Junior cricketers to be banned from sharing gear under COVID-19 rules
Despite many families desperate to get their kids active amid tough lockdowns rules, a costly COVID-19 rule may cause more heartache with many kids facing the prospect of missing out on junior cricket this season. Here’s why.
Victoria
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Parents will be forced to stump up hundreds of dollars if they want their kids to play cricket for the first time this summer.
Strict new COVID-19 rules mean cricket gear — including bats, protective padding, gloves and helmets — can no longer be shared between players.
A basic junior cricket kit costs about $200, with pricey helmets on top of that.
While many junior cricket players have most of their own gear after a few seasons, kids just starting out are rarely equipped and usually share.
A Geelong junior cricket coach said forking out for personal equipment, such as helmets, would be an unwelcome impost on families who already paid fees.
Clubs were scrambling to find ways to lessen the financial load on families but also stay safe and within the rules, he said.
Cricket Victoria’s return-to-play guidelines direct clubs to “ensure parents and players are aware equipment cannot be shared”.
“Therefore purchasing equipment will be important and/or consider season-long loans for any club equipment that needs to be borrowed by players,” the rules, released on Friday, state.
Exceptions could only be made if the equipment was shared between people who lived in the same household, or in the case of junior matchday wicketkeeping gear, it had not been used for a week and thoroughly cleaned.
Cricket Victoria has suggested a return to competition date of October 17 for regional clubs, which it says allows time for COVID-safe plans to be put in place and grounds to be prepared. The lead-up would also allow clubs to liaise with local councils and provide information to players, parents, coaches and volunteers, it said.
“I know how much people will be looking forward to getting out on the field and around their clubs, which also provides a boost to the local economy,” Cricket Victoria chief Andrew Ingleton said.
Metro clubs are hopeful of being given the green light to train and play before summer.
For the Tankard family in Caroline Springs, that day can’t come soon enough.
After playing with Essendon’s Doutta Stars Cricket Club for a few years, Cruz, 11, and Jaden, 9, have accumulated all their own gear over the course of multiple Christmases and birthdays.
But that’s not the case for new kids who join the club just to try the sport out, said dad Sam.
And the older kids were when they started, the more expensive the equipment was, he said.
The new community cricket rules also mandate players must train in groups of 10 or less, “with one group of 10 in the nets, one group of 10 on half the ground and another group of 10 on the other half of the ground”.
High-fives, handshakes and shared food are banned. “Keep an open mind as things will be different to ‘normal’,” said Cricket Victoria.