Topic: How would you fix club cricket? (Read 11853 times)

uknsaunders · « **on:** December 03, 2015, 10:05:21 AM »

Following on from the Guardian article about more clubs folding, how would you fix club cricket. Let's assume the ECB aren't going to give up their sky blood money for current cricket comps. Here's some of my thoughts:-

1. Clubs can only have a specific number of teams according to the number of pitches at their home ground. Only 2 teams can play in the premier competition.

This restricts the mega clubs adult XI and encourages the talent pool to spread to other clubs, in turn making competition, and the willingness to play for other clubs greater.

2. Start-up fund for new clubs - any club that takes over existing facilities from a closed club gets a �5-10k start up grant, subject to a business plan and monitoring.

3. Pool pitches - get clubs to groundshare where they are a 1 team club. Potentially you could base a 2 sat/2 sun/1 midweek team at the same club. Pooling resources into one well maintained facility is better than 3 average ones.

4. Abandon Colts cricket over the age of 15. Create a pathway straight into adult cricket by 15, make it the norm and create development leagues to bridge the gap between 20 and 45 over cricket. Make each league create a development league.

5. Pool administration resources - ECB should employ part-time or even full time "club managers" to help assist clubs in fundraising and player recruitment. Whether it's an ad-hoc request basis or a regular work, clubs are failing due to lack of admin help. Sack a few ECB development managers or retrain them, they aren't making a difference.

6. Get some live cricket on FTA TV - make up a competition or something!

Any thoughts?

TangoWhiskey · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:21:30 AM »

The same way I'd increase participation in all sports. I'd make them all free. Frankly it's ridiculous that the government complains about unhealthy lifestyles and obesity putting a strain on the NHS, but then if I want to join a gym in London I have to pay upwards of �600 a year. Cricket costs me �300 a year just on subs and match fees and I know for a fact that my club is one of the cheapest to play for for miles! When I used to play five a side football at PowerLeague that was nearly �10 a game. Golf memberships come in at �1500. 11 a side footy costs around �200 a year and I've yet to come across a pitch that hasn't got broken ankle written all over it.

A Playstation 4 plus a couple of games comes in at �400, so it's cheaper to sit on your (No Swearing Please) and play computer games then it is to get outside and play sport. Not saying its the whole problem but it is a woeful situation

I just find it ridiculous how we spend billions trying to fix a problem after its happened by treating health issues once they've already caused damage rather than spending the money encouraging people outside and being active.

uknsaunders · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:25:55 AM »

Quote from: TangoWhiskey on December 03, 2015, 10:21:30 AM

The same way I'd increase participation in all sports. I'd make them all free. Frankly it's ridiculous that the government complains about unhealthy lifestyles and obesity putting a strain on the NHS, but then if I want to join a gym in London I have to pay upwards of �600 a year. Cricket costs me �300 a year just on subs and match fees and I know for a fact that my club is one of the cheapest to play for for miles! When I used to play five a side football at PowerLeague that was nearly �10 a game. Golf memberships come in at �1500. 11 a side footy costs around �200 a year and I've yet to come across a pitch that hasn't got broken ankle written all over it.

A Playstation 4 plus a couple of games comes in at �400, so it's cheaper to sit on your (No Swearing Please) and play computer games then it is to get outside and play sport. Not saying its the whole problem but it is a woeful situation

I just find it ridiculous how we spend billions trying to fix a problem after its happened by treating health issues once they've already caused damage rather than spending the money encouraging people outside and being active.

Two words - Sugar Tax

It's about time we taxed food/soft drinks known to be unheathly and plough some or all of that money back into promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Buzz · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:26:54 AM »

I don't agree with limitations on the size of clubs - clubs attract players and attract talent, this should be encouraged.

a decent mix of social and league games at different times which suit all. Flexibility to move fixture times should be allowed, finding incentives to get people playing is key, but the biggest problem is time.
More 40 over or 45 over games should be encouraged. Morning matches as well.

uknsaunders · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:34:26 AM »

Quote from: Buzz on December 03, 2015, 10:26:54 AM

I don't agree with limitations on the size of clubs - clubs attract players and attract talent, this should be encouraged.

a decent mix of social and league games at different times which suit all. Flexibility to move fixture times should be allowed, finding incentives to get people playing is key, but the biggest problem is time.
More 40 over or 45 over games should be encouraged. Morning matches as well.

Agree on the morning matches. When we can play until nearly 9pm most of the season, why not host 2 games at the same ground? Could do a 9am and 3pm start and still get 2 40 overs games in. For many clubs struggling to fund a 3rd XI pitch or looking to share facilities this would prove a huge financial boost. It could also encourage players with families to play as they can be home by 3pm.

roco · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:36:15 AM »

Limit the paying of players to ECB premier league and Div1 clubs would be a good start

I've seen a few lower sides bring in 2-3 paid players and ruin a club as they feel they need to be in a higher league to attract players, but when the money runs out and the players leave they drop down and are worse off overall

Look to help clubs with facilities in way of grants etc that must be used for the purpose as so many times money raised finds way into the star players hands.

Offer free groundsmen courses/days at a county ground so clubs can learn how to prepare pitches better

Maybe even offer more advice with running a club by getting local clubs together in a forum of some sort so they can help ech other with recruitment, admin, coaching etc

jamielsn15 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:40:46 AM »

re-investment in NGBs from the top down. A commitment to an Olympic legacy and a greater focus on community sports clubs - grants, awards and even loans to ensure sustainability. But clubs need to be accountable for that money.

re-invest the �162m per year that went into school sport partnerships - the rise in cricket in state schools between 2002 and 2010 was huge, as was competition, from primary to secondary schools. The funding available now isn't ringfenced and only goes to primary schools, so schools can do with the money as they wish with regard to sports provision. The �162m per year ensured high quality coaches, training for teaching staff and resources/equipment for schools. It also embedded school-cricket club links and pathways.

Increase the % of funding available for clubs from the Big Lottery Fund, not decrease it as has happened in recent years

This is rapidly turning into work so I'll leave it at that!

Cricket leagues and committees to recognise the modern demands on players of all ages and abilities - be more adaptable with your formats, times and rules.

TangoWhiskey · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:45:18 AM »

Ground shares just wouldn't work practically. We've got 10 tracks, 2 at each end are unsuitable for games as they make the boundary too short so we use them for on square practice and junior games for the local school. By their very nature, they have a finite amount of times they can be used and by the time we get toward the back end of a season we are struggling for pitches and we only have one team playing both on Saturday and Sunday.

uknsaunders · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:48:20 AM »

Quote from: TangoWhiskey on December 03, 2015, 10:45:18 AM

Ground shares just wouldn't work practically. We've got 10 tracks, 2 at each end are unsuitable for games as they make the boundary too short so we use them for on square practice and junior games for the local school. By their very nature, they have a finite amount of times they can be used and by the time we get toward the back end of a season we are struggling for pitches and we only have one team playing both on Saturday and Sunday.

Yours might be a one off. We have 1 team both days and ground share on a Sunday, but not a Saturday at present. Our square looks virtually untouched come the end of the season, with a bit of careful planning. Our club benefits by approx �500+ due to this arrangement and it helps with players on the Saturday.

jwebber86 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2015, 11:06:41 AM »

One thing I would like to see is more help with the machinery to help improve the standard of pitches. A few years ago we built a new ground with the help of a grant. We are always looking to improve our machinery to make the pitch better but there is no help, this is very frustrating.

I also think flexibility in the time games start would make a massive difference. The only people that I know of who play morning cricket is the junior teams. Even if the start was brought forward by a hour I think it would make a difference

thecord · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2015, 11:14:15 AM »

Quote from: uknsaunders on December 03, 2015, 10:25:55 AM

Two words - Sugar Tax

It's about time we taxed food/soft drinks known to be unheathy and plough some or all of that money back into promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Entirely selfish due to my job but please no! Kids and grown ups would not love it so!

Cin88 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2015, 12:12:44 PM »

Do something about the problem with selections. It's often a case of "i'm going to pick all my mates" or 3 or 4 people doing everything and the rest just fielding. Removing captains from the process entirely might help, that way they have to work with what they get given. Again at junior level, do something to stop coaches from using the same kids to do everything and leaving everyone else feeling left out.

Develop player pools so those of us who don't get selected and are available to play can be put on a list for other clubs to see and choose from when they find themselves short of players.

Grants to improve grounds and equipment, some grounds are in absolutely terrible states of repair because clubs just can't afford to fix them up a bit or lack even a heavy roller that works.

Gurujames · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2015, 12:23:47 PM »

Quote from: Cin88 on December 03, 2015, 12:12:44 PM

Develop player pools so those of us who don't get selected and are available to play can be put on a list for other clubs to see and choose from.

we have this in the Somerset league. I think it's an excellent idea. However it was only used 32 times in the whole season. I think larger clubs don't want to lose players and so aren't keen to lend them out. I would love to play for a few other clubs but we sometimes stuggle for players.

uknsaunders · « **Reply #13 on:** December 03, 2015, 01:34:02 PM »

They also do it in the Wetherby League. It's success depends on club attitudes. When I was at Headingley we were initially resistant but then we saw the opportunity of getting some of our guys some meaningful match practise. Worked well since and I don't think anybody has come back from a game demanding a move. Player pools are ripe for abuse, ie. sticking a decent player in a 2s game can massively distort results or even a season, so they have to have ground rules but can work well.

thecord · « **Reply #14 on:** December 03, 2015, 02:34:13 PM »

They introduced this in our league in Bristol this year as well .
Has been slow to take off but generally well received and I think it will be used more in the coming seasons.

Author Topic: How would you fix club cricket? (Read 11853 times)

uknsaunders

How would you fix club cricket?

TangoWhiskey

Re: How would you fix club cricket?

uknsaunders

Re: How would you fix club cricket?

Buzz

Re: How would you fix club cricket?

uknsaunders

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roco

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jamielsn15

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TangoWhiskey

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uknsaunders

Re: How would you fix club cricket?

jwebber86

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thecord

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Cin88

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Gurujames

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uknsaunders

Re: How would you fix club cricket?

thecord

Re: How would you fix club cricket?