I hope this update finds yourself and family safe and healthy as things very slowly seem to be returning back to normal. Apologies for not being in contact for a few weeks but with very little to update you all on I thought I would wait until I had something to report.
So after lengthy discussions between Adam Meads (Lead Junior Coach), Geoffrey Page-Morris (Club Chairman), Steve Pollard (Groundsman) and myself we have decided with proper precautions and management put in place we are in a position to run club net sessions starting on the Wednesday 1st July for the Under 13/ 15’s. If this session is a success then we will be looking to run net sessions for the Under 11’s on a Sunday morning in the coming weeks. Kwik cricket poses more of a challenge due to the sharing of kit and the ability of the youngest children to maintain social distancing rules. However, once we have the other groups up and running we will be looking at a way that we can get the Kwiks playing that is both fun and safe.

To ensure safety the following measures have been put in place:

• Session split into two. First session 5.45-7.00 and second session 7.15-8.30
• 3 designated netting areas (bottom pitch, top pitch & one static net)
• 5 players per net plus one coach
• All players must be booked onto the session via Pitchero
• Players to arrive in training kit /whites
• 3 different car parking areas to reduce congregation of children on arrival
• Volunteer on gate advising of where to park and how child should make their way to allotted net
• No sharing of kit or ball (club has new balls available for sale if anyone needs one)
• Please note we are insistent that guidelines are followed. Your child must not attend a training session if they show any symptoms of COVID-19

I will set the first training session up on Pitchero and once I know which players are available to train I will allocate children to the various nets and ensuring they are in with children of similar ability. The sessions will be led by Junior Lead coach Adam Meads and two more coaches to be confirmed shortly.
Once we have training up and running we will then wait to see if any matches are going to be possible later on in the summer. As it stands, though there will not be any competitive leagues, the fixtures we currently have in place will be played as friendlies as soon as the ECB deem it safe to do so.

Once we have run a couple of successful training sessions I will be sitting down with the club treasurer to work out a fair price for membership this season. It is my aim to keep it as affordable as possible as I know many family’s have been hit hard by recent events. If anyone would like to contribute more to the club funds then there is an option on the website to make a donation to the club.

The club nets are still open during the week and can be booked via Steve Pollard (please refer the last club news letter for times).

Thanks to everyone for their patience this summer, it has been crucial that we have not rushed back in too quickly but given ourselves time and space to evaluate the situation and move forward in a controlled and considered manner.
Hopefully I’ll be seeing you all soon.
Chris