Dear Master i/c,
Welcome back to the Summer Term! Please take the trouble to read the contents of this email carefully as there are a few important changes and additions that you will want to be made aware of. Please use the links on this page to take you to our website.
T20 -The National Boys Under 18 T20 competition celebrates its 20th year this season and as you may be aware, the final is being staged at Lord’s on the 28th June. In conjunction with the National Girls Under 18 100-ball competition, there will be a national finals day played on the main ground for the first time ever as a part of the MCC’s “Road to Lord’s” strategy.
This year we have a record entry of 215 schools, of which 27% are from the state sector, again another record. Entry forms for this competition go out in the Autumn term for any additional schools looking to enter in 2025.
A separate email will be going out to participant schools in the next week.
Results – Every week, I compile a blog on the website schoolscricketonline.co.uk where I try to give a flavour of what is going on in schools cricket. May I remind Masters i/c to send me their 1st XI results and tell me about their outstanding performances, to make the blog more informative. Please send results in any acceptable format to [email protected] by Monday lunchtime for inclusion in the blog published on Tuesdays. I would be especially pleased if schools sent in links to their Play Cricket pages.
Website– Our website www.schoolscricketonline has been revamped over the winter and has several new features, such as a Fixture Bureau page where schools can advertise their fixture vacancies organised by region and a Situations Vacant page where jobs involving cricket in schools can be advertised.
I am also looking to update the Individual Schools section on the website where schools can load their own material about cricket in their school. Many of these are currently rather dated and were written around 15 years ago and need some attention. New schools are welcome to send in their descriptions also .
There is also a Sponsors and Partners space underneath the main menu to advertise our sponsors and partners that we are beginning to build again after a few lean years following the Pandemic.
Wisden – This year’s Wisden is published on the 18th April, the 161st edition of what is viewed by many as the Cricketer’s bible. Many of you contribute both averages and reports to me for inclusion in the Almanack and it is for many, the highlight of the year when it is published. However, I still have queries every year why certain schools haven’t featured, mainly from disgruntled heads, disappointed parents, and angry ex-pupils. Please ensure that you send in your reports and statistics when I request them in late June and early July. For those of you who like to compile your averages over the course of the season, please find the link to the cumulative spreadsheet can be found here. All other documents will go out later in the season this year. You might also consider having high quality photos taken of your outstanding performers during the season.
With both hard and paperback editions retailing at £60 this year, schools might want to take advantage of taking of the Wisden subscription scheme, whereby Wisden can be purchased at half price -£30 by taking out an annual subscription. Details can be found here.
Laws and Discipline – I have updated the Laws of the Game section on the website that also includes the ECB’s General Conduct Regulations (GCR) that all schools are expected to observe in respect of both on field and off field behaviour. Links to the GCR documents can be found on this page as well as the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Code. I strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with these documents.
It is our expectation that schools will deal with any incidents of poor behaviour internally, but we do ask that all sanctions given, are cricket related (such as match bans) rather than school-based sanctions like detentions. Please note: All incidents of poor behaviour occurring in the National T20 should be reported by the Umpires to the Tournament Director as required in the regulations.
Health and safety – This section on the website contains the various directives associated with fast bowling, fielding restrictions and the wearing of protective helmets. Over the winter, I have also added new ECB guidance documents on Girls playing in Boys cricket, Extreme Heat protocols and Concussion Protocols.
The ECB have also asked that schools report all cricketing injuries on their individual school’s Play Cricket page. The ECB is keen to collect as much data as possible on the nature of injuries sustained, either by playing or practising cricket. This will hopefully help them in the future in both guidance and the design of cricket equipment. FYI – around 80% of cricketing injuries in adult cricket are sustained in fielding, while amongst juniors around 50% of injuries occur while batting. Any schools without a Play Cricket account can contact me in the first instance.
Mental health – Schools Cricket Online has recently partnered with Opening Up Cricket, a mental health charity who work with counties, clubs, universities, and schools to deal with mental health issues. Please use them to augment anything else your schools may do with your pupils.
Opening Up promotes mental wellbeing and suicide prevention through cricket. They believe that cricket can provide so much to foster positive mental health and want to start as many conversations as they can on this topic. Reaching players at a young age is part of their mission and we welcome any opportunity to support schools cricket programmes by helping to embed a focus on mental wellbeing.
Opening Up have a range of options that can be utilised, from in person workshops to online sessions as well as a simple chat to swap ideas.
A number of our member schools have had sessions with them recently and testimonials can be found on the website.
Social Media – As well as the website for all things school cricket wise, we also have an X (formerly Twitter) page @schools_cricket. I know many of you are followers and please keep posting your news and scores on here as it is useful in compiling my weekly blog. Those schools who use SOCS, I would be grateful if you could provide as much detail as possible when reporting results as I am looking to collect on data on the format of games this season.
Finally, I would just like to thank you for your continued efforts in promoting cricket in your schools and colleges and wish you a successful season.
With my very best wishes,
Rob