Topic: The cost of cricket? (Read 13246 times)

Boondougal · « **on:** September 12, 2016, 03:45:43 PM »

So the end of season is all but here bar he last game (we were relegated about 3 games ago) the club is going through a huge transition period and the committees attention has been turned to to the question of player numbers and pros.... yes we play in a league structure why quite often even second teams have played players... its crazy.

Anyway thats another debate... what i am interested in is wether or not the cost of cricket has an impact on peoples willingness / desire / ability to play.... If we take my own example which i don't think is too far off the mark but i am sure you can play for cheaper... Annual subs are 90 (down from 150 last year) and 10 a game for teas... if you pay all 22 then you are potentially looking at 310 GBP to play cricket all year. Then you add in the cost of the transport, a post match beverage and the odd night out you can easily hit 400/450. Oh and then whats that other thing that takes our cash away.. oh yeah the gear. Ok most on here will be average or above when it comes to the choice of gear and as such the cost but even looking at below average prices to add up whites, pads, bat (yes guys you can write it without an "s", gloves, thigh pad, helmet, shoes socks bag then you are easily going to spend 200-300 on that little lot unless you go second hand or SD of course.

How much does that play on the mind of players? Especially those that used to play at school and would love a game but its too prohibitive a cost... especially if your rose tinted memories of your bowling don't materialise into reality whilst in your late 20's and you give it up.

I have proposed we offer some free to play memberships and create a proper kit bag... as a club we are lucky to have some income streams and as such can afford to loose subs and match fees. The key driver here is heads...quality and standard of play is something that i think will work itself out (we have dropped a league and as such have found the core of the teams level) the problem is we just don't have enough "heads" to keep the club buoyant during that holiday period mid season... or towards the end as footy / rugby kicks in.

I would be interested to know what people think? Would a low cost year of cricket be attractive? do you think it would get people playing? Would people potentially move clubs because of it?

ppccopener · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2016, 04:05:24 PM »

costs wise there is a club in our league that pays players and there's no annual fees...that's very unusual normally everybody pays to play. would it encourage players to go there? yes it would and it does...

personally although I do like a bit of kit all my stuff is second hand, either off the forum or ebay. my pads were �5.00 and gloves were �6.00. two bats �80.00 and �112.00. oh...just got shoes as well �12.00
all second hand

most other players don't do what I do, everything is new and lots of kit flying about....

cost wise to play it's 100 annual subs and 11 quid a game league and 6 quid on sundays.

I don't have a lot of spare cash so I don't buy new kit or new bats.

as long as I have 20 quid in my pocket for Saturday im happy.

our club has held the annual subs for the last 4 years as it's borderline putting people off with the fees. Personally I think we have got it about right fees wise.

I don't really think of the cost of playing as such, I save money n the kit I buy. I don't know anyone else (at my club) who buys second hand gear, but i'm happy doing it

InternalTraining · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2016, 04:19:42 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on September 12, 2016, 04:05:24 PM

personally although I do like a bit of kit all my stuff is second hand, either off the forum or ebay. my pads were �5.00 and gloves were �6.00. two bats �80.00 and �112.00. oh...just got shoes as well �12.00
all second hand

I was just thinking about managing my kit's budget. I have to set some goals for 2017 to control the spending.

Calzehbhoy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2016, 04:21:05 PM »

I think it is more a question of exposure.

Since sky the playing number have gradually dwindled as not everybody can afford sky sports and when they do, there is quite often a number of other ~~more exciting~~ sports on at the same time on other sky channels. I personally don't think the cost puts many/anybody off. Any sport has a considerable cost to play nowadays, even football can cost around 300-500 per season when you look at boots, shin pads, socks, base layers a beer after the game and the likes.

I do think cricket struggles to keep players between the age of 13-18 and (in my mind anyway) the issue is a lot to do with how long the game is. Kids around the age who need cash work part time, the predominant time they can work is Saturday/Sunday, straight away this means straight away these people can't play and as such fall out of love with the game.

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2016, 04:26:35 PM »

Would the low cost of cricket be attractive players Yes
Would it get people playing No
Would players move clubs because of it Probably not as most clubs cater for there worse off players my club fifty percent off match fee and Annual Subs
I also sell kit on to help with playing costs always at a big loss.

dcullen8 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 12, 2016, 04:32:15 PM »

Annual subs are 25 and match day subs are 2/4/6 pounds for juniors, unemployed and employed. We have a nice ground with terrace & a bar (although both need HUGE renovations really) yet we still cant get out 22 players on a saturday

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2016, 04:41:17 PM »

Quote from: dcullen8 on September 12, 2016, 04:32:15 PM

Annual subs are 25 and match day subs are 2/4/6 pounds for juniors, unemployed and employed. We have a nice ground with terrace & a bar (although both need HUGE renovations really) yet we still cant get out 22 players on a saturday

We only have one team a ground in a village proffessional groundsman excellent teas tennis courts and for Years can't get 11 on the pitch

Stuey · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2016, 05:08:36 PM »

We have 2 issues, 1) keeping 15-19 year olds playing, they will play u16 and u19 Cricket but not senior cricket because of the length of the game. 2) Getting senior players to play down the teams I.e 3's and 4s as they get older . For some money maybe an issue but in general its not.

GoodLeave · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2016, 05:51:54 PM »

Annual Sub: �20
Match day: �10 Waged / �6 unwaged/juniors

Subs in: �240.
Behind the bar: �100

Total into club: �340

For 9 months entertainment. �40 a month. For a hobby, that's quite cheap. Some people spend �100 a month on TV packages.

I don't think the cost is the problem. Would I (25 years old) prefer a 20/20 game on Saturday? Definitely. Start it at 9am, have it over with by 1pm. Spend the afternoon with the missus or in the pub.

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2016, 06:42:17 PM »

Annual subs �50

Match fee �5 or if you play both days it's �7.50 for both. At home games we bring 'tea for 2" you don't pay oppo for teas as there is a home & away game as we play league cricket sat and Sunday

It's not cost that stops people at our club it's the football rugby season at both start and end of cricket season we play 2nd fiddle to these sports

Woodyspin · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2016, 07:22:13 PM »

Our membership is �90, although if you pay for it before a certain date it's �75. �10 of this goes towards the pavilion which is run buy the sports association and is essentially a "rent" for the cricket club...

�10 every game, �5 for U18 and students.

I've will have played 31 games this year after this weekend. I'll leave the maths to you...

What i've found the main problem is isn't the money it's the length of it and when it starts. games start at 1:30pm mostly and if you play the full quota you can finish at 8:30 or later and some away games are an hour away... being 9:30/10pm before you get home... To me as long as i'm not playing im not bothered. When you look at it from a family man's view the earlier the better, finish 5/6pm and have an evening or atleast dinner with your family or even go out to party arrangement ect...

people seem to drop things because they have plans that start at 5 that they could potentially be 3/4 hours late for, if you could only be an hour late for something not many people would see that as a problem. As sunday captain i've opted for 35 over games this year to finished earlier as not only does it suit me it suits everyone alot more than playing that extra 10 overs or even you standard time (2.5 hours, 30 min tea, 1 hour then 20 overs) game.

As a club with very little facility in terms of nets or decent covers ( we have some but not as nice as we would like) I would happily pay �100+ for a couple of years as membership to raise money for these things and have the facilities to encourage the younger ones to practice and get into playing again.

That's just me as playing the game I love and my life does admittedly revolve around, money has no meaning.

ppccopener · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2016, 07:27:17 PM »

Few have mentioned shorter games..im in favour of cutting our league games to 90 instead of 100 overs as it takes the whole day and part of the evening..
The question is thou presume 'we' still represent grass roots cricket if the games are short how to young guys come thru to play the longer form of the game? Or is the club role no longer that aim?

Gurujames · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2016, 07:28:44 PM »

Subs �25
Match fee �5

Got a grant of �22000 for new nets and other improvements
We get massive teas.
Happy days.
Get a lot of kit second hand. Buy last years pads/gloves. Also not a full kit w**ker so that saves me money.
Add a few pints at the end of each game. I would average out about �600 a year all in.

Woodyspin · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2016, 07:29:57 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on September 12, 2016, 07:27:17 PM

Few have mentioned shorter games..im in favour of cutting our league games to 90 instead of 100 overs as it takes the whole day and part of the evening..
The question is thou presume 'we' still represent grass roots cricket if the games are short how to young guys come thru to play the longer form of the game? Or is the club role no longer that aim?

No neccesarily much shorter, but earlier. That would me my suggestion, start at 11, thats 2.5hours earlier and its not even an early meet time for the away game that are an hour+ away

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2016, 07:42:51 PM »

45 membership
30 cricket membership
�7 per 40+ over game
�3 for a 2020
�6 for indoor

Assume you have 3/5 pints post match - �17 say

Fuel costs.. Who knows.. A lot though I suspect

I think I'm at 42 games for the season so far (7x42=�294)

294
45
30
So 370 before fuel, kit, beer or indoor cricket (or nets of course!)

Id estimate at 6-700 by the time I've done a Summer season. Add 10x�6 for indoor cricket as well on top..

It is expensive. Do I think it puts people off? Not overly but probably doesn't help make it easy to get into for casual players. Do I think length of game makes a difference to overall participation?? Not at all.

Maybe 13-20 yr olds would prefer 2020 but I'd wager the massive majority of 21+ yr olds would not want to play 2020 all the time. I suspect those 30+ would significantly drop out as well. Who runs clubs?? Older players not youth. Kill off the interest for oldies and you'll destroy clubs.

Personally, our team would see the immediate retirement of over half the side if you only olayed 2020. Our club would die too, I doubt you would get 11 out regularly for 2020 from a club with currently 3 senior teams. 50 overs is fine in length but the start time needs to be earlier and cut tea out so people are home and can have a full evening which is what people seem to want.

Author Topic: The cost of cricket? (Read 13246 times)

Boondougal

The cost of cricket?

ppccopener

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InternalTraining

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Calzehbhoy

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Seniorplayer

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dcullen8

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Seniorplayer

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Stuey

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GoodLeave

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SOULMAN1012

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Woodyspin

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ppccopener

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Gurujames

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Woodyspin

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ProCricketer1982

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