Training sessions
During the summer months training takes place on Sundays from 10.15 to 12.30 at
Walferdange, whilst from October through to March it is held from 14:00 to
17:30 at the school gym. All sessions include a mixture of skill exercises
and actual matches played under controlled, safe conditions.
Coaches
Regular weekly sessions are run by volunteer coaches and parents, several
of whom have England Cricket Board level 1 or 2 qualifications. Most of the coaching is done in English although, as some
of the kids speak Luxembourgish, they help translate when necessary.
Matches
Teams from varying age groups compete
at Indoor Cricket Tournaments each winter, which are hosted by clubs in Basel
and Geneva. These tournaments are a key component of the training. In the
summer months outdoor matches are held to prepare for the annual U11
International Tournament hosted by the Optimists Cricket Club with the national
teams from Belgium and Switzerland participating. We also play in age-group leagues
run by the Belgium Cricket Federation.
Summer Cricket
Academy
An
important part of the development plan includes the summer Cricket Academy
which has now been run for 10 years at the Club. This is a five-day training
programme (Tuesday to Saturday) when up to 50 children participate in a wide
variety of skills development sessions leading to a final day of matches in
front of supporting families. Each year an experienced ECB level 3 qualified
professional cricket coach comes to Luxembourg to lead the programme, which has
become a significantly important activity. As well as the children our
local coaches also benefit by experiencing at first hand different methods and
new ideas from this coach.
Current Numbers and
Development
At
present there are approximately 70 young cricketers registered, including a
steadily growing number of girls. Most of them
are British but there are quite a few Indians, Australians, South Africans and
New Zealanders. We also have kids of non-traditional nationalities,
Austrian, Belgian, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Danish, Irish, Bulgarian,
Russian and Luxembourgish, amongst others. Across the past ten
years it is estimated that over 200 children have benefitted from the programme.
The Optimists
Cricket Club has been developing junior cricket in Luxembourg for over 30
years, during which it has created a stable structure, nurturing young
cricketers from age six through the intermediate stages to full adult level. To
make this happen the Club works closely with the Luxembourg Cricket Federation
and both parties dedicate ongoing funding and resources to the overall process.
The programme itself operates all year round, with scheduled training for U9s,
U11s, U13s, U15s and U19s, using the excellent pitch and net facilities at the
Optimists' Ground in Walferdange and the indoor gym at the International School
of Luxembourg.
Graduation
Success
The Optimists
Cricket Club is very proud of its proven ability to develop young players to
reach higher levels of cricket. As players gain experience they have
their first taste of adult cricket in friendly matches against club touring
teams as well as in the local league. Seven players from the current
Optimists 1st XI squad have graduated through the programme, most of
whom have now also represented the Luxembourg national team in international
competitions.
The steady growth
in participation by girls has been notable. More and more girls are playing
alongside the boys, both at the indoor tournaments and in the Belgian League;
last summer two played an active role for the national ladies team against Belgium.
While not only
benefiting local cricket it has become apparent that children who started their
cricketing experience in Luxembourg fit comfortably into the UK environment,
playing at representative level for their age groups at school &/or county,
as well as at university and local clubs.
The development
programme has proven to sharpen basic skills, match performance and tactical
awareness and additionally teach the young players the correct etiquette and
values of cricket.