Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) believes that Cricket is a game for everyone. Their mission is to be the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales, and their school competition formats can be adapted for every age, every ability and almost any space.

Playing cricket is a great way for children to make friends, learn new skills and develop their physical literacy skills. There are lots of opportunities for children aged five and up to learn the game and take part in different levels of competition that suit them. This means that when cricket is adapted thoughtfully, every child gets the chance to play, learn, progress and belong.

The ECB have offers across the Primary, Secondary, SEND and ALN spaces that schools and SGOs can access. These range from skill and mini games that can be played as part of PE curriculum, to intra-school soft ball competition opportunities, and progressing to inter-school competition formats where schools can play each other in soft ball and hardball cricket.

You can find out more about their comprehensive cricket offer in the overview school offer infographic below, or this video which shows what the formats are all about!

Primary formats

In primary schools, working with charity partner Chance to Shine, Dynamos Schools introduces children to inter-school cricket competition through fast, active games of Countdown Pairs, building confidence and teamwork, and developing Physical Literacy skills, from the very first ball.

Schools can also take part in skills festivals and intra-competition formats, as part of Chance to Shine’s programme of delivery, to help build students’ confidence levels and get them ready for further competition opportunities.

Secondary formats

For secondary schools, there's a format to suit every level of experience, so students from all backgrounds can participate and barriers to entry can be overcome.

Secondary Countdown Cricket is the new intra-school competition format, a brilliant starting point for those new to Cricket whilst delivering progression for those who participated in Dynamos Schools competition. It's a quick, inclusive softball game, played indoors or out, with opportunities for players to lead and shape the game.

Schools can get all the kit they need by signing up to the ECB’s Cricket for Teachers programme, delivered by their local Recreational Cricket Board.

There are also a variety of inter-school competition formats that can meet the needs of individual schools and participants:

• Chance to Compete, created by Chance to Shine, provides competitive softball cricket opportunities where every player is guaranteed a meaningful role
• There's also the Knight-Stokes Cup, the MCC Foundation’s new national hard ball competition for state schools, giving students the chance to play in the final at Lord's, the Home of Cricket.

SEND formats

For SEND and ALN schools, the ECB works closely with the Lord's Taverners, whose softball and table cricket formats each have their own national competition pathways, with finals at Lord's and other County Grounds. Simple adaptations mean every student can take part and succeed.

Schools can get all the soft ball kit they need by signing up to the ECB’s Cricket for Teachers (CfT) programme, delivered by their local Recreational Cricket Board. CfT has specially designed inclusive kit bags for SEND schools with some amazing items, from tennis rackets to adjustable batting tees, and even fidget spinners!

Equipment needed

• Cricket bat/tennis racket
• Soft ball/tennis ball
• Stumps and bases
• Batting tees
• Mini cones
• Larger ball/ball with bell in (for SEND)
• Floor markers

Schools can get all of this kit for free by signing up to the ECB Cricket for Teachers programme.