Warranwood Sharks
Junior Policies and Guidelines
Child Safety and Protection
At the Warranwood Sharks we take the safety and protection of children very seriously and as our No 1
responsibility. This includes all children playing and visiting our Club, whether they are part of the
Warranwood or visiting Clubs - players, families and spectators.
Important considerations include playing-related safety such as the wearing of protective equipment
(helmets, pads, gloves etc), playing conditions - weather and ground conditions, as well as the more
'social' aspects including freedom from abuse, harassment, bullying or other inappropriate conduct.
We have accepted and signed the relevant Cricket Australia policies which can be viewed via the
following links:
Australian Cricket's Commitment to Safeguarding Children and Young People
Looking After Our Kids - Code of Behaviour for Affiliated Associations and Clubs
In the case of any events, children and family members can be directed to the following people for
support.
Steve Toohey 0413 458 349
Paul Excell 0408 614 700
Craig Buchan 0419 152 086
All Coaches and Team Managers are required to obtain, and provide to the Club, a Working with Children
Check (WCCC).
There are a number of other policies and guidelines that players, parents, supporters and Club officials
need to understand and adhere to including:
Racial Vilification Policy
Alcohol Policy
Process for dealing with Match Day disputes
These can be found in the Team Managers manual which will be available at the Ground (see Team
Managers) or online via the RDCA website and can be sourced via the Links page on this website. Go to
the Links page by clicking HERE.
Team Selection
Our key objectives when selecting Junior teams are to ensure:
our players enjoy the experience of playing the sport of cricket, being part of their Club, and being
with, and making friends
parents and family members enjoy the experience of watching their children play and develop, and
being part of the Club community
players are provided with the opportunity to develop their cricket skills to the fullest of their ability
(e.g coaching, participation etc)
players are provided with the opportunity to play cricket at a level appropriate to their ability (e.g
teams in appropriate grades)
potential barriers to participation and development are removed (e.g. provision of team kits, ability
to make part payments of fees)
Selecting teams is often a balance of these objectives and in factoring in how they may differ for
individual players and families. We also need to consider the Club's situation e.g. how many teams we
have, grounds we have access to etc, as well as some of the realities of sport (e.g. you can provide
players with the chance to "have a bat" but they might be dismissed first ball).
Some levels of cricket will give an absolute priority to the simple enjoyment of the game and "playing
with friends".
For example, Mini Bash (Under 10s) is an non-competitive grade of cricket where winning is nice but not
important. Playing with friends will be used, where possible, to construct teams. However we need to
also consider that teams can not have too many players, because that will minimise the ability for all
players to participate and develop. We ask our players and parents to consider that their reasons to play
with particular players are no more or less important than the reasons another player may have.
In the early stages of the development of Girls Only cricket we need to place a greater emphasis on the
"social" aspects of cricket as these are key drivers in bringing new players to the game. But we also need
to note that girls are no less likely to want to develop and succeed.
In lower grades of under-age cricket this is also the case. We aim to "keep players in the game" by
providing opportunities to play the sport of cricket with friends and team-mates.
As we enter teams in older age groups and higher grades we need to increase the emphasis on relative
ability. We want to have teams in these higher grades. It keeps players at our Club and encourages new
players to join us.
It is not always possible to enable "friends" to continue to play together when their relative abilities
differ. You would have to compromise one, or both players to combine enjoyment, development and
success in the sport. One example may be that if Players A and B are "best mates" and Player A is a very
good player, whilst Player B might have less skill (at that particular time), playing them in the same team
may not allow either or both of them to develop or enjoy success. It will also impact on other players at
the Club in that it may deny another player the opportunity to play in the team that is appropriate to
their skills.
Number of Players per team
Another consideration is the number of players per team/side. Whilst each age/grade of cricket has a
recommended number of players, ranging from 7 (Mini Bash) up to 11 (high grade Under 12s as well as
U14s and U16s), we have the option to play 1-2 extra players. Whilst this will be considered, and can
often allow us to "add a sibling or friend" to a team, we also have to consider that it can lead to players
getting less activity within the game (e.g. players may get less of a bat or bowl, or may have to spend
time off the ground when we are fielding).
Moving Players Between Teams
Teams are not necessarily set in stone for the entire Season, though as we approach Finals, we will
normally try to settle upon final team set-ups. As the Season progresses it can become necessary to move
players between teams, especially in Graded competition. For example a player may be "starring" in a
lower grade and may deserve an opportunity to test themselves in a higher grade. Likewise, a player
may be struggling in a higher grade and losing confidence, so it may be the best thing for that player to
play in a lower grade. Any such movements will be discussed with player and parents/guardians and are
not necessarily final.
Coaches, Team Managers and relevant club officials involved in the selection, management and coaching
of teams are therefore asked to :
- consider the balance of achieving Club, team and individual success
- aim to ensure that players, parents and team officials enjoy the game and being part of our Club
- learn what is important to each player - what will make them want to return next Season?
Most of all, remember...they are children and it's a game.
Child Safety and Protection
At the Warranwood Sharks we take the
safety and protection of children very
seriously and as our No 1 responsibility.
This includes all children playing and
visiting our Club, whether they are part
of the Warranwood or visiting Clubs -
players, families and spectators.
Important considerations include
playing-related safety such as the
wearing of protective equipment
(helmets, pads, gloves etc), playing
conditions - weather and ground
conditions, as well as the more 'social'
aspects including freedom from abuse,
harassment, bullying or other
inappropriate conduct.
We have accepted and signed the
relevant Cricket Australia policies which
can be viewed via the following links:
Australian Cricket's Commitment to
Safeguarding Children and Young People
Looking After Our Kids - Code of
Behaviour for Affiliated Associations and
Clubs
In the case of any events, children and
family members can be directed to the
following people for support.
Steve Toohey 0413 458 349
Paul Excell 0408 614 700
Craig Buchan 0419 152 086
All Coaches and Team Managers are
required to obtain, and provide to the
Club, a Working with Children Check
(WCCC)
There are a number of other policies
and guidelines that players, parents,
supporters and Club officials need to
understand and adhere to including:
Racial Vilification Policy
Alcohol Policy
Process for dealing with Match Day
disputes
These can be found in the Team
Managers manual which will be available
at the Ground (see Team Managers) or
online via the RDCA website and can be
sourced via the Links page on this
website. Go to the Links page by
clicking HERE.
Team Selection
Our key objectives when selecting Junior
teams are to ensure:
our players enjoy the experience of
playing the sport of cricket, being
part of their Club, and being with,
and making friends
parents and family members enjoy
the experience of watching their
children play and develop, and
being part of the Club community
players are provided with the
opportunity to develop their cricket
skills to the fullest of their ability
(e.g coaching, participation etc)
players are provided with the
opportunity to play cricket at a level
appropriate to their ability (e.g
teams in appropriate grades)
potential barriers to participation
and development are removed (e.g.
provision of team kits, ability to
make part payments of fees)
Selecting teams is often a balance of
these objectives and in factoring in how
they may differ for individual players and
families. We also need to consider the
Club's situation e.g. how many teams we
have, grounds we have access to etc, as
well as some of the realities of sport
(e.g. you can provide players with the
chance to "have a bat" but they might be
dismissed first ball).
Some levels of cricket will give an
absolute priority to the simple enjoyment
of the game and "playing with friends".
For example, Mini Bash (Under 10s) is an
non-competitive grade of cricket where
winning is nice but not important.
Playing with friends will be used, where
possible, to construct teams. However
we need to also consider that teams can
not have too many players, because that
will minimise the ability for all players to
participate and develop. We ask our
players and parents to consider that their
reasons to play with particular players are
no more or less important than the
reasons another player may have.
In the early stages of the development of
Girls Only cricket we need to place a
greater emphasis on the "social" aspects
of cricket as these are key drivers in
bringing new players to the game. But
we also need to note that girls are no less
likely to want to develop and succeed.
In lower grades of under-age cricket this
is also the case. We aim to "keep players
in the game" by providing opportunities
to play the sport of cricket with friends
and team-mates.
As we enter teams in older age groups
and higher grades we need to increase
the emphasis on relative ability. We
want to have teams in these higher
grades. It keeps players at our Club and
encourages new players to join us.
It is not always possible to enable
"friends" to continue to play together
when their relative abilities differ. You
would have to compromise one, or both
players to combine enjoyment,
development and success in the sport.
One example may be that if Players A and
B are "best mates" and Player A is a very
good player, whilst Player B might have
less skill (at that particular time), playing
them in the same team may not allow
either or both of them to develop or
enjoy success. It will also impact on
other players at the Club in that it may
deny another player the opportunity to
play in the team that is appropriate to
their skills.
Number of Players per team
Another consideration is the number of
players per team/side. Whilst each
age/grade of cricket has a recommended
number of players, ranging from 7 (Mini
Bash) up to 11 (high grade Under 12s as
well as U14s and U16s), we have the
option to play 1-2 extra players. Whilst
this will be considered, and can often
allow us to "add a sibling or friend" to a
team, we also have to consider that it
can lead to players getting less activity
within the game (e.g. players may get
less of a bat or bowl, or may have to
spend time off the ground when we are
fielding).
Moving Players Between Teams
Teams are not necessarily set in stone for
the entire Season, though as we
approach Finals, we will normally try to
settle upon final team set-ups. As the
Season progresses it can become
necessary to move players between
teams, especially in Graded competition.
For example a player may be "starring" in
a lower grade and may deserve an
opportunity to test themselves in a
higher grade. Likewise, a player may be
struggling in a higher grade and losing
confidence, so it may be the best thing
for that player to play in a lower grade.
Any such movements will be discussed
with player and parents/guardians and
are not necessarily final.
Coaches, Team Managers and relevant
club officials involved in the selection,
management and coaching of teams are
therefore asked to :
consider the balance of achieving
Club, team and individual success
aim to ensure that players, parents
and team officials enjoy the game and
being part of our Club
learn what is important to each player
- what will make them want to return
next Season?
Most of all, remember...they are children
and it's a game.
