whufc wrote:The Bedge wrote:If you dramatically reduce the number of grade clubs, do you run the risk of losing more players to the game of cricket in general?
Would like to think not.....if your at grade cricket either as a junior or senior you must be somewhat passionate about the game. You would like to think their passion would still exist for their original junior club. Maybe that's fantasy land stuff though.
Passion begins early though - if there is no grade club at Ray Sutton level, then do they join clubland from school? Are they likely to continue through ranks? Will they waste summers in the hope of cracking into the 1st grade, or that faint glimmer of hope of playing at the next level?
I fear reducing grade clubs will see a reduction of kids playing the game and/or sticking with it, which will then flow on to quality players moving into the pathways from a young age, and further reducing the talent pool.
Don't know how you do it, but I'd like to see a broad junior age district system, and then funnel into a reduced senior system.. perhaps like the Redback League or whatever they called it (Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern).
Maybe your district club could field B/C/D grades in an ATCA comp, or separate SACA comp, with players "called up" to the next premier tier.. sides featuring the best players from 2/3 clubs.
Grade clubs should also be able to call up performers from community cricket if needed.