Hello all,
The club fully
recognises that without having the right materials to support the development
of junior cricket, the number of players coming through to senior cricket will decline.
This is a matter we
need to address, so we are looking to increase and develop the team of
volunteer coaches working with our junior section and to refurbish our junior
practice nets.
We need to refurbish
our junior practice nets if we are to give our youngsters better quality
wickets on which to work with coaches in improving their batting and bowling
technique. The nets are concrete based with matting over a shock absorbent
material to reduce the bounce of the ball. However, the mats have become thin
and the bounce of the ball does not replicate a normal wicket and is not
therefore conducive with good quality practice. We would like to replace the
mats with those of better quality, which are specifically designed for concrete
wickets and have a shock absorbent material built in.
We need to continue
working on introducing volunteers from our members and assisting them in
developing along the coaching pathway. With that in mind we intend embarking on
a programme of supporting parents/guardians and older players into coaching and
attending ECB qualifying courses annually. Our aim this year is to identify
five people to attend the ECB Level 2 coach course, which qualifies them to
lead coaching sessions. In addition we aim to put five others through the coach
assistant course which qualifies them to support a level 2 coach. If you wish
to nominate yourself for one of these roles, please let me know.
To enable us to do
this, the club has launched a fundraising appeal via the Good Exchange. Our target
is £8,709 which will allow us to financially achieve the aims listed above. Currently
we have raised £1,912.50 which is 21% of the target.
If you are able to
support the development of junior cricket in Thatcham, please donate at https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/12105/thatcham-town-cricket-club/junior-cricket-coaching-development.
The minimum donation is £10.00, but this is then matched by the Good Exchange,
and for UK residents all donations Gift Aid is then also applicable. In the UK this can add an additional 25 pence to every
pound donated e.g. a £10 donation will attract £2.50 in Gift Aid giving the
project a total of £12.50 towards the target. So add on the matched funding
from the Good Exchange and a £10.00 donation is worth £22.50.
May I ask that you give
your full consideration to this valuable appeal to support the long term future
of the future of junior cricket development.
Regards,
Dominic
Club Chairman