As part of our dedication to supporting and developing our young sportspeople, we’re looking into some of the opportunities that TAS students can pursue after or alongside their time at school with us. We spoke with Kade Horan, Participation & Programs Coordinator, and Steven Farrell, Cricket Operations Coordinator for Events & Programs, at Queensland Cricket for an insight on how TAS students and parents can get the most out of this popular Australian sport.
Queensland Cricket was established in 1876 and is the governing body of cricket in Queensland. With over 3,600 clubs and 450 associations they support all junior, grassroots, community and club initiatives with games for all ages and abilities. Incredibly, Queensland Cricket had over 18,400 participants playing school competitions in 2020 with 14,800 of those aged between 13-18.
TAS is proud to encourage cricket across all of its schools with teams in intermediate 1st, intermediate 2nds, intermediate 3rds, 1st XI, 2nd XI and 3rd XI with seniors.
How Does Queensland Cricket Encourage Cricket At School?
Queensland Cricket actively encourages all schools to get involved with the game by providing a variety of resources, programs and free equipment to support teachers and students. Steven said the goal is to encourage children to play in club cricket by building relationships between schools and clubs.
Physical education teachers, classroom teachers and principals are encouraged to sign up to the School Ambassador Program. The program aligns with the Australian curriculum, Australian Cricket Pathway and the Australian Sports Commission Physical Literacy framework to use cricket as a tool to get kids active in a fun and social setting.
The School Ambassador Program includes the following:
- The Mascot Challenge – A four-week challenge for junior TAS students which can be done anywhere and is only 10 minutes a day, with a focus on fundamental movement and cricket skills. Once a school is registered, all equipment is supplied, and the children are awarded certificates.
- The Woolworths Blast encourages students of all abilities to learn cricket skills through fun game-based activities. Ideally for junior TAS students, this program gives students access to better coaching opportunities and activities that encourage an active lifestyle.
Can You Tell Us More About The Talent Pathways You Offer?
Kade at Queensland Cricket said, “we’re committed more than ever to offering every cricketer the opportunity to participate to their highest standard. We’ve gone away from referring to our opportunities as talent pathways and moved into a holistic approach to our cricket framework pathway.” They offer the following talent pathways for student athletes and young players.
referring to our opportunities as talent pathways and moved into a holistic approach to our cricket framework pathway.” They offer the following talent pathways for student athletes and young players.
Cricket Camps & Community Development:
Queensland Cricket runs Cricket Camps throughout September and October each year. Students are selected for camps through events held by Queensland School Sports (QSS) and by playing club and school cricket. Cricket Camps are held in 12 regions across the state and run anywhere from 1 – 3 days. Players have opportunities to interact with talent specialists and high-performance coaches, attend throwing programs with baseball players from the Brisbane Bandits, play situation games and practice scenarios for real game skills, are taught discipline and communication and can improve their game through skills and T20 games.
Please note this program is currently on hold due to COVID-19 and will resume at a later date.
Championship Teams:
State and Country championship events provide accessible and inspiring competitions as well as programs which enable all players potential to be achieved. These team events occur traditionally in December, January and April every year for regional and country teams to attend and participate in various game formats. U16 Female, U17 Male, U19 Male and Female State teams are selected to attend the National Underage Championships conducted by Cricket Australia.
There are various opportunities for talented athletes to be seen at these events with Steven saying there is no single elite pathway as everyone’s journey can be different, which is why athletes are encouraged to play in as many different events as possible. Primary competitions include the following:
- Community Cricket – social and club cricket.
- School Cricket & Championships.
- Junior Rep Cricket events.
- Grade & Premier cricket.
- State Championships.
The Queensland Cricket framework is designed to be fluid and flexible, allowing athletes to come in and out of cricket without having felt like they’ve “missed out”.
TAFE Queensland Partnership:
Queensland Cricket has partnered with TAFE Queensland to offer the custom Queensland Cricket Academy Program. This is a tailored training program that gives TAFE students the skills to meet the demands of the professional cricket industry.
Students complete 120 hours of cricket-specific training with Queensland Cricket umpires and staff, study event management and learn how to develop umpiring programs while
increasing their business acumen. Students graduate with a Diploma of Sports, Sports Medicine Australia Level 1 Sports Trainer Certificate, Child Safe Standards in Sport Certificate, Community Coaching Qualification and a Community Umpiring Qualification.
This course is designed to prepare cricket staff, officials, and coaches to build their careers and lead the future of the sport.
Please note this program is currently on hold due to COVID-19 and will resume at a later date.
How Can Teachers Or Parents Become Involved In Queensland Cricket?
Volunteering:
Steven said volunteers are the heartbeat of cricket clubs. The livelihood of the cricket community relies solely upon people such as local club presidents, junior coaches, canteen coordinators and the hundreds of other roles and responsibilities that clubs require to thrive. Parents can help with the Woolworths Blast programs for junior students from being an umpire to teaching children’s activities and supervising.
Coaching:
Coaching is a great way of staying involved in the game while supporting your local club. Queensland Cricket offers appropriate training and can have you coaching in no time through their free introductory coaching courses. These are offered throughout the state whether you’d like a free introduction to cricket or a face-to-face accreditation to become a club coach. They also provide a range of online opportunities for teachers looking for professional development.
Umpiring:
If you’re interested in upholding the game and spirit of cricket, Queensland Cricket offers free umpiring courses. If you want to get paid to have the best seat in the house, register your interest by emailing lauren.atkinson@qldcricket.com.au.
Scoring:
Queensland Cricket collaborates with the QLD Cricket Scorer’s Association to train and develop scorers. This involves the recording of all batting, bowling, sundries and statistics to ensure the game runs smoothly. The association is free and always looking for scorers at all levels throughout the state.
What Partnerships Does Queensland Cricket Have?
Queensland Cricket has sporting partnerships with the following organisations:
- Queensland Bulls – The men’s state premier team who compete in the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Domestic Cup competitions.
- Queensland Fire – The women’s state premier team who compete in the Women’s National Cricket League.
- Brisbane Heat – Queensland’s sole representative in the KFC Big Bash League and Rebel Women’s Big Bash League.
Steven’s advice to students wanting to take cricket to the next level is to ask questions, work hard and be open to constructive or negative feedback. He expresses that cricket is an interesting game and can be different every day.
If you want to find out more about what Queensland Cricket has to offer, you can check out the Queensland Cricket website or contact them on qldc@qldcricket.com.au.