Inclusion Cricket

What is Inclusion Cricket?

In Leinster we have two particular types of cricket that we would include as being under the overarching title of ‘Inclusion Cricket’: Table Cricket and Adaptive Cricket.

Table Cricket is a game that is played on a table, usually a table tennis table, or similar dimensions. It is a miniature version of cricket which is played with side panels on the table creating a boundary and sliding fielders. A bowler bowls a small red ball down a ramp and it is hit by the batter with a miniature bat. Here is a video on how Table Cricket works: http://www.lordstaverners.org/table-cricket

What we mean by ‘Adaptive Cricket’ is that the game of cricket is adapted to suit the abilities of those involved. For example, a bigger or more colourful ball being used for people with sight impairments. Small sided games, with few rules – easy to understand for people with cognitive challenges. Shorter sessions, or sessions that change their focus often to keep peoples’ attention, suitable for people with attention defecate disorder and people on the autistic spectrum. Changing the surface you use for people with wheelchairs. The possibilities are endless if you have an open mind and think creatively to engage all abilities in the game we all love - cricket.

Cricket Leinster would now like to call disability cricket in Leinster ‘Inclusion Cricket’ in order to move away from the word disability and focus on the abilities that people do have in order to create an inclusive environment at our sessions.

What is the ‘Cricket 4 All’ programme?

This is in line with other sporting organisations across the country and internationally. For example, the FAI run Football4All programmes and Hockey Ireland run Hockey4All. Cricket 4 All is a club based programme to help integrate people with different abilities into the club environment. We have piloted two Cricket 4 All programmes across Leinster in clubs in the 2017 season. One in North Kildare Cricket Club in Kilcock, Co. Kildare – contact Naomi Scott-Hayward on nscotthayward@gmail.com or 085 746 4590. The second club is Terenure Cricket Club in Dublin 6W – contact Diarmuid Lynch on diarmuidjlynch@gmail.com or 085 726 8990. Note this will not start back up until the 2018 summer holidays.

Who to contact:

Leinster currently do not have an inclusion officer, however, all our Development Officers are trained Table Cricket leaders and have the skills and contacts to ensure everyone interested in Cricket can be catered for.

The following are your go to contacts for the different areas:

Dublin City

• Fintan McAllistar (086 1795587 or fintan.mcallister@cricketleinster.ie)

Fingal

• Reinhardt Strydom (087 9823402 or reinhardt.strydom@cricketleinster.ie)

South Dublin and the rest of the Leinster region

• Naomi Scott-Hayward (085 7464590 or naomi.scotthayward@cricketleinster.ie)

If you are interested in supporting this programme please become a member of the charity group, our supporters, The Lord’s Taverners. They’re moto is to ‘give young people a sporting chance’. You can find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/lordstavernersireland/.

To become a member is it just €60/year. You can find their Standing Order form here. The payment is taken out in January each year.

Alternatively, they hold various fundraising events throughout the year. The Christmas Lunch is coming up – you can find the details here. Email Paula if you’re interested in finding out more about their organisation at lordstaverners@live.ie.

Lastly, a thank you to all the county councils for their support over the years, and continuation of that support in the future.