Even though it's cold outside and the Christmas trees are going up, we have to plan for the season ahead. So I thought I would share our thoughts with you so you can see what we are doing.
Firstly team wise. Our [b]Under 16[/b] team will be doing GCSE's this year, so they actually play in an Under 17 League and this starts after the exams are over. This team will be bolstered by the current U15's
The Under 15's are also entered into the league, but as the HJL have decided to move all B leagues to pairs cricket, 10 a side, we have re-entered the main competition. It will be tougher Cricket, but pairs cricket for our boys, when many are already playing Adult cricket, seemed rather farcical !
The U12 team (last years Under 11's and the boys now in Year 7) will enter the League exactly as last year. Let's hope we get a different set of people to play against.
Now for some bigger and perhaps more exciting changes. Some of the parents and the boys in the Junior School age section wanted to play hardball cricket and some wanted to stick with the incrediball. So this year I have entered us in 3 Junior School age competitions:
So I hope we have catered for everyone. It's actually two MORE teams than we ran in 2018, but it's important that everyone gets a game and some people missed out on some games last year.
However it also means we need more players. From 8 to 16 ! So please get recruiting for new players especially in Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 9 and Year 10.
PRACTICES INDOOR AND OUT
As the Adult Cricket League is expected to move games potentially to as early as 12 noon starts in 2019, and a number of people couldnt come on Saturday mornings due to Dance lessons, or Judo or Soccer practice, we are looking to move all youngsters sessions to Friday nights. That includes all age groups with the exception of the U15/16/17 boys who will be potentially on another weekday evening. I welcome any comments about this. I appreciate it may inconvenience some people, but, a bit like Brexit, you cannot please everyone. And look on the bright-side...we can run a BBQ or two and get the bar open! What could be better on a warm, sunny April evening :-)
Any questions or volunteering to help run the teams - you know my email by now paul.blackwell23@btinternet.com
See you in January
Paul