COVID-19 Update Click to view in browser Dear all, Further to the National Competition and National Programme update shared earlier in the week, please find below the latest COVID-19 bulletin. Recreational Game Update in England and Wales English Guidance Following the latest Government guidance on the easing of lockdown in England, please find here the ECB statement on recreational cricket in England. Welsh Guidance With the changing situation across the country, we have now issued updated guidance for cricket activity in Wales. The adjusted lockdown restrictions in Wales provide an opportunity for the use of outdoor cricket facilities (nets and pitches) for the purpose of undertaking exercise. To read the full guidance please click here. Boosting your clubs short-term income Social media provides grassroots clubs with more ways to engage with their members and communities than ever, here are some tips to help generate additional funding from the NatWest Club Cricket Finance Guide. Online quiz evenings - FaceTime, Skype, Zoom – there are loads of ways to connect with your supporters and host a quiz right now! Set up a JustGiving page and ask members to donate to take part Online auctions – If you or your club members have a number of auction items or prizes that might generate some extra cash for the club, consider an online auction such as jumblebee.co.uk Grants & funding – There are also a number of grants available for grassroots clubs at the moment, check out the Guide for links and the ECB’s scheme here #Raisethebat The England Men’s Test series against the West Indies will honour heroic cricketing key workers and be named the #RaiseTheBat Test Series. Marking the return of international cricket, the three-Test series taking place behind closed doors will honour and celebrate heroes within the cricket family, many of whom have been playing the innings of their lives to support those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here. #Designourshirt competition We’ve launched a competition asking children to design our England shirt, with the winning entry being produced as a one-off shirt for the winner. To decide the winning entry, we have a panel of judges including three England players, so for a chance to win, all they will need to do is impress Mark Wood, Danni Wyatt and Angus Brown with their design skills! To enter, please click the link here. Entries close at 11.59am on Wednesday 8th July. Terms and Conditions apply. Entrants must be aged 16 or under and resident in England or Wales. Entrants need written consent from their parent or legal guardian to enter the Competition. The Cricket Charity Portable Defibrillators Fund Most of you will be aware of the joint venture between the ECB and The Club Cricket Charity for the supply and distribution of portable defibrillators at a heavily discounted rate.  Launched in 2015, the scheme has developed with over 200 units in clubs and teams around the Country. Now in its fifth year however, The Club Cricket Charity is announcing an increase to the prices of the units it offers, with the current offers ending on 15th July.  Clubs and teams interested, should enquire and place an order with Donna Black by emailing here. FAQs for groups of six Following the update regarding groups of six, we hope that the below four questions and answers provide further clarity on some outstanding uncertainties. Q. Can ECB provide more coaching ideas taking into account the new guidance? i.e. ‘what activities should/can we do?’ A. The Coaches association have provided content and will be uploading further to iCoachcricket. Q. Can ECB provide guidance on clubs providing take away food and drink? The current UK government guidance for sports facilities is: Bars and restaurants, including any food or drink facilities inside a clubhouse must remain closed until further notice. Take-away services can be offered, but any hot or cold food must be consumed off the premises. Read more here.    Clubs should take measures to ensure social distancing guidelines are observed on their premises at all times. Please note, this is not the case win Wales where all hospitality venues should remain closed. Q. If an instance of a club not adhering to ECB guidance comes to light (e.g. by club social media post), what action (if any) should be taken and by whom? A. Contact the relevant county board who will follow up with the club. Q. How do insurance, coaching ratios and other Clubmark requirements intersect with the new guidance?  E.g. do we need a qualified coach for a group of 5 children?  Does the supervising person need to be DBS checked? A. All Clubmark requirements stand but precedence should be given to COVID-19 restrictions. Google Digital Garage The first two Google Digital Garages sessions have now run and we’ve had some great feedback since. A reminder that the remaining session will run as follows: Monday 29th June 09:30 – Register here Get Your Business Visible on Google - Learn how to increase your visibility to reach more people online. England & Wales Cricket Board, Lord's Cricket Ground, London, NW8 8QZ Unsubscribe    |    Forward this email

Cricket Wales Statement 19 June 2020

Cricket Wales welcomes today’s announcement by First Minister Drakeford in respect of the easing of lockdown restrictions, which positively affects cricketers wishing to undertake socially distanced practice and non-contact activity on outdoor facilities.

The regulation change, as the First Minister detailed, will come into effect from next Monday 22nd June 2020.

We should reiterate, also, that cricket clubs should only open their facilities if and when they feel they are able to operate safely, ensuring that all travel and social distancing regulations and hygiene protocols are observed, and where the facility can be robustly managed and controlled.

Many cricket clubs in Wales will have already seen and considered the Guidance document issued by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for clubs in England last month; Cricket Wales will now work urgently with ECB to align this guidance, to reflect the detail of the regulations and the situation as things now stand in Wales and, as soon as this is approved, it will be communicated to clubs and posted on our social channels.

While this is clearly positive news for cricket today, we would remind clubs and participants that this only means, in the short-term, an opportunity to return to individual practice - or activity undertaken by up to two households. It is NOT YET the ‘green light’ for a return to team activity such as squad practice, bilateral or intra-club matches, or any formalised regional pathway activity. 

This said, we will continue to work with colleagues in the sport sector, Sport Wales and the Welsh Sports Association (WSA) with regards to the next phase of the return to sporting activity in Wales, alongside Welsh Government.

Cricket Wales CEO, Leshia Hawkins, said, “I would like to sincerely thank the clubs and cricketers of Wales for the patience they have shown, but also their adherence to the regulations during what I know will have been a frustrating time without cricket. There has been an inordinate amount of work undertaken behind the scenes in the last couple of months to allow this easing of regulations with regards to outdoor sports facilities to be approved by the Welsh Government and I would also like to express my particular gratitude to colleagues at WSA, Sport Wales & ECB for their support.

“The safety of everyone in the game remains our top priority and we will issue Welsh-specific guidance to clubs and participants as soon as we can, and we will turn our attention to securing as much ‘competitive’ team activity as we are able to this summer, in whatever form that can viably take. I hope, in the meantime, as many people as possible, especially our young cricketers, will be able to enjoy some socially-distanced cricket practice and reignite their love of our beautiful game.”  

 

Return to Activity in a Cricket Club Setting Click to view in browser Dear all, The purpose of these guidelines is to offer practical guidance to players and clubs on the steps they should take whilst undertaking recreational cricket activity and informal cricket activity in an outdoor environment given the current restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The key update in the guidance is the allowance of small group sizes (now up to six individuals), however a number of other subtle but important changes are listed throughout the document. These guidelines currently apply to England only. Guidance specifically relating to Wales can be found here. The below provides a summary of the latest guidance. Detailed guidance in relation to outdoor cricket activity can be found here. Consistent with UK Government guidance, published on 1 June 2020 relating to the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation in England, the following applies to outdoor cricket:   For all activity, social distancing of at least two metres must be maintained at all times (except between members of the same household). Playing cricket individually is permitted e.g. practice of individual cricket skills or fitness activities Playing cricket with people living in your household is permitted. Small group cricket activity, training or fitness in groups of no more than six (6), is permitted, keeping two (2) metres apart at all times. Cricket coaches, can now undertake small group sessions of up to six (6) people including the coach (1:5) and they must comply with ECB safeguarding policies (as well as being able to conduct one-to-one coaching). Nets should be used on an ‘every other’ basis, leaving one net free between nets.  Note that for nets within a security fence, occupancy numbers could be limited by social distancing requirements. It is permissible for two or more groups of six (6) to train at the same time provided they are kept separate, and social distancing and strict hygiene measures are observed. However, clubs should carry out a risk assessment to determine the maximum capacity for their facility that can be achieved safely whilst maintaining social distancing and not exceeding the current limits on training group size. Clubhouses can be reopened in a limited way for operational reasons (e.g. for access to first aid equipment) or for toilet access (see below) but all communal areas including bar, changing rooms etc. are to remain closed for general use. Toilet facilities can be opened if the venue wishes, but particular care should be taken by those using them and those cleaning them. Where they are open, venues must ensure soap and water is provided and they are cleaned regularly. No indoor cricket activity at all. We recommend using your own equipment if possible. If equipment is being shared, please follow UK Government’s guidance on the sharing of equipment. Players should stick to using one ball in training either by bringing their own or being assigned a numbered ball that is cleaned in between sessions. No saliva or sweat should be applied to the ball at any time. Wash hands at home before and after using the outdoor facilities. Bring your own hand sanitiser where possible. England & Wales Cricket Board, Lord's Cricket Ground, London, NW8 8QZ Unsubscribe    |    Forward this email