Focus Clubs in the York & District Senior Cricket League

One third of YDSCL's member clubs are amongst the total of 76 Yorkshire clubs who have signed up to the commitments required to attain Focus Club standard during the first phase of this initiative. Of these, 13 (out of a regional total of 15) are in East Yorkshire (Humberside), while 3 (out of 12) are in North Yorkshire and Teesside, with the remaining club, Castleford, being the sole YDSCL representative in West Yorkshire.

The full list of Focus Clubs within the YDSCL is as follows:-

Beverley Town, Bridlington, Castleford, Driffield, Fenner, Goole Town, Hornsea, Hull Zingari, Londesborough Park, Malton & Old Malton, Pocklington, Scarborogh, Selby, Sewerby, Stamford Bridge, Woodhouse Grange and York.

What is the Focus Club inititaive?

As part of a Government and Sport England initiative and in preparation for the ECB “Building Partnerships”, ECB asked County Boards to identify a number of cricket clubs who they would like to closely work with and support. These clubs have been named as “Focus Clubs”. The county of Yorkshire is very large with hundreds of clubs playing cricket. It is therefore evident that YCB cannot assist every club in the first instance.

The YCB through the CDM’s has identified 76 clubs in the initial tranche. It is anticipated that within 18 months, it will be able to help another tranche of clubs through then network of Cricket Development Groups and Area Cricket Councils. The YCB acknowledges the tremendous amount of time and effort that cricket clubs do put into the development of junior and senior cricket. Focus Clubs have signed a non-binding agreement entitled “Focus Club Memorandum of Understanding” detailing the benefits of being a Focus Club, but also what is required from the Club. The YCB annual targets are based around the performance of the Focus Clubs.

A Focus Club can be any size of club, but must they must have a junior section and commit to the criteria below. Future Focus Clubs will be identified through Area Councils, Development Groups and the Cricket Development Managers.

Focus Club Criteria

Part of the Focus Club Criteria is to achieve Club Mark. A large number of clubs have now registered and are working towards accreditation. This scheme seeks to help ensure the safest possible junior development programme that fully incorporates issues such as Child Welfare.

Other criteria include

• The club is affiliated to the ECB via YCB and have a junior section
• The club is committed to achieving the objectives within “Building Partnerships” via YCB Plan for Cricket
• Work in partnership with ECB, YCB to deliver high quality agreed development plan outcomes
• Work with District Development Groups – ensure integrated community links
• Produce a long term Development Plan – increase capacity and improve quality
• Produce annual on-line figures for ECB, Government and YCB
• Creating formal links with local community groups especially schools and Sports Colleges
• Commit to monitoring and evaluation – demonstrating impact locally
• Links with key partners
• Increasing participation and volunteers; development of players and coaches
• Sharing best practice with other clubs
• Sign up for NatWest Cricket Force

CCDP (Community Club Development Programme)

During February 2003, ECB announced that cricket will be receiving direct funding from Government. To this end the Community Club Development Fund was formed. The fund was basically for facility/pitch/practice upgrade. The YCB CCDP Committee initially identified Focus Clubs who met the ECB criteria. 23 of our Focus Clubs were identified and all have received some facility upgrade. These clubs have worked so very hard during the initial years, collating figures, working towards Club Mark and writing a high quality Development Plan. Their figures, which include all aspects of club development, are recorded on-line annually for ECB, YCB, Government and Sport England purposes. The YCB acknowledge the clubs’ tremendous work in achieving CCDP.

Andrew Watson
Director of Development