to no team and sticks with a solid spine next season.

[arsenal123]

Bizarrely, bucking the trend we seem to be increasing in size. 

We've gone from four teams about 5 years ago to five teams on a Saturday every week and half the season we've been getting a sixth team out!

On Sunday's we now have two league sides and every week have at least a game on a Sunday (often two).

We play various 2020 competitions in the week as well.

I put it down to two things, kids ambitious with their cricket between 16-21 are joining as they know they'll get a chance if they perform.  Secondly, we run a last man stands during the week at our club.  This has led to picking up 5-6 players from the various sides as well.

[petehosk]

We lost a few of our 1st XI over the last couple of years. A couple are postmen and their Saturday hours changed. Also an RAF guy who got posted elsewhere! A shame as all were excellent players 
And lost a few from 2nd XI too so we ended up eventually losing our 2nd XI!
Our 1st XI team is weaker due to people leaving but we will eventually find our competitive level, be that a couple of divisions down from where we were!!
We have now started U5 and U7 coaching for 12 weeks during Summer. First year this season and was hugely successful with very large numbers attending - just as well a few extra people got themselves qualified last Winter!! And parents stay around and use the bar and we do a BBQ after selling burgers and hot dogs which sell out every week as the parents take advantage as it's the easiest way of feeding your kids  So the club takes a bit of extra money which is great for us! Plus hopefully we can start building for the future and have a 2nd XI going again, plus a Colt team? I hope so as I don't want to be running around like a madman in the 1st XI in 5 years time!

[ppccopener]

well done Pete, good to see proactive stuff being done, you gotta move with it with something new.

Presume U5 and U7 is actually U15's and 17's. If not and you are starting them under five years old massive respect
i'd of loved a big cheeseburger at 4 years old.
 
it's never too early right? hahahahah

[petehosk]

Definitely under 5 and 7's! The funny thing is that when we are coaching them and they are doing drills, to us it seems total chaos most of the time as their attention span is not great!  But they seem to enjoy it and all the parents say that it looks so well organised, even though it never feels like it to us!! Hard work though!

[ppccopener]

wow that's brilliant.
I did take my mates four year old for catching practice the other day and it was like keeping hold of a slippery eel.Good fun thou but knackering.

it's never too young to start 

[FattusCattus]

Definitely under 5 and 7's! The funny thing is that when we are coaching them and they are doing drills, to us it seems total chaos most of the time as their attention span is not great!  But they seem to enjoy it and all the parents say that it looks so well organised, even though it never feels like it to us!! Hard work though!

I coach the under 7's!  We do a lot of roly-polys, sleeping lions, 'hot potato' catching and I've taught them all a funky dance to do if they catch a skyer.

Many will, I'm sure, play professionally.

[petehosk]

I coach the under 7's!  We do a lot of roly-polys, sleeping lions, 'hot potato' catching and I've taught them all a funky dance to do if they catch a skyer.

Many will, I'm sure, play professionally.

We will be seeing some very funky dancing from County players in 12 years time after catching a skyer! And that funky dance will have a strangely familiar tone about it!!
"That new County player for Hampshire does a wiggly jig  exactly that same a Brucie at a nightclub!!" Coincidence? I think not!!

[Phoenix]

We are introducing a third team this year and also trying to get enough interest from the local school to start up a junior squad.

We have had a fair bit of success in the past few years so I guess that draws people to the club