Yorkshire host girls coaching

Yorkshire will host a series of coaching sessions just for girls starting on Monday October 9 at the Bradford and Bingley Cricket Centre.

The West Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket Association, a cricket development group for women and girls, are organising the coaching sessions to encourage more girls to get involved in cricket. Qualified coaches working in liaison with Carr Manor and St Mary’s Sport’s Colleges will support the sessions.

The cricket coaching takes place from September through to April, the girls will then be given continued support as they are put on to the Pathways and development centres and introduced to local cricket clubs where they can use their new cricketing skills in league games.

The launch will take place on Wednesday October 4 between 2pm-4pm at The Bradford & Bingley Indoor Cricket Centre, Headingley. Director of Cricket, David Byas accompanied by Yorkshire County Cricket Club players will attend to lend their support to the scheme.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club supports a number of schemes to encourage children to get into cricket. Since 2005, Yorkshire Cricket Club has worked in association with Education Leeds and welcomes young people from local Primary & High Schools in Leeds to attend their 'Playing for Success' learning centre.

Girls’ cricketing is becoming increasingly popular, developing new clubs, forming sustainable girls’ leagues and introducing new girls to the sport at a local level.

The England Women’s team's relentless drive up the world rankings with success against New Zealand in 2004; and the semi-finals of the 2005 Women's World Cup; followed by with the npower Women's Test Series victory over Australia in 2005 have all raised the profile of women’s cricket.

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Yorkshire and England player Katherine Blunt (left) was named Vodafone England Cricketer of the Year for 2006, along with Andrew Fintoff.

Katherine said: "The coaching sessions are a great idea. Its important to encourage more girls to get into cricket, the popularity of the game is going from strength to strength."

The coaching sessions are aimed at developing children new to cricket with games and skill activities, no experience necessary! Girls from Years 4, 5 and 6 are welcome to attend for a small fee of £1 per attendance.

For more information or to book on the course please contact: Jackie Ash at St Mary’s School on 01943 0883000 or email: sports@stmarys.co.uk