Beginners guide to women & girls cricket Cricket guide

In Somerset we have the following opportunities for women and girls to play cricket. Whilst this is our current offer, as team and clubs develop we hope that the opportunities and structures will grow year on year to support and meet the needs of those playing.

Softball

Played with a softer ball and a branded women’s lightweight bat. No need for pads or helmets. Teams sizes are typically eight players. Players will bat for a set amount of overs, even if they are out. Games can be short, sharp and fun. Everyone player is involved.

Hardball

We are developing both women’s and girls club opportunities . The format is played with a pink cricket ball and players will use a wooden bat. Players will wear gloves, helmets and pads. Team sizes will vary from eight –eleven. Games can last a lot longer than soft ball cricket matches!

Indoor

Somerset leagues tend to be played with softer balls, very similar to those used in Softball matches. Games are usually played in a traditional sports hall and consist of six players. Games are fast and typically over within the hour. No need to worry about the rain here! Cricket - what I need to know

The aim of the game is to score more runs than the opposition! The objective of the fielding team is to dismiss the opposing batters. In simple terms, it means to get them out!

In the game of cricket there are TEN ways to get someone out! Depending on whether you play soft ball or hardball cricket, not all methods of dismissal will be used during a game.

Here are the common ways you can get out during a game:

Bowled - The batter misses the ball and the ball hits the stumps.

Caught - A fielder catches a ball hit by the batter, before it touches the ground.

Run Out - The ball hits the stumps before the batter completes their run

Stumped - The Wicket Keeper hits the stumps with the ball when the batter is out of their crease

Leg Before Wicket (LBW) - The ball hits the batter in line with the stumps, where it would have otherwise hit the stumps.

What do I wear?

It depends on the format of the game! Softball Fielders - Tend not to wear any protective equipment. However, they may wear a cap to keep the sun off their face and out of their eyes! Batters- Some may wear gloves, but typically they will come as they are! Wicket Keeper - Will often wear special gloves, called keeping gloves.

Hardball Fielders - Same as softball, but if they are fielding close to the batter, then they may also wear a helmet Batters - Will wear gloves, helmet, and pads Wicket Keeper - will wear leg pads, helmets and keeping gloves

You Can Help Your Club

Coaching: If you really enjoying playing and want to improve your own game and help oth- ers by supporting a training session, then the Storm Champion course could be for you. A great workshop for people aged 16 and over. This bespoke workshop will give you confi- dence and series of training ideas to take back to your club. Coach: If really have a passion for helping other people and want to support players on their journey through cricket, then why not consider a Foundation 1 coaching course. Two week- ends later you will be qualified to take your own group.

Umpiring: The game always needs umpires and the game has now developed online train- ing to support willing volunteers qualify.

Scoring: Your club will be grateful of any person who want to score! Again there are online courses to support you through this.

There will be plenty of other roles and tasks at the club that need to be carried and the your club will be grateful of any time you can spare to support. All you need to ask someone on the Club Committee!

A guide to fielding positions

6 2 7 1 3 4 10

5 8

9

1 Wicketkeeper 6 Third man

2 Slips 7 Fine leg

3 Gully 8 Mid Wicket

4 Point 9 Mid off

5 Cover 10 Square leg A guide to Umpiring signals A beginners guide to cricket terminology

Appeal When a bowler shous towards the umpire because he thinks he has got the batter out.

Bails The small items which sit on top of the stumps and need to be removed for a batter to be bowled out

Boundary The rope, cones or marker flags that indicate the edge of the pitch , or; the act of scoring a ‘four’ or ‘six’

Bye A run is scored when the batter does not touch the ball with his bat or body.

Bowled When a bowler gets a batter out. This is when the batter misses the ball and the ball hits the stumps.

Dismissal Can also be referred to as a wicket—this phrase is used in relation to when the batter is out.

Four When the batter hits the ball and having touched the floor hits or passes over the boundary.

Hit Wicket When the batter hits their own wicket with their bat and removes the bails

Innings A match is divided into innings. During an innings, one team bats, while the other team fields.

Leg-Bye When the ball deflects off the batter having attempted to play a shot and they run.

Maiden Where a bowler has bowled an over and no runs have been scored.

No Ball When the bowlers front foot has crossed the popping crease, or a ball is thrown at the batter, or

Out 10 possible ways for a batter to be out, but common for softball cricket ; Bowled, caught, hit wicket, stumped and run out. Over A bowler will bowl six consecutive balls from one end of the pitch to the batter

Popping Crease The white line in front of the stumps . A batter must keep the bat or one foot grounded behind this line to avoid being run out or stumped Run Out If the batter is beyond the popping crease and the wicket is hit by a fielder.

Six When the batter hits the ball and without it touching the floor it clears the boundary

Single This is the term given to a single run made by a batter.

Stumped Involves the wicker keeper dismissing a batter by knocking the bails off the wicket when a batter has moved beyond the popping crease. The Wickets Consist of three wooden stumps at either end of the pitch

Wicket The act of dismissing a batter.

Wide The bowler bowls a ball that is adjudged by the umpire too wide far for the batter to play a shot

Yorker When a bowler bowls a ball that lands just under or behind the bat and very close to the batters toes. For more information

For more information about women’s or girls cricket in somerset or about courses, please contact [email protected]

Or call 01823 352266