The League Cricketers’ Association The LCA Guide to Club Cricket 2012 In Association with www.thelca.co.uk WHAT IS THE LCA? CONTENTS The League Cricketers’ Association (LCA) is a dedicated “This is a fantastic concept and a breath of fresh organisation, in place to put amateur cricket “on the air for league cricketers in the UK. I would urge all map”. The LCA was created to become the ‘cricketer’s players to get involved.” best friend’ and give league cricketers, who put in so Kevin Pietersen, Surrey and England. much time and effort to play, a place to interact and Structure 5-9 receive various benefits, information and awards. “We recognise how great the game of cricket is and how it is the lifeblood of many societies up Your Club 12-17 The LCA is a fantastic media platform giving exposure to and down the country, facilitating on field battles players and officials whilst offering cricket companies the between communities and featuring a togetherness Funding and Facilities 18-25 opportunity to reach their target market. amongst every creed and colour. Cricket has given so much to us all as individuals and we at the LCA are Junior Cricket 26-32 The LCA Guide to Club Cricket has been produced to thankful for that.” give every cricket club member across the UK valuable Richard Logan, Chairman. Players 33-50 information surrounding a number of areas, from what it takes to run a cricket club successfully through to preparing The LCA is completely free to join and covers a number Officials 52-55 and reading a wicket, picking kit and training properly for of areas for the individual club cricketer. These include the season. offering exclusive deals on cricket products and services, Groundsmen 56-57 Player of the Year awards presented at the annual The LCA and the Guide is supported by some of the biggest Awards Dinner, unique news and blogs that will include Women’s Cricket 59-60 names in cricket including Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, interviews with a whole host of cricketers from all Paul Nixon, Dimi Mascarenhas and Shaun Udal. Each corners of the country, and cricket insurance for the 2011 Competition Round Up 62-64 ambassador appreciates the work that is being done by the individual. LCA, having identified club cricket as an integral stepping stone in their success in their own cricketing careers. Join the LCA now - www.thelca.co.uk ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Editor Commercial Richard Logan Dominic McMullan, Ganadores Sports Marketing Ltd. Sub-Editor Richard Browning LCA Ambassadors Kevin Pietersen ECB Graeme Swann Paul Bedford - Head of Non First Class Cricket Paul Nixon Jane Hannah – National Volunteer and Participation Manager Chris Tremlett Clare Connor – Head of England Women’s Cricket Sue Redfern – Development Lead – Women’s and Girls Cricket Prizes Hannah Tomlinson – Club Programmes Administrator Jaguar Chance to Shine Media Claire Hall – Partnerships Development Manager Jamie Hopkins ACO Case Studies Nick Cousins – Senior Executive Officer Newcastle Cricket Club - Phil Hudson Ben Francis – Finance and Project Officer York Cricket Club – Nick Kay St. Just Cricket Club – Chris Goninan County Cricket Boards & League Officials Chessington Cricket Club – Daniel Yarnley Mike Woollard and Richard Newton – Cheshire CB Hedge End Junior Cricket Club - Dave Clouting Andy Hobbs – Formerly Sussex CB Content Images David Hodgson – Groundsman LMI Photography Michael Main – Strength & Conditioning Coach at Hampshire CCC David Wilson Inspired Cricket – Iain Brunnschweiler - Author and England U17 Barry Mitchell Head Coach 2 | Club Cricket 2012 www.thelca.co.uk | 3 Foreword StructureStructure of theof the game game FOREWORD GAME STRUCTURE Having been a strong supporter of the LCA since Cricket truly is the best sport out there. I have been A good working knowledge of the structure affiliated to the ECB. The organisation and control of the game played in each county is vested in the board of each its inception, I am delighted to be able to pen a lucky enough to experience the game all over the of the game avoids misunderstandings County, and members of the relevant boards are able to few words supporting this excellent organisation. globe, played in World Cups and Ashes series with concerning the roles of the various help any league, club or individual with any problem that Club cricket is the very heartbeat of the game in and against some of the best players in the world, organisations. Cricket in England is may arise. The work of each association is carried out by committees which are responsible to each board. this country, and the LCA has added a dimension and yet it is still my amateur days as a teenager organised, controlled and governed by the borrowed from the professional game that can that bring back the greatest memories. I hope England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). It is The role of your County Board only help the amateur game go from strength to you all share with me in the love for this beautiful played under the laws of the Marylebone The ECB and 39 County Boards have four core roles and strength. game and continue to play for and support your Cricket Club (MCC). The rules and regulations responsibilities: strategic planning, programme management, local clubs for many years to come! of the ECB detail the manner in which cricket performance management, and effective governance. My own memories of club cricket are very rosy. is controlled and administered throughout Agreed collective responsibility and common goals – participation, club accreditation, club members, coaching Playing firstly for Horton House juniors I remember All the best the country. The object of the rules and roles, volunteer roles and player development – are worked blazing fifties, taking spectacular one handed regulations is to enable the game to be towards by the County Boards, who are best placed to deliver. The head offices - the County Boards - are supported catches and ripping out stumps with my vicious Swanny governed across the country in a uniform by the branch offices - the 1,400 Focus Clubs - each turn (my memory recall may differ from actual manner. The ECB provides support for of which has a detailed development plan. This allows events). My senior club cricket was played at the game far beyond the boundaries of the ECB to pinpoint the needs and aspirations of each of those Focus Clubs who are judged by five key performance Northampton Saints, where my enthusiasm for the international and first class cricket. indicators - increased participation, increased club game was further heightened by my making some membership, club accreditation, increase in coaching roles Leagues and Clubs and increase in volunteers. real friends for life. I still return to Birchfield Road Planning decisions are made through the 39 local CCB East on the odd free Saturday to see my mates Once a club is accepted into membership of a County Operational Management Groups which involve key taking on all comers in the Northants Prem, and Board, it is required to abide by the Rules of The MCC, personnel from the County Boards, the County Sports league or competition and may be fined and / or otherwise Partnership and the County Development Managers. This also to have a pint in the best bar in the league! disciplined if it breaches these rules. single decision body is responsible for strategic planning, It is important to appreciate that in most cases, league investment priorities, activity planning and the measuring officials are honorary officers and that a poorly run club and analysing of performance. causes a great deal of additional work for all concerned. ECB has established a single integrated planning process A club secretary, in particular, must have a good working which is called the County Cricket Board Improvement knowledge of the rules of all organisations of which the Planning Process, which allows self-assessment against a club is a member. process of local circumstances. A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS In the most serious cases of maladministration, a The County Boards are accountable for the delivery club may be expelled from its league, or in cases where of the action plan in order to qualify for funding and this Cricket is the only sport that stops for tea. That And much like the world of cricket, we’re guided by breaches of the ECB or County Board rules have occurred, process is reviewed twice a year. must make it the most quintessential of British a straightforward sense of fair play – we don’t use its affiliation may be suspended or withdrawn (cases are The structure also positions CCBs firmly within the Delivery generally subject to a right of appeal, but where a decision System for Sport in which 49 County Sport Partnerships work games. A good spread of sandwiches and cakes gimmicks, we don’t take shortcuts, and we treat is taken at a General Meeting, there is often no appeal). to an agreed Memorandum of Understanding which formalises is essential to any traditional cricket tea, but what the people who grow our tea with respect, paying a common set of Key Performance Indicators, a performance Codes of Conduct management framework, core roles and responsibilities and a really makes it is a proper brew. fair prices, and visiting tea gardens and estates in joint planning, investment and decision making process. person to build strong relationships - well, anything It is most important to remember that cricket is supposed This allows ECB to secure support from the nine Sport At Yorkshire Tea, our connection with cricket goes else just wouldn’t be cricket. to be fun as well as a competitive sport. Players, officials England Regions and the Sports Council for Wales, 49 and spectators should abide by the ECB Non-First Class County Sport Partnerships and 400 Community Sports beyond the depiction on our distinctive packs of Rules and Regulations.