Outdoor training update

Dear Parents and Carers,

After receiving a further update from our national governing body, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), I am delighted to announce that we will be resuming outdoor training from Wednesday 17th June for some of our junior players.

The update from the ECB can be accessed via this link

The junior committee met recently to consider the guidance and have come up with a schedule and list of control measures to allow coaching to resume. This is explained below. If, after reading the letter, you would like your son/daughter to be involved, please sign up to the relevant session by confirming your availability at the age-appropriate session on Spond by the advertised date.

Approximately 2 days before the session, your child’s team manager will circulate a list of players who will be involved in the session(s). Players will be chosen on a rotating basis, so if they aren’t chosen for the first round of training sessions (due to more players wishing to train than we have places available), then they should be first in line for the second set of sessions. We hope you agree that this is the most inclusive way to give all our junior players a chance to play some cricket during these challenging times.

Please also note that all players must be members to take advantage of the coaching. This is to ensure that coaches have access to the necessary emergency contact and medical details. Although full junior membership is £60, the club is offering a reduced junior membership of £15 which will allow access to the training and to the booking of net sessions. This can be upgraded to full junior membership when/if we are able to offer weekly training and matches later into the season. Please visit the club’s website for further details. The ‘Supporter’s Membership’ should be selected. Any queries regarding club membership should be directed to Mike Heseltine via email.

Please note that financial support is available for families struggling to finance their membership fees, under certain circumstances. Please contact me for a confidential discussion. Sincere thanks to those families who have supported the club by continuing to pay their full membership despite the reduced benefits. Money is very tight for us at the moment due to the lack of income from all usual sources.

Junior Training – Revised Schedule and Control Measures

Group size and Location:

• The guidance from the ECB and from the government makes it clear that coaching sessions should take place in groups of no more than 6 (including the coach). Therefore, only 5 juniors will be able to train together, keeping 2 metres apart throughout the session. 
• Nets can be used during sessions so long as the ECB guidance is met.
• More than 1 session can be undertaken simultaneously, however groups will be kept away from each other at all times.
• Coaches are strongly encouraged to undertake activities that limit players to training with one ball only. Clearly, this will be challenging.

 Toilets and Welfare:

• The toilets in the changing rooms will be open for use. Soap and water will be available for hand-washing.
• Please note that although first aid facilities and first aiders will be available to offer assistance, coaches will not be able to administer first aid for minor injuries due to social distancing restrictions and a lack of PPE. Therefore, it will be essential for a parent/carer to stay for each player during the session. In signing up for these sessions, parents and carers are agreeing to these terms.
• Players should arrive having washed their hands immediately prior to leaving their house.

 Equipment:

• Junior players in U11 and above age groups must bring their own equipment with them as no sharing will be permitted. This includes their own cricket ball. It is important that players are discouraged from adding sweat or saliva to the ball.
• U9 players must bring their own bat.
• If any players do not have their own equipment, the club does have some that can be loaned out. Please contact your child’s team manager for further details.
• It is advisable for players to bring some hand sanitiser for use during and at the end of the session.
• Players should attend the session wearing clean clothes.

 Session Timings – All sessions to take place at Richmondshire CC, Hurgill Road:

Age Group	Session Co-ordinator	Day	Time
U17	Jen Percival	Wednesday	6.00pm – 8.00pm
U11	Jonny Walker	Thursday	5.30pm – 6.30pm
U15	Andy Percival	Thursdays	7.00pm – 8.00pm
U9	Emma Bottomley	Fridays	5.30pm – 6.30pm
U13	Mike White	Fridays	7.00pm – 8.00pm

First sessions will take place next week, on Wednesday 17th, Thursday 18th and Friday 19th June.

Arrangements for Parents and Carers:

• Parents and carers will be required to stay and watch their child participate in the training sessions for reasons explained above. However, they MUST abide by the social distancing guidelines and stay 2 metres apart at all times.
• Spectating should be undertaken from in front of the pavilion; please do not encroach onto the outfield. The clubhouse is closed so please come appropriately dressed.
• All rubbish should be taken away – no bins are available,
• Parents/carers will need to vacate quickly at the end of the session – especially if another one is taking place after their session concludes. This will help to minimise congestion at the ground and both car parks.

I know that the coaches are very excited to be able to get some form of junior cricket underway at last. We are all looking forward to welcoming our junior players back to Hurgill Road. Please don’t hesitate to drop me an email if you require any further clarification.

Yours sincerely.

Mike White, Richmondshire Cricket Club Chairman