Grade Cricket

[The Bedge]

Increasingly it's rich white families that play cricket..

Why do you think that is? Is it cost? Is it workload/commitment demands?

Surely if these are factors - particularly at struggling clubs - then they should sit down and nut out some work arounds? If I had half a dozen kids who could play the game very well, I sure as hell would be doing whatever I could to ensure that cost wasn't an issue to stop them playing.

[Tony Clifton]

Not just cost but yes that's part of it. The endless equipment required for cricket compared to just a pair of shoes for most sports is astronomical.

But it's more that you do what your parents did. If your dad played cricket or your parents are cricket fans, then there's a good chance that their kids will give it a try. Anglo saxon families often know cricket and gravitate towards it. Families from some areas of Asia, Europe, elsewhere have no familiarity with the sport so don't play - and there are increasing numbers of these families north and south.

Cricket is still strong in colleges and at schools in inner east, inner south, inner north and Glenelg-Henley beachside areas. Good numbers. No schools play further north or south. No interest.

Generally speaking, very young kids (4-6 year olds) are less skillful than they were a generation ago. Smaller backyards, time poor parents, iPads, screen time etc. So when they go to take up a sport later they are too unco to play cricket. Can't bowl especially, can't hit the ball, can't catch. The sport is difficult. Whereas even the biggest dunce can play soccer. Just swing a leg at the ball whenever it's near you.

The areas where there are still backyards and mum/dad love cricket and their offspring learn how to catch & throw are those same select suburbs where cricket is strong.

'Middle-classing the game' is a phrased I've heard used.

Even 20-25 years ago the northern and southern suburbs were more like country towns. Real Aussies who played cricket in summer and footy in winter. Has changed immensely.

[heater31]

Not just cost but yes that's part of it. The endless equipment required for cricket compared to just a pair of shoes for most sports is astronomical.

But it's more that you do what your parents did. If your dad played cricket or your parents are cricket fans, then there's a good chance that their kids will give it a try. Anglo saxon families often know cricket and gravitate towards it. Families from some areas of Asia, Europe, elsewhere have no familiarity with the sport so don't play - and there are increasing numbers of these families north and south.

Cricket is still strong in colleges and at schools in inner east, inner south, inner north and Glenelg-Henley beachside areas. Good numbers. No schools play further north or south. No interest.

Generally speaking, very young kids (4-6 year olds) are less skillful than they were a generation ago. Smaller backyards, time poor parents, iPads, screen time etc. So when they go to take up a sport later they are too unco to play cricket. Can't bowl especially, can't hit the ball, can't catch. The sport is difficult. Whereas even the biggest dunce can play soccer. Just swing a leg at the ball whenever it's near you.

The areas where there are still backyards and mum/dad love cricket and their offspring learn how to catch & throw are those same select suburbs where cricket is strong.

'Middle-classing the game' is a phrased I've heard used.

Even 20-25 years ago the northern and southern suburbs were more like country towns. Real Aussies who played cricket in summer and footy in winter. Has changed immensely.

Back in my days as a young whipper snapper but maybe it was just because it was country but most clubs had 3 sets of kit available for players to use mainly pads, gloves and bats. No keeper had their own gear. Most blokes would usually supply their own protectors & thigh pads. Now days a compliant helmet costs as much as a lump of wood and now almost everyone has their own complete kit to use.

[daysofourlives]

Not just cost but yes that's part of it. The endless equipment required for cricket compared to just a pair of shoes for most sports is astronomical.

But it's more that you do what your parents did. If your dad played cricket or your parents are cricket fans, then there's a good chance that their kids will give it a try. Anglo saxon families often know cricket and gravitate towards it. Families from some areas of Asia, Europe, elsewhere have no familiarity with the sport so don't play - and there are increasing numbers of these families north and south.

Cricket is still strong in colleges and at schools in inner east, inner south, inner north and Glenelg-Henley beachside areas. Good numbers. No schools play further north or south. No interest.

Generally speaking, very young kids (4-6 year olds) are less skillful than they were a generation ago. Smaller backyards, time poor parents, iPads, screen time etc. So when they go to take up a sport later they are too unco to play cricket. Can't bowl especially, can't hit the ball, can't catch. The sport is difficult. Whereas even the biggest dunce can play soccer. Just swing a leg at the ball whenever it's near you.

The areas where there are still backyards and mum/dad love cricket and their offspring learn how to catch & throw are those same select suburbs where cricket is strong.

'Middle-classing the game' is a phrased I've heard used.

Even 20-25 years ago the northern and southern suburbs were more like country towns. Real Aussies who played cricket in summer and footy in winter. Has changed immensely.

Back in my days as a young whipper snapper but maybe it was just because it was country but most clubs had 3 sets of kit available for players to use mainly pads, gloves and bats. No keeper had their own gear. Most blokes would usually supply their own protectors & thigh pads. Now days a compliant helmet costs as much as a lump of wood and now almost everyone has their own complete kit to use.

Yeah absolutely that was the case, not sure how much clubs supply these days.
Another thing that is only recent is the push from CA to do their milo and t20 bash programs. Compared to what clubs in my area were charging for subs the cost of these programs is astronomical. Most clubs used to subsidise juniors somewhat by only charging 20 -30 bucks for a season of u 10 or u12, its now 75 for milo and 100 for t20blast which gets back to Tony's point about the have and have nots

[Brodlach]

Too much ‘junior’ money is used for ‘seniors’ in both cricket and football

[daysofourlives]

Too much ‘junior’ money is used for ‘seniors’ in both cricket and football

I think thats a rubbish comment, i know in both my local football and cricket clubs subs are kept below what it costs to put the teams on the park to get as many kids involved as possible.
If youre talking about premier grade clubs then yes absolutely you are right

[Brodlach]

I stand by my comment but especially at football.


What sort of money do juniors pay at both?

[daysofourlives]

I stand by my comment but especially at football.


What sort of money do juniors pay at both?

At my club its $30 subs for cricket, not 100% on football but i think its $50 this is for up to U16 cricket and U17half for footy.Students playing senior cricket $100, so well and truly subsidised by the rest of the club.
A senior footballer only pays $100 so clearly money is raised elsewhere.

What are junior subs at grade clubs?

[heater31]

I stand by my comment but especially at football.


What sort of money do juniors pay at both?

At my club its $30 subs for cricket, not 100% on football but i think its $50 this is for up to U16 cricket and U17half for footy.Students playing senior cricket $100, so well and truly subsidised by the rest of the club.
A senior footballer only pays $100 so clearly money is raised elsewhere.

What are junior subs at grade clubs?

$350 plus add another 100 for seniors. Most of the player (both junior and seniors) fees at some clubs would barely cover pitch preparation for both games and training.

Each club has different expenses that are astronomical some get raped by curating costs but others might get a good deal on that but get screwed on rent.

I do know for a fact about 7 or so years ago Premier Clubs needed a turnover of at least $250k to make ends meet. I suspect these days it would be $350-400k.

[Brodlach]

I thought Kensington juniors were around $350 but I could be corrected.

Last year CLG juniors (footy) were $220 and that was at the lower end of the scale in surrounding clubs

[Brodlach]

Gee that is a lot of expenditures heater, TBH I hadn’t given a huge thought about costs at a District club compared to a suburban club

[Tony Clifton]

I thought Kensington juniors were around $350 but I could be corrected.

Last year CLG juniors (footy) were $220 and that was at the lower end of the scale in surrounding clubs

Says $290 on Kensington website for junior fees. Senior men $420 which includes cap and shirt.

What would Adelaide Turf clubs charge junior players?

Quite a few football clubs run their own 'rogue' Under 6 and Under 7 competitions to get around parents having to pay Auskick fees. I know a few primary schools did this with 'Milo' cricket too. Parents just run stuff for the kids that age for free. Saves them having to pay for the kit every year.

I heard that Cricket Australia wants all the states doing the exact same thing for juniors. All doing Milo in2cricket, all doing T20 Blast, all doing their new junior formats. Same ages, same costs, same programs everywhere. Not sure if I heard this correctly but supposedly they hate that there is primary school cricket and Kanga cricket in South Australia because it is different to everywhere else and takes numbers away from their programs. 'Confuses the pathway' whatever that means.

Rambling a bit but to me there are two problems cricket has:

1) Children/families choosing to do sports other than cricket
This comes down to cost, length of the match, familiarity with the sport, perceived difficulty of cricket (complicated game, skills hard)

2) Children/families not doing any sport at all
Being involved in organised sport is just not as much a part of the weekly family routine as it has been previously. Fat kids, lazy parents, higher divorce rates, screen time, weekend work

There have been some positive signs lately but for years cricket was getting a smaller slice of a shrinking pool

[Dogwatcher]

Cricket is still strong in colleges and at schools in inner east, inner south, inner north and Glenelg-Henley beachside areas. Good numbers. No schools play further north or south. No interest.

I can think of at least one that does.

[The Bedge]

I heard that Cricket Australia wants all the states doing the exact same thing for juniors. All doing Milo in2cricket, all doing T20 Blast, all doing their new junior formats. Same ages, same costs, same programs everywhere. Not sure if I heard this correctly but supposedly they hate that there is primary school cricket and Kanga cricket in South Australia because it is different to everywhere else and takes numbers away from their programs. 'Confuses the pathway' whatever that means.

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest. CA only care about meeting their KPI's and exposure quotas - other formats such as primary school take away from their target groups, and ultimately lose them $$... CA only care about $$.. F**k CA.

[The Bedge]

Says $290 on Kensington website for junior fees. Senior men $420 which includes cap and shirt.

This is why I've never been interested in genuinely having a crack at grade cricket.. Pay that sort of money, plus the commitment levels required is stupid. I much prefer my measly $10 a week to play hard wicket

People wonder why the better players go to ATCA - what would you choose? Pay $420 to play grade, or get paid to play ATCA which also includes a social aspect and some beers with mates after the game?

[The Bedge]

Is cricket a dying sport?

[Dogwatcher]

Is cricket a dying sport?

If you believe the T20 spruikers it is.

[The Bedge]

Is cricket a dying sport?

If you believe the T20 spruikers it is.

T20 is as much to blame for the downfall of cricket as anything. Players becoming mercenaries chasing money playing T20 over national duties, CA saturating our TV screens over two months with a competition and promoting it as the best thing since world series cricket. Promoting shorter formats all through juniors right down to the T20 blast program.

Hell I even saw the SACA Friendship cup includes a T12 competition! WTF!

[helicopterking]

Says $290 on Kensington website for junior fees. Senior men $420 which includes cap and shirt.

This is why I've never been interested in genuinely having a crack at grade cricket.. Pay that sort of money, plus the commitment levels required is stupid. I much prefer my measly $10 a week to play hard wicket

People wonder why the better players go to ATCA - what would you choose? Pay $420 to play grade, or get paid to play ATCA which also includes a social aspect and some beers with mates after the game?

You missed the main reason- No Sunday Cricket

[The Bedge]

You missed the main reason- No Sunday Cricket

In my head that was included under the commitment level required