More Cricket for the Youngsters!

There are many reasons as to why we should encourage more children to get involved with cricket. I appreciate that any sporting activity is good, especially with the high levels of obesity many children are suffering nowadays. Cricket though promotes more than just physical activity. It also encourages good sportsmanship, ambition, teamwork, and importantly respect for your opposition. The training is a good way to install both fitness and discipline into the younger generation. The big question, however, is how to get cricket into the psyche of our children. Here are four ideas that could help:

1. Get more schools to promote cricket. As a summer sport it will not clash with football or rugby, and will allow children to have interests outside the football season. I know many schools do teach cricket, but many more do not seem to want to. Maybe there is a class issue, with people believing it is just a game for toffs. Something that I strongly disagree with. I am no toff for example.

2. Make sure everyone gets a cricket trophy when there are presentation events. The trophies do not have to be big, or expensive, but they make the children feel part of the set up. This is important in helping them carry on playing the game. Those who perform the best can always benefit from better Cricket trophies.

3. Cricket clubs need to do more to bring cricket to all areas of the community. People need to know that cricket can be for everyone, and is a great way, through the training as well as the games, for children to keep fit, and grow self esteem. Maybe by more promotion within schools and various youth centres,we can take on more younger players.

4. Due to the expense of purchasing all the right equipment, maybe clubs could find a way to support those with limited spare money by supplying that equipment. People could then borrow it. Extra costs could be met, maybe, through various fund raising functions. This would mean parents would not have the excuse that they cannot afford to encourage their children into the game.

In conclusion there is a strong need for sports clubs in this country to get more of our young people involved in them, for personal development and fitness reasons. We have to make the effort to break down any class barriers that may cause many to feel that they would not "fit in" with those who do play. We have to portray the great feeling of smashing a six, or taking a wicket. Values including good sportsmanship, dedication and hard work are things that cricket can convey strongly to our younger generation. Many sports can also do this, though I believe cricket can do a lot to help develop them in ways these other sports cannot.