Following up on our articles about the Return to Cricket as the 'lockdown' eases, Cricket World caught up with Colin Mico to talk Junior Cricket Practice in a Covid World.

And this is what Colin had to say....

"I have been trying to pull together the advice from ECB, Government and Department For Education, to create at plan for our junior coaching.

Caterham CC are committed to running junior practice from mid-June, and to try to get matches for our players from July onwards.

Our seniors are also working out how to use the nets in bigger groups, although for the moment we are sticking to 1+1, or one household.

So, moving back to the juniors, our initial plan is as follows:

a).    Use hand held temperature readers at the point of taking the register – if anyone is obviously running a fever, or exhibiting any other symptoms, then sadly they will be unable to practice;

b).    Once registered, the children then sanitise their hands.

c).     Our U13s group can use the nets with a coach and 4 Volunteers. We can use 5 nets with suitable separation to accommodate this group.

d).    All coaches and volunteers to wear face masks and disposable gloves, and to carry sanitising gel for hard balls / incrediballs.

e).    Our primary school children will be split into ability groups of no more than 10 per group.

f).     Two adults per group – coaching carousel with all drills to be based on pre-prepared zones with suitable social distancing. Tennis ball work only.

 

My list is not exhaustive; in addition to the above we would provide access to water, sun tan lotion, and encourage children to keep apart where possible.

We would also encourage those people in higher risk groups not to attend practice unless they just wanted to view it from a distance.  

The evidence appears to show that exercise in the open air carries a low risk of infection, and some of the guidelines we have put together are already in use in primary schools.

For match play, provided that the umpire has a face mask and disposable gloves, and sanitises the ball on its way back to the bowler, the environment should be safe enough.

Anyway, these are Colin's  thoughts / plans –  and both Colin and Cricket World would welcome any comments or additions to share with cricket clubs and schools as we Return to Cricket.

Colim Mico is an FCII Account Executive (Cricket Clubs Team) at Aston Lark Insurance Brokers and also.......

• The Development Officer at Caterham CC (and have been so for the last ten years)
• Head coach – Certified coach having completed ECB level 2 course, plus the extensions and then CPD in both coaching adults and Young Persons
• Community coach for Surrey Cricket Foundation delivering C2S sessions
• First Aider
• Club Welfare Officer
• Club Mark Support Officer for Surrey Cricket Foundation

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