Ability Cricket update

VI Cricket

Staffordshire Wolves Visual Impaired team complete their fixtures in the Blind Cricket England & Wales (BCEW) Regional League with away fixtures v Lancashire Lions on Sunday 5th August and Wavertree Merseyside on 19th August.   The guys look forward to the Development Weekend at Leicester University 15th/16th September.

Outdoor training sessions are taking place at Wolverhampton CC – new players are always very welcome.

ECB Super9s

Staffordshire Ability Team completed their season in the ECB Super9s – with 4 wins from 6 fixtures, finishing runners up to a very strong Derbyshire A team.  A fantastic achievement both in terms of performances by the team but also the way that individuals within the squad have developed those all-important communications skills so crucial in day to day life.  In addition, Kieron McKinney was selected to represent England LD in a tournament which took place in Holland the last week of July.  Pleasing that we have continued to find new players, and as Kieron has demonstrated, there is a pathway from county cricket through to England honours, so if you know someone who wants to get involved, just have a chat with Steve.

Outdoor training takes place at Newcastle & Hartshill CC on Saturday mornings, 9.30-11.00am on a fortnightly basis, the next sessions will be Saturday 4th and 18th August.

Rugeley CC are scheduled to host another disability cricket day on Sunday 19th August

Ability Cricket Groups

Sessions are coming to an end at Moddershall CC with the guys from Club 101 and Staffordshire Ventures on Thursday afternoons, 1.00-2.30pm every week, we look forward to a Sports Day for our final session on Thursday 16th August.

We start new sessions with Rockspur at Brewood CC on Fridays until the end of the Summer.

Lichfield CC is the venue every other Thursday evening, 2nd, 16th and 30th August, plus The Way, Wolverhampton every other Sunday afternoon, 12th and 26th August.

You would be very welcome to come along and have a go, meet new people and make friends in a safe, fun environment.

Walking Cricket

The groups at Clayton Sports Centre, Newcastle on Mondays 6-7.30pm and Alleynes Leisure Centre, Stone, on Wednesdays 5.30-7pm, continue to be very popular, we now have a new group starting on Wednesday August 1st, 2-4pm at Sneyd Community Association, Vernon Way, Walsall come along and give it a go!

Thursday 2nd August sees a team from Newcastle taking part in a Walking Cricket Festival in Nottingham, more news via Twitter

Coaching in Schools

Our coaching in schools programme culminated in 4 x Kwik Cricket Festivals for special schools, one at Lichfield CC, two at Newcastle & Hartshill CC and other at Wolverhampton CC – really enjoyable events for all concerned.

Malcolm Webb, Head of PE at Watermill Special School said ‘I would like to outline the impact the “Chance to Shine “program has had on our students.  Our school has engaged with the program since its beginning, using the coaching provided consistently throughout the school year.  Our students experience a wide range of learning disabilities which impact on all aspects of their home and school lives. The “Chance to Shine” program provides a significant and valued opportunity to help their development in physical, emotional and behavioural areas. Ultimately aiming to provide them with essential life skills. Throughout all Key Stages (provided at appropriate levels) the program offers opportunities to develop:

• Fundamental Physical Skills. Fine motor skills e.g. gripping and releasing a ball. Gross motor skills. running, footwork, throwing, catching. Co-ordination. Balance, timing, responding to visual stimulus
• Social Skills.  Individual partner and group work, team work, leading, following, following rules, convention and traditions, sportsmanship
• Emotional.  Dealing with competition, winning, losing, appropriate behaviour, working with and meeting new people, working in new environments

The “Chance to Shine” program is a valued part of our school week and I would like to thank you for its continued success in our school and the very positive impact it has had on the cricket played at the North Staffs Special Schools annual cricket tournaments.

For more information contact:

Steve Lightfoot
Disability Cricket Officer
07789 265618
s.lightfoot@staffordshirecricket.co.uk