Girls across Wales have been bowled over by their first experience of cricket – and will be getting on the outfield for more.
That’s the view of Girlguiding Cymru, who linked with Cricket Wales this summer in a bid to introduce the sport to young girls across the country.
The partnership has been the latest undertaken by Girlguiding Cymru, who have previously helped open doors to football, rugby golf, netball, hockey, volleyball and dance for their 11,000 young members.
Working together with Cricket Wales, Girlguiding Cymru – who are backed by an army of 3,000 volunteers across Wales – produced a downloadable pack called, The Cricket Challenge.
It offers various games, puzzles, creative exercises and skills challenges, all linked to the sport. Once all the challenges are completed, the girls achieve their Cricket Challenge badge.
The final challenge requires girls to actually play some organised cricket – through a cricket taster session – at their local cricket club.
The last available figures - to June 28, 2022 – show that the pack had been downloaded 383 times by a Girlguiding Cymru group or unit and that 931 badges had been given out.
“It takes time and effort to produce a good booklet and this one is great because it gets girls out there and moves them towards taking part in cricket,” says Sadie Mansfield, Active Programmes Officer at Girlguiding Cymru..
“They have to get involved and try it to get the badge.”
Building on that introduction to the sport, girls have also been able to progress to Cricket Wales’ organised All Stars programme for five-to-eight-year-olds and then Dynamos for ages eight-to-11.
Sadie adds: “The visits to local clubs have established the connections and a lot of girls have taken that up and will continue. They will become part of those cricket clubs.”
A partner also of Sport Wales, Girlguiding Cymru are committed to providing adventures, friendship and opportunities to their 1,100 groups or units that include Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and senior sections.
Sport and physical activity is a big part of that offer and the emphasis on cricket this summer reflects the way in which the sport has become both accessible and high profile across both sexes.
