PLAYER WELFARE PROGRAM OVERVIEW OF KEY PLAYER WELFARE 3. Presentation to U/17 & U/19 male and female players INITIATIVES FOR 2006-2007 An Education Seminar was held which included presentations on the following subjects: This is the third year of the Player Welfare program at Cricket NSW. The program has evolved from a position of reacting to player issues as they l Player Welfare Role arose to leading each player through a process which enables them to l Sport Scholarships plan for their life after cricket. l Apprenticeship and Traineeship programs, The objective is for the player and Player Welfare Manager to work l together on an individual plan which incorporates employment, work Importance of preparing yourself for a life outside of cricket, experience, tertiary study and networking via player appearances. l A presentation on Gambling and How Alcohol Effects Performance. The Player Welfare Program also addresses a wide range of issues which Parents also attended appropriate sessions. have the possibility of impacting negatively on performance. 4. Illicit Drug & Alcohol Education Forum 1. Academic Studies/Employment. Paul Dillon from Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia Cricket NSW’s representative players benefited from the support of a presented to the squad on the following key areas: number of Universities and Training providers in 2006/07. l Alcohol and Safety Macquarie University, University of NSW, University of Western Sydney, l Alcohol and performance Sydney University, Australian College of Physical Education, APM Training l Institute and the Fitness Institute of Australia are all acknowledged by Illicit Drug Use Cricket NSW for assisting our its elite athletes to combine the demands The Forum discussed how the SpeedBlitz Blues squad can be role of their sport with the pursuit of a tertiary qualification. models to younger players in highlighting the dangers of alcohol and These institutions supported both male and female state contracted illicit drugs. It was decided that players would be involved in delivering an cricketers with academic tutoring, course flexibility and scholarship education seminar to junior squads and parents. assistance. Subsequently, a presentation on alcohol and illicit drug use was made to The highlight of the academic year was Greg Mail winning the prestigious the Cricket NSW U/17 & U/19 teams and their parents by SpeedBlitz Sydney University Academic Award for Excellence at the 2006 NSW Blues squad members Edward Cowan, Peter Forrest, John Hastings and Institute of Sport Awards Dinner. This award acknowledges athletes who Stephen O’Keefe. The presentation was well received by all, but especially excel academically as well as in their chosen sport. applauded by the parents. Aaron O’Brien, Peter Forrest, John Hastings, Stephen O’Keefe, and Martin 5. Grade Clubs Paskal from the SpeedBlitz Blues squad each graduated from university The Player Welfare service was extended to Grade clubs over the past this year. The 2006/07 squad now boasts 10 university graduates which year. This resulted in a number of meetings with clubs or individually will rise to 19 in the near future. with players to outline employment and/or study options. The end result In the 2006/07 season the SpeedBlitz Blues squad had 16 players studying was that Cricket NSW either secured employment or gained entry to at University; and a further five players completed either a Certificate III, tertiary institutions for a number of Grade players. Certificate IV or Diploma in Fitness and/or Marketing. The highlight in this area is the progress made toward the University The Rookie contracted group were informed that they had to either of Western Sydney aligning with the Western Sydney Grade clubs with “earn or learn” as a non-negotiable requirement of accepting a contract. a number of meetings between the interested parties taking place, In 2006/07 six players studied and one was employed. facilitated by Cricket NSW. A Memorandum of Understanding is being prepared to include agreements on entry to university courses, tutoring, Four of the group studying graduated from university in 2006 after being work experience, and access to the University’s sports science expertise supported by Cricket NSW financially with their studies for three years and facilities. through the Education and Training grants scheme. The NSW Breakers also have a number of players that have, or are about 6. Player Welfare Sessions to, complete academic studies including Charlotte Anneveld, Kate Blackwell, During 2006/07 individual and some small group sessions were held on Sarah Aley and Leah Poulton who will graduate at the end of 2007. the following subjects: Both senior squads have benefited from the generous support of the l Taxation Advice and Support with PKF Charted Accountants NSW Cricket Board through the Education and Training grants, which l Financial Advice from ‘Future Plus’ offer contracted players a $4,000 a year incentive to study. l Personalised budgets The highlight of SpeedBlitz Blues Player Employment was the l Eye sight testing employment of six players in primarily part time roles. Cricket NSW would like to thank those employers who have shown flexibility and l Sun exposure screenings understanding with our players. We would like to acknowledge James l Public Speaking Patterson from CB Richard Ellis who employed Nathan Hauritz as l the first cricketer to be involved in their Elite Sports employment Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia Education Program opportunity program. This was very exciting for all involved. l Compulsive Behaviour. l “Boys can Cook” sessions 2. Induction Program for Rookie and Newly Contracted Players A Cricket NSW Induction Program was presented to all newly l Individual Psychologist and Sport Psychologist sessions contracted players. This was warmly received as an innovative and l IQ testing and Career planning informative introduction to life as a professional cricketer in NSW. This l Diet Program also served to outline the expectations of Cricket NSW in the areas of player behaviour both on and off the field. Tony Lewis Player Welfare Manager CRICKET NEW SOUTH WALES 2006/07 ANNUAL REPORT 61 CRICKET OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT STATE LEAGUE CUP The State League Cup competition’s second season was a successful one, culminating in a Final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It assisted the NSW Country and ACT teams to prepare for their respective national competitions and provided an early-season opportunity for fringe-NSW players to press their claims for SpeedBlitz Blues selection. Greg Mail (374 runs), Jarrad Burke (317 runs) and Grant Lambert (307 runs) were the competition’s leading batsmen, while Grant Roden (12 wickets), Doug Bollinger (10 wickets) and Aaron O’Brien (9 wickets) were its most successful bowlers. Daniel Christian scored two centuries during the first four rounds to force his way into the SpeedBltiz Blues’ limited- overs team. In the Final, Sydney West defeated minor premiers and defending Ian Field (left), Roy Formica, Paul Taylor, Absent: David McCredie. champions, Sydney South East. Peter Forrest and captain Ben Rohrer shared a title-winning 97 run partnership, displaying the form that would STAFF earn both of them State selection only a few months later. The Cricket Operations Department expanded to four full-time staff, Thanks are expressed to all participants and match hosts for their following the appointment of Paul Taylor to the Operations Officer contributions to the competition’s success, in particular to the Parramatta - Women’s Cricket role in October 2006. Paul’s appointment greatly CC which hosted two pre-season matches. enhanced the Department’s capabilities by enabling David McCredie, Roy Round 1: ACT 4/193 def Sydney North 192 at Old Kings; Sydney West Formica and Paul to each concentrate solely on representative cricket, the 8/233 def NSW Country 167 at Joe McAleer; Sydney South East 237 def SCA’s Grade and Shires competitions, and women’s cricket, respectively. It Sydney Central 188 at Bankstown. is interesting to note that just five years ago, Cricket Operations was still a one-person department. Round 2: Sydney West 4/244 def ACT 134 at Rosedale; Sydney Central 2/163 def NSW Country 159 at Old Kings; Sydney South East 6/144 def Room attendants Bobby Barter, Matthew Groth, Aaron Keech, Luke Keech, Sydney North 143 at Caringbah. Duncan Kerr, David Tribolet and John Williams continued to play key roles on a match-by-match basis. Rocky Harris again served as State Liaison Round 3: Sydney North 4/217 def NSW Country 216 at Stockton; Sydney Officer for touring international teams England and New Zealand. Peter South East 6/201 def ACT 9/196 at Alan Davidson; Sydney West 3/252 def Blanchard again administered the State League Cup competition. Sydney Central 9/246 at Raby 1. Round 4: Sydney Central 2/234 def Sydney North 229 at Killara; Sydney GENERAL ADMINISTRATION West 9/238 def Sydney South East 8/237 at Waverley; ACT 7/291 def NSW Country 173 at Manuka. Department staff again assumed important administrative responsibilities in a number of diverse areas, including all activities of the Sydney Cricket Round 5: Sydney Central 3/252 def ACT 8/248 at Chisholm; Sydney South Association; off-field arrangements of all major representative matches East 8/318 def NSW Country 9/191 at Wollongong University; Sydney hosted by the NSW Cricket Association; the NSW Cricket Board’s North 4/330 def Sydney West 6/327 at Manly. Appeals, Grade/Premier Club Funding Program and Facilities Upgrade Final: Sydney West 6/209 (B Rohrer 82 P Forrest 44 D Lonergan 25no sub-committees, and its General Grant program; the development of T Lang 2/30 J Day 2/37) def Sydney South East 8/206 (A O’Brien 71 Blacktown Olympic Park; taking of Minutes at all meetings of the Board M Creed 46 L Dudman 21 D Nash 2/21 J Burke 2/33 C Nupier 2/36) at and the NSWCA; the Sydney Cricket Ground’s Alan Davidson Room on the Sydney Cricket Ground.