Multi Faith Community Project

Cricket Factory was first used in Bedford to support a Community Multi Faith Project. Local coaches from a number of clubs around the town supported the event and local primary school children were invited to experience the Cricket Activity Zone staged on an urban multi sports facility. HRH Prince Charles attended the day with local community leaders to see how cricket was being used to engage young people in the community.

County Board Update

Cricket Factory equipment was first introduced to Bedfordshire through the Bedford River Festival and the visit of HRH The Prince of Wales. It has proved an instant hit as bright, colourful and innovative equipment enabling both coaches and future players alike to use their imagination and develop skills. Since its introduction it has proved equally invaluable in introducing cricket to Year 2-4 pupils.

The County has over the last 3 years staged a Year 3-4 Kwik Cricket Competition based upon the continuous cricket format and the Cricket Factory equipment has enabled the improvement of skills awareness in younger children building towards this competition. The equipment has been introduced and left on school site to enable simple play programmes for the younger children, who use their imagination to get the best from it.

The Bedfordshire Coaches Association has also made use of the equipment in both Coach Education courses, challenging new coaches to open their minds in ‘set-up and stand back’ sessions as well as similar activities in Teacher training courses. Many coaches and teachers immediately fall into a ‘comfort zone’ and will gravitate towards ‘known’ equipment, but once they have started to experiment their confidence grows and they become more imaginative.

A number of clubs have shown difficulty in attracting and maintaining entry level children, which in Bedfordshire has historically been Under 10‘s. This type of equipment is challenging that belief and illustrating that catching them young is the best way forward, more clubs are starting to take on 5 and 6 year olds and develop their skills earlier and therefore hopefully retaining them longer. The County is looking to build it’s supplies of the equipment and roll out a multi-skill one day programme similar to the activities offered via the Cricket Factory Roadshow through School Sports Partnerships. Both initiatives leading to a programme of activity aimed at catching them young.

David Mercer CDM

Cricket Factory featuring in County Magazine

For further information please contact:

David Mercer, County Development Manager
Office: 01234 721705
eMail: David.Mercer@ecb.co.uk