New England girls are stepping up to bat as Cricket NSW partners with Armidale District Cricket Association to launch a new program ‘Confidence in Cricket’.
Female ambassador for the Armidale region for Cricket NSW Kate Kenny is praising the first successful event held last weekend, with nearly 40 young females from all over the New England showing up to give it a go.
“The initiative is to not only increase and introduce female participation in cricket in both the Armidale region and surrounds.” said Kenny.
“Cricket it a great sport to promote teamwork, resilience and keeping your head up when things aren’t going your way, and so, we’re really looking at building overall social and sporting skills for on and off the pitch.”
The program is aimed at young females aimed 7 to 16 years of age, and involves six sessions across terms 1, 2 and 3, with the first being held last weekend.
“These will be a combination of both skill sessions run by Cricket NSW, but also some other fun activities such as a big colour run and water balloon battle.” said Kenny.
“On the weekend we had girls from Armidale, Walcha, Uralla, Tamworth, Tenterfield and Inverell, and we are expecting our numbers to grow as we continue.”
And it doesn’t stop there, with a social girl’s cricket competition on the horizon.
“It’ll be a cricket game with a softer ball, so you don’t need helmet and pads and whatnot, again, just to introduce girls to cricket.”
The program highlights three focus areas of:
- Community: building a community that inspires females’ participation and to celebrate growth,
- Connection: a passion for cricket and developing connection that extends beyond game day,
- Capability: building the capabilities and confidence.
Kenny hopes to inspire more females in the region take to the pitch and have a crack.
“We’ve seen female participation grow. The local club that I’m involved in, we have female players in every age group, across the New England region, we’re seeing really high levels of success at regional and representative level of females playing cricket.” said Kenny.
“And I think we’re also seeing interest in professional women’s cricket as well.”
“Come and give it a go. There are so many elements of cricket that, you know, for general fitness and life skills and I just think it’s a great opportunity.”
For more information, visit the Armidale District Cricket Association website and Facebook page or email confidenceincricket@gmail.com.
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