NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY In countless communities, cricket clubs are vital to the social and economic FOREWORD fabric of the surrounding cities, towns and villages. For many lovers of the game, the aim is not to aspire to cricket’s greatest stage, but to bring the Cricket clubs lie at the sport’s unique values and benefits to bear in their own communities. heart of our sport. Much The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) believes that a healthy network of the success enjoyed of cricket clubs is essential to the future of the game. It has therefore on the international conducted a thorough review of the current state of club cricket in England and Wales, and recognised the need to produce a sustainable plan of action. stage begins within the network of clubs Despite the tough and uncertain economic climate in which clubs are operating, the review has found much to celebrate. In particular, there is a healthy and across England and growing network in place to support the next generation of cricket club Wales. However, while personnel. However, we want to use this strategy to offer solutions to the our clubs continue to remaining challenges. be the lifeblood of the Our goal at the ECB is “to inspire the nation to choose cricket”. In order to achieve this we must all commit to investing our time, energy and resources national game, they into club cricket. The strategy will be successful if clubs primarily focus on offer far more than just improving the experiences of everyone involved in cricket. The ECB would competitive action and like clubs to choose to invest in grass pitches and outfields, buildings, synthetic net systems and volunteers, over and above the payment of players, are often at the heart which we discourage in all but the very highest levels of club cricket. In of their communities. addition, we would like these high-level cricket clubs to question whether paying players is the best investment for the future of their club. I strongly encourage all bodies and individuals who have an interest in the future of cricket to support this strategy. We need your help, to turn this strategy into effective action. Mike Gatting OBE ECB Managing Director Cricket Partnerships 1 NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY A comprehensive review of the The ECB’s Cricket Partnerships team that there is no duplication of EXECUTIVE club game has highlighted the is responsible for implementing this effort. Associated leagues, partners following issues: strategy. They will liaise closely with and other stakeholders will also clubs, providing support where be involved. SUMMARY — Inability of many clubs to make long- it is most needed, in the four key areas term plans for a sustainable future Despite record of People, Places, Playing and Policy. With committed club support, we — Difficulty of recruiting and retaining believe that this strategy can provide numbers of juniors adult players, members and The ECB People team will support, the following: volunteers develop and reward those who coming into the — Access to more and better facilities, encourage participation and provide — Lack of growth due to poor access both indoors and outdoors game, club cricket accessible, affordable, high-quality to, and quality of, club facilities is facing a series of training and membership services. — Support to increase recruitment social, economic — Growing risk to many clubs’ security and retention of players, members of tenure The ECB Places team will concentrate and volunteers and a reduction in on the facilities that clubs and and environmental — Static or falling club income streams bureaucracy to make better use challenges. communities need. It will encourage of their time — Ineffective use of volunteers’ time community partnerships and self- — Better fixture management that due to unnecessary bureaucracy funded projects, while advising on reduces unnecessary travel — Increasing cost and time spent issues such as security of tenure, travelling to and from fixtures saving money, generating income — Support to improve security and managing resources. of tenure — Damaging effects of rising — Guidance on how to improve temperatures and increased rainfall The ECB Playing Team will encourage financial management, including due to climate change. the development of appropriate, effective fundraising, how to innovative competitions. It will also save money and how to reduce focus on recruiting lapsed players, In response, and following widespread operating costs as well as retaining current players consultation, the ECB has developed by increasing the levels of satisfaction — Advice to enable clubs to plan the National Club Strategy. This felt by all. how they will address future strategy provides a framework from environmental issues. which all ECB-affiliated clubs can plan The ECB Policy Team will help clubs for a sustainable future. It will remain and County Boards to organise and central to all areas of club cricket for govern themselves better and as a A list of benefits are shown on Page 33. at least the next five years. result, enable clubs to gain Clubmark accreditation. It will also reduce the If the ECB is to be successful in level of bureaucracy clubs face. “inspiring the nation to choose cricket” then clubs must have the will All four teams will keep in close to invest time, energy and resource in contact with the 39 County Cricket order to turn this strategy into action. Boards (CCBs) and try to ensure 2 3 NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY The ECB is the The National Club Strategy is based clubs. The ECB expects that through INTRODUCTION on thorough research and builds upon sharing knowledge, spreading best National Governing the ECB’s current national strategy; practice and providing accessible TO THE Body (NGB) for cricket Grounds to Play (2010 – 2013). resources, clubs will succeed in NATIONAL in England and Wales building a sustainable future. CLUB and was established Accessibility on 1st January 1997. The ECB is committed to widening Target Audience STRATEGY The ECB’s role is to set the game’s appeal by creating a The target audience for the strategy policy, create plans of fun and safe environment, ensuring is wide but can broadly be divided opportunities within the game are into the following categories: action, and develop open and accessible to all, regardless — All affiliated cricket clubs products and services of background. This strategy has been produced in line with that in England and Wales that enhance the game. commitment and the ECB, in all its — Cricket’s internal networks including activities, is fully committed to the CCBs, Leagues and the ECB principles of equality of opportunity in cricket in England and Wales. — Cricket’s external stakeholders, This strategy also demonstrates including Sport England, Sport our passion to welcome as many Wales and associated networks. people as possible into the game. Purpose The purpose of this strategy is to support cricket clubs to take action to meet the changing demands and challenges of club cricket in England and Wales. It is intended that clubs will translate the strategy into effective action, relevant to the specific issues facing their own 4 5 NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY THE CURRENT 01 state OF club CRICkET 6 7 NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY 01 A cricket club is defined as a Clubs become affiliated to the ECB THE body which: through their respective County Cricket Boards (CCBs). Each club is — Is formed by its own members, either directly affiliated to its relevant CURRENT governed by an agreed constitution CCB or to its relevant league, which in and/or rules, and is initially funded turn will be affiliated to the local CCB. state by its members (this refers to OF club both a limited company and an unincorporated association) Affiliation acts as the entry point into the cricket family. It is the — Has a dedicated bank account CRICkET process that pulls much of the — Includes at least one junior or senior fabric of the club game together. Cricket’s appeal places team, which plays fixtures within Therefore, it is the ECB’s aim that it at the heart of many the “Spirit of Cricket”, in accordance all cricket clubs across England local communities, with the Laws of the Game and Wales become a part of this — Is set up to encourage all members cricket family and are appropriately large and small. of the local community to play equipped to ensure the game can Cricket clubs act as cricket and interact socially with be sustained and continue to grow. invaluable places each other. for people to play The network of cricket clubs across competitive cricket, England and Wales covers a range enjoy their leisure time of categories including: single-team and congregate with clubs, senior clubs and clubs with a junior section and/or those clubs friends and family. working with specific groups in the community. The ECB recognises the importance of each of these clubs and the role they play in cricket. 8 9 NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY NATIONAL CLUB STRATEGY 01 Purpose but the most notable recent success THE has been the increase in the number The majority of cricket clubs in of young players. Playing facilities, CURRENT England and Wales participate in especially the quality of pitches, have league cricket. Leagues form the also improved recently. state backbone of club cricket; they contain an invaluable wealth of As of November 2011, there were 26 knowledge, talent and experience. OF club Premier Leagues operating in England Working collaboratively with CCBs and Wales. Further leagues may will strengthen league cricket and CRICkET receive Premier League accreditation help sustain and develop club cricket in due course. continued... moving forward. In 1997 the ECB introduced Premier Leagues, as part of its Raising the Standard strategy.