As part of its Club Cricket Review by Vintage Sports Limited (VSL), the Cricket Wellington Board identified the formation of a Premier club cricket grade in the 2012/13 season as being critical to the success of the recommendations.
Entry into this Grade would be based upon clubs achieving a set of criteria, covering a range of aspects. Following on from the criteria recommended by VSL, the Board have stipulated minimum criteria for admittance to the Premier Grade. It is the Board’s view that these minimum standards are necessary for clubs to compete at the Premier level.
The criteria have been broken into five key aspects, all of equal importance, covering the core functions of a Premier cricket club:
· Governance
· Administration
· Coaching
· Facilities
· Playing Numbers
The Board acknowledges that clubs may have areas of weakness, and invites representatives to work closely with the Cricket Wellington management team to address these during the course of the 2011/12 season. The Board looks forward to receiving applications at the conclusion of the upcoming season.
Through both the Review and recent Strategic Planning process, Cricket Wellington Board Chairman Peter Garty noted the positive intent by all stakeholders to make significant improvements to the community game: “The planned changes are a strong signal to our clubs that Cricket Wellington views raising the standard of club cricket as a key strategic priority.”
Cricket Wellington Development Manager Bryan Dickinson said: “The introduction of the Premier Grade and the required Criteria is a fantastic opportunity for cricket in Wellington. There will be plenty of hard work ahead for the clubs and Cricket Wellington, but it is all aimed at a positive outcome.”
A full copy of the Cricket Wellington Board’s Premier Grade club cricket criteria is on the Cricket Wellington website, www.cricketwellington.co.nz
