Junior Policies

Child Safety and Protection

At the Warranwood Sharks we take the safety and protection of children very seriously and as our No 1 esponsibility.  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.