Note: For information about junior fixtures, refer to Fixtures on the club's Play-Cricket website:

http://chesterfield.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/fixtures.asp

In 2009, Chesterfield Cricket Club have six junior teams playing in the North Derbyshire Youth Cricket League. There are two 8-a-side U10 Kwik Cricket teams and hardball teams at U11, U12, U13 and U15. All home games are played at the first class facilities at Queen's Park.

Those starting off in the sport play “Kwik Cricket”. This uses a soft ball, plastic bats and ensures everyone participates by batting and bowling for an equal amount of time. The focus is on enjoying the game and learning the basic techniques and skills involved. Boys and girls as young as six or seven are welcome to join our “Kwik Cricket” group. The upper age limit is 10 for boys (as of 31.08.2008) and 11 for girls (as of 31.8.2008).

At U11s and U12s, normal cricket equipment is used including the hard ball. These age groups play a modified form of the game, batting in pairs for four overs each and with everyone in the team bowling or keeping wicket in every match. These teams include some of the more experienced U9s and U10s who are ready to progress to this form of the game. At U13s the traditional 11-a-side format is used and all the normal Laws of Cricket apply. At U15s the players’ skills are developed and the most talented have the opportunity to sample senior cricket.

Coaching sessions take place throughout the summer at Queen's Park on Wednesdays from 6pm. From January to April, winter training takes place at Cricketal (Turnoaks Business Park, off Storforth Lane, Chesterfield). The availability of places for these sessions is limited and is offered in the first instance to existing club members. It is important to apply early if you would like a place for next year. All coaching sessions are carried out in an organised and safe environment to ensure that young players learn, as well as enjoy, the game. In April, squads for each age group are finalised based on a combination of factors: proven ability, potential, commitment and reliability being the most important. These squads compete in local junior league and cup competitions from the start of May until the end of July. Players who miss out on a place in the squads continue to have the opportunity to train and develop their technique on Wednesday evenings during the summer and may get the occasional call-up for matches to cover for injuries and illness.

Many of Chesterfield's junior players have gone on to play at representative level for Derbyshire Cricket Board teams. Out of the current crop of our junior players, nine have been selected for Derbyshire in 2009 with a further ten playing for District representative sides.

Ben Slater, still only 17, cemented his place in the club’s first XI during their Premier League winning season of 2008.  Both he and Matthew Fletcher, a second team regular aged 15, are members of Derbyshire CCC’s mini-academy following in the footsteps of another first team regular, Ross Whiteley, who spent four years in the academy. Ross also made his full county debut for Derbyshire CCC’s first XI at the end of their 2008 county championship campaign.  All 3 are, or were, on the county’s “Emerging Players” list with Ben scooping the award for most improved junior for 2008 with Derbyshire.

Girls play in the same teams as boys (up to and including U13s) and may stay within an age group for a year longer than the boys. Age groups work on the current academic year. Therefore, for example, for the 2008 season, girls can play U11s matches if they were not yet 12 on the 31^st August 2007 (boys must have not yet had their 11^th birthday on that date to qualify).

If you’d like to come along and join in, please contact Stuart Baddeley (07720 410655)

Mike Taylor
Chesterfield Cricket Club
wingpc@aol.com

Contact information for each of the age-group manager and coach is available on the Contacts page.