New formats for young cricketers are being rolled out across the country and Byron Bay Cricket Club is joining by offering Cricket Blast.
Cricket Blast is a fun and fast program, developed so that kids aged 5–7 years of all abilities can develop their skills across a game that goes for 60 minutes. It also introduces kids to being part of a squad.
For the slightly older kids there is a staged approach considerate of their physical, mental, and emotional level.
A key is to encourage players to participate at a level for their ability and experience. Traditional age-group requirements have been relaxed to help all boys and girls fit in.
Last season Byron Bay U/15 player Amos was allowed to play with his mates for the first time. Amos is one month too old to meet the traditional age limits and had to play with older kids.
‘I was losing interest in cricket, but last year it was excellent. I was in the same team as two of my mates.’