Skye, Knoxfield Cricket Club girls co-ordinator Gail
By Casey Neill
GIRLS are proving cricket is not just for the boys.
Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association (FTGDCA) will launch a Friday night introductory cricket competition to encourage more girls to take up the sport.
The 14-match season kicks off on Friday 31 October and ends in the first week of March, with a Christmas break.
FTGDCA president Bill Leane hopes to field 16 teams across two grades.
“We’ve got a total commitment to grow girls’ participation in cricket,” he said.
The Rookies competition is open to girls aged 9 to 13, while 14 to 17-year-olds can play in the junior girls division.
Eight girls play in each team under the modified Super 8s format.
Each team bats for 16 overs.
All players bat, bowl and rotate through various field positions.
“We want to get them having fun and enjoying playing cricket,” Leane said.
Leane has asked the 22 FTGDCA clubs to get on board and put up a team.
He hopes girls can play for the same club as their brother or dad to foster team loyalty, but acknowledged teams would most likely be mixed-club while the competition finds its feet. He said the competition was overdue.
“There are not enough opportunities in the eastern region for girls to participate,” he said.
Last year FTGDCA and Cricket Victoria launched a free, eight-week skills program for girls aged 10 to 16 that attracted 55 participants.
It will continue this year on Wednesday nights as a ‘feeder’ into the club competition.
“You can do the free coaching on Wednesday nights and then play for your club on Fridays,” Leane said. There is also the more serious and competitive Saturday morning mixed cricket competition and a Women’s Cricket Victoria Sunday competition.
Modified Super 8s games are played on Friday nights from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
More information is available by calling Bill Leane on 0411 289 319 or sending an email to billleane@yahoo.com.au.
