Junior Development Division The Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League is embarking on a new venture in season 2003. It has taken many meetings to evolve over two years. About 36 Clubs had shown an interest, but in the end 22 are participating. Split into four regional groups, the matches will be 40 overs a side, a minimum of seven juniors per team, and be played on Sundays thereby using better playing facilities. The match balls are being sponsored by Saracens. The division will evolve naturally. With this in mind only six dates have been set aside for fixtures in the first year. The introduction of a Development Division is the brainchild of the Executive Committee, who have foreseen the need because of the success of the league moving to a single structure.
Richard Burling
Before the single structure, when 3rd & 4th XIs played each other, it was possible to develop young players as all sides were on an equal footing. However, one of the spin-offs of the single structure has been that Clubs 3rd & 4th XIs with only "average" adult players in lower divisions have struggled against good players in Clubs with only one or two teams who regularly put out eleven adults. The end product has been that instead of developing young players, most teams are merely protecting them with as many adults as possible. Therefore the New Development Division will allow them flourish.
A DEVELOPMENT DIVISION FOR YOUTH PLAYERS This emphasis is taken into the division’s rules/objectives whereby it is stated that the Division is a platform for juniors, under 17 years of age, to develop into adult cricket and any club flouting this intent will be told to leave the division. This way juniors will learn to play a) The longer game & b) With and against adults and players of similar age and ability. All results will be collated by Richard Burling who will provide clubs with a result form. Another spin off is the introduction of a Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Club Development Register The object being that interested Clubs can contact other Clubs with similar requirements and arrange friendly fixtures. This register will be displayed on the league website.
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