Parents in the Oswestry area can now sign up their youngsters for an exciting new initiative to get them involved in the game of cricket.
All Stars Cricket is the new scheme from the ECB which aims to get boys and girls aged 5-8 involved in the game.
With more than 30 clubs in Shropshire signed up, it means there should be a club nearby for all youngsters who want to take part. Clubs in the Oswestry area taking part are Cae Glas, Ellesmere, Frankton, Knockin & Kinnerley and Oswestry.
The ECB hopes that a new generation of families will be introduced to the game through the All Stars Cricket programme which will involve eight weeks of activities at their local club.
After signing up, each of the boys and girls will received a cricket back-pack delivered to their door with a bat, ball and everything they need to try the game for the first time.
The emphasis of the eight-week programme with be on learning to play the game in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.
Shropshire’s All Stars Cricket Co-ordinator Darrell Corfield said: “We are looking forward to introducing the game to youngsters for the first time.
“The main aim is to make playing cricket a fun and enjoyable experience for the youngsters and give them a love of the game that will last a lifetime.
“We’re also encouraging parents to come along and get involved in the sessions, whether they’ve played the game before or not.”
Each session has been developed with input from Director of England Cricket and former skipper Andrew Strauss together with the England performance team so children can learn the basic skills to get them started in the game.
ECB Director of Participation and Growth Matt Dwyer said: “Drawing kids to the game at an early age will develop more players, create more fans and show the power of cricket in developing physical and social skills.
“Within weeks of unveiling the programme to clubs we had 2,000 sign up to deliver All Stars Cricket and this summer we hope to have 50,000 kids trying the sport all over the country through this exciting nationwide programme.”
Former England captain and All Stars Cricket ambassador Michael Vaughan added: “I started playing cricket at my local club and have seen first-hand how important it is to introduce kids to our sport in a fun way.
“As a parent, I’ve also seen how tough it can be to get kids interested in sport especially given the amount of activities competing for their time. Finding a way for cricket to appeal to kids and to get them active is more important than ever.
“We are bringing cricket to the front door of kids and parents across England and Wales. I can’t wait to see the positive impact this will have on clubs and the wider game.”
To learn more about All Stars Cricket and to find your nearest club, log on to www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars
