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OXFORDSHIRE CRICKET  PLAYER PATHWAY PHILOSOPHY 2016    

    

 

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Contents  Page  3 ­ Introduction 4 ­ Philosophy 5 ­ Development vs Winning 6 ­ The rôle we can play: Player, Coach 7 ­ The rôle we can play: Parent 8 ­ Oxfordshire Player Pathway Explained ­ Streaming and Selection 9 ­ Oxfordshire Player Pathway Explained ­ Streaming and Selection 10 ­ Oxfordshire Player Pathway Explained ­ Streaming and Selection 11 ­ The Programme ­ County vs Development 12 ­ Elite Players Oxfordshire­Sussex Academy 13 ­ Long Term Athlete Development in Cricket 14 ­ Long Term Athlete Development in Oxfordshire 15 ­ Men’s player pathway in Oxfordshire 16 ­ Women’s player pathway in Oxfordshire  

   

 

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 Introduction 

 This document outlines the philosophy underpinning the Oxfordshire Cricket player pathway.                     It will also provide a programme overview for coaches, managers, administrators, parents,                       schools and others who play a part in the development of young cricketers involved in the                               Oxfordshire Cricket Youth Performance Pathway and the progression into senior squads.   Supporting this document will be handbooks for parents, coaches and players that will set                           out detailed operational guidelines.  This document sets out guidelines and provides player development principles using the                       philosophies of the Long Term Athlete Development model as a framework. It describes the                           performance pathway for players within Oxfordshire Cricket and provides guidelines on the                       appropriate programme focus along a child’s cricketing journey from novice to accomplished                       performer.   If all those involved in this process understand what is required, when, how and by whom,                               then we can create the best environment for realising individual potential in the sport. This                             model provides a framework which all those involved in the development of that individual                           can use for guidance. It should not be viewed as a rigid set of rules, but more as a guiding                                       set of principles which can inform decision making. It will, and should, evolve over time and                               be progressively adapted to the programme structure and needs of cricketers in Oxfordshire.   

      

 

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 Philosophy 

 Our aims within our performance programme are to promote excellence, by creating the best                           environments for identifying, developing and nurturing each player's potential, whilst creating                     a clear pathway for Oxfordshire Players to progress within the game.   Bringing players through from our Inclusivity programmes and our club and school network                         and onto the First Class game and beyond is the ultimate mission.   Our programme will: 

  

 

 

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Development vs. Winning  

The Oxfordshire Cricket Youth Player Pathway is concerned with the development of                       players. You may have heard this discussed as being more important than winning.   Let’s be clear up front – always try to win. We want to create competitively driven cricketers.                                 It’s winning at any cost that is a problem. When the outcome of a match is more important                                   than the process of playing, making mistakes and learning, ensuring young players have the                           chance to perform, then we must take a step back.  The significance of winning shifts as players progress through the programme. At the early                           age groups, there will be a focus on development and diversity of experiences, gradually                           moving to a more competitive focus with greater specialisation as players progress to U17s                           cricket. This approach is supported by principles of player development.  Concepts behind a development vs winning focus is detailed further below:  

 RESOURCES 

A higher purpose than winning Changing the Game Project ­ Player, Parent, Coach interactions 

   

 

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The rôle we can play  

  

  

      

 

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The rôle we can play  

 A higher purpose than winning 

Changing the Game Project ­ Player, Parent, Coach interactions  

  

    

 

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Oxfordshire Player Pathway Explained ­ Streaming and Selection   The 2014­15 winter was the first year of our new structure of Youth Performance Cricket.                             Following our review of the County and District Cricket played in the 2014 season, we have                               introduced a number of changes, aimed at improving the experience for all the players who                             are involved in the system at every level.  For boys at every age group from Under 10 through to Under 16/17 there will be three                                 squads selected: one County Squad and two parallel Area Development Squads, named                       Wessex and Mercia. These Area Squads have replaced the District Squads that ran in                           previous years. Girls have County squads at Under 11, 13, 15 and 17s and a Saxons                               (development) squad at Under 11, 13 and 15 age groups.  

 

 

 

 

 

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Oxfordshire Player Pathway Explained ­ Streaming and Selection   

Streaming: Why this process? 

We believe this new process is a much more robust assessment and selection process that                             

ensures players have an extended opportunity to demonstrate their current skills and potential for                           

improvement. It’s more aligned to a long term view of talent and effective talent ID. It not only                                   

gives players the opportunity to receive professional coaching but those that do not progress at                             

each stage will receive feedback on areas of their game that if improved will develop their                               

cricketing skills and likelihood for selection the following season. This replaces the traditional                         

one net session trials where players would be selected or sent back to their club or school at the                                     

end of a few hours of trials.  

 

Streaming timeline: 

Stream A: October ­ November 

Assessment of newly­nominated players and last year’s Development players to decide if they                         

should be assessed for selection in the next season's County and Development sides. Players                           

not progressing will receive feedback on key areas for development. 

Stream B: November ­ December 

Assessment of players that have progressed from Stream A and last year’s County and Saxons                             

players. Players in Stream B are assessed for selection into County or Development. Not all                             

players will be selected in a County or Development squad. Players not progressing will receive                             

feedback on key areas for development. 

Stream C: January ­ August 

Players from the EPP/Academy join selected players to train and play in the squads that they                               

were selected for from Stream B. 

 

 

    

 

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The Programme ­ County vs Development  

  Movement between squads: Player movement between squads is encouraged when opportunities to do so arise. Player movement will be judged case by case and will be based on what is deemed best for a player’s development.   Typically these will be situations when player availability or injury creates space in either CAG winter or summer squads. The move could be a temporary move to allow for integration or permanent move into the squad if a space dictates.   Players will only be moved from CAG into Development after consultation with coaches, the Performance Cricket Manager, parents and finally the player. This will only occur in situations where it is clearly in the best interests of the player and their development to play in a Development side.   Playing up age groups: Playing up an age group is assessed on a case by case basis. A decision whether a player plays up an age group is decided by the Performance Cricket Manager in consultation with coaches, parents and the player.   The decision to move a player up is based on what is seen as being best for the player’s development. Moving up an age group may be done for a whole season or occasional games. It is based on a variety of factors: physical and emotional maturity, a player's skill level, and the level of cricket that would provide the appropriate challenge.       

 

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Elite Players  Oxfordshire­Sussex Academy 

  

 What is the Academy: The Academy is an elite development programme designed to provide additional support and                         opportunities for players in the Under 13 to Under 17 age groups who have shown high levels of                                   performance and/or potential over the previous season(s). It is for players highlighted with the                           potential to develop into elite cricketers. Along with providing support and resources, the Sussex                           CCC ­ Oxfordshire partnership also creates a gateway into a first class county and beyond for                               any players that continue to excel. 

The programme is designed to constantly challenge players and give them the opportunity to                           develop their skills to another level. We expect players to develop all areas of their game:                               technical, tactical, mental and physical. At each session the players will spend time working with                             both specialist cricket and strength and conditioning coaches.  

Opportunities still exist for players to be invited to academy sessions on top of their County                               programme. Academy coaches will be involved throughout the winter and summer programmes                       monitoring the progress of all players in the Oxfordshire Youth Player Pathway. 

  

 

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 Long Term Athlete Development in Cricket 

 Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is about providing the player with the right training                           and practise, competition and recovery over the course of their career, particularly in relation                           to the important early growth and development years of young people. We have used its                             principles as a framework for describing the stages of development for players in                         Oxfordshire.  LTAD takes a long term view of player development, trying to make all individuals as good                               as they can be. Therefore this model should not be seen as exclusively about producing elite                               players, but providing everybody with the opportunity of realising their potential within the                         sport. It is just as important to create a positive, dynamic and rewarding cricket environment                             in order to encourage participation and an early love of the sport, as producing England                             cricketers of the future.   A player­centered approach to coaching is central to the delivery of this model. This means                             that developmental programmes are appropriate to that individual’s specific needs and                     where possible are not just generic to a group of players within a team who happen to be the                                     same chronological age. Everybody goes through the same developmental stages from                     childhood to adulthood, although the timing and intensity of those physical, mental and                         emotional changes vary from individual to individual. Identifying an individual’s particular                     stage of growth and development forms the basis for effective and fulfilling programmes for                           both player and coach. 

   

 

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Oxfordshire Cricket ­ Men’s Player Pathway  

       

 

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Oxfordshire Cricket ­ Women’s Player Pathway