Sign up your little stars to All Stars Cricket

Do you remember the fun and adventures you had as a child during your early years? Playing sport and games with friends, making memories that last a lifetime.

The clocks had moved forward, the dark days of winter were behind you and summer, with its endless opportunities for play, was on the horizon.

As a parent, do you want to help create those same big moments for your child?

That’s exactly what our new kids’ cricket programme aims to do.

Memory makers

All Stars Cricket – the eight-week initiative of weekly one-hour sessions starting in May – is designed to give boys and girls aged five to eight the best first experience of the game.

But most importantly, it’s about delivering fun, friendships, skills and an opportunity for mums and dads to share in every experience of these big moments.

The sessions aren’t just tailor-made for kids – you, as a parent, can be involved at every stage, whether at your local centre or at home with your back garden games.

Big kids and little kids

James Anderson, England bowler and father to two young girls, understands the importance of those shared moments between parent and child: “Both my parents encouraged me to be active as a kid. No matter what it was they just gave me the opportunity to do it. Without that, I don’t think I’d have developed the way I did.”

“Having kids myself, I know how important it is to give them opportunities. Giving that opportunity is a huge thing, you don’t know where it might lead to in the future.

“My kids are six and eight – it’s more about keeping them active, letting them enjoy themselves, make friends and creating relationships outside of school.

“I love getting involved [in activities with his daughters]. I try and help them enjoy it and get the most out of what they are doing, without putting too much pressure on them.”

The joy of the game

Anderson is also keen to pass on that feeling of friendship, togetherness and enjoyment: “As a kid, I was just excited about getting outside and playing sport – just charging around, really.

“Cricket was a nice way of being able to do that, whether it was playing ‘hit and run’ with my mates or, quite often, just bowling into the side of my house.

“I played a lot with my cousin in my granddad’s back yard as well. I remember loving the game – diving around, getting my clothes muddy. That’s what I loved about it. Just running around and getting involved.”

Hopefully there will be similar scenes in All Stars centres all over England and Wales this summer.  

Visit our dedicated All Stars Cricket section to find out how you and your child can get involved and to locate your nearest centre.