Background

Cricket South Africa initiated the RPC (Regional Performance Centre) and Hub Program over five years ago across the country, with one RPC (Bridgton) and three Hubs (Thembalethu, Rosemoore and D’Almeida) being awarded to SWD. The RPC’s and Hubs were awarded to affiliates based on certain criteria including but not limited to the number of feeder schools ad minimum facilities.

The RPC’s and Hubs are based in disadvantaged communities and serve the purpose of giving access to young cricketers from these communities, who would otherwise not have the opportunity to play the game. This speaks directly to the first of Cricket South Africa’s two key elements their vision: “To ensure that cricket is supported by the majority of South Africans, and available to all who wants to play it.”

Each RPC and Hub is monitored closely by SWD Cricket and Cricket South Africa to ensure certain targets are met every year. This is done through the incentive scorecard and measures aspects such number of fixtures played, win loss ratios, players selected to representative team, coach qualifications and budget management. Every hub team plays in one of the SWD Youth leagues as well as taking part in many friendly fixtures in to attempt to give the players more than 20 full games in a year.

Once the RPC’s and Hubs were awarded to SWD Cricket, based on there being an existing program, an HR process was followed whereby qualifies coaches were appointed to each program and this included, a Head Coach and two assistant coaches to each RPC and Hub. Investment was made by Cricket South Africa to improve or build facilities for the players and coaches, whilst some funding was received for equipment and a certain amount of travel expenses, in order to play fixtures and allow these young boys and girls the opportunity to compete against schools and other players of their age groups across the region. There is a limited amount of funding received annually by Cricket South Africa, managed by SWD Cricket.

Taking a step back and looking at the program holistically, it is designed to imitate what would happen at a traditional cricket school where players are exposed to qualified coaches and structured coaching, given access to equipment and playable facilities and then be able to play in various school and other cricket leagues. This gives these players the opportunity to be included in the Cricket South Africa’s Player Performance Program and also become eligible for selection to various representative teams including the SWD Youth Teams selected from all school learners in the age groups of U11, U13, U15, U17 and boys and girls U19 teams. These teams take part in the annual CSA National Weeks in December.

SWD proactively took a bold step in driving this process having identified the risk that there are very few ‘traditional’ cricket schools in the area who compete with the top schools around the country. The drive to produce players from previously disadvantaged groups also led to a proactive approach and resources, time and expertise have been invested into these players, coaches, facilities and programs over the years.

Development

RPC and Hub coaches have been given extra attention through the SWD Coaching Department over the past few years, with a view to fast tracking their development as coaches through the system. All coaches began at the CSA Level 1 stage and have progressed to Level 2, with the RPC head coach completing his Level 3 accreditation in 2019 and 2 other coaches currently on the CSA Level 3 course. This is by invitation only following a nomination process. In 2018 Elridge Booysen, the Bridgton RPC Coach was awarded the Pitch Vision Coach of the Year Award and earned a place in with the other Coaching Award winners to the USA, where they attended the International Leadership Summit.

Bridgton RPC is Oudtshoorn based and has the following feeder schools that are part of the program:

High Schools	Primary Schools
Bridgton Secondary School	Bergsig Primary School
Môrester Secondary School	Colridge Primary School
Fezekile Secondary School	Sacred Heart Primary School
Auriel College	DeVilliers Primary School
Protea High School	Saturnus Primary School
	Bongolethu Primary School

Coaches at Bridgton RPC
Elridge Booysen
Merlin Masimela
Anver Venter

Thembalethu Hub based in Thembalethu and has 9 feeder schools:

High Schools	Primary Schools
Imizamo Yethu School	Tyholora Primary School
Thembalethu High School	MM Mateza Primary School
Jonga High School	Thembalethu Primary School
Pacaltsdorp Secondary	Mzoxolo Primary School
	Parkdene Primary School

Coaches at Bridgton RPC
Lastword Tapfumaneyi
Joseph Sonti
Mihlali Gcanga

D’Almeida Hub based at Sao Bra High School in Mossel Bay and has 8 feeder schools:

High Schools	Primary Schools
Hillcrest Secondary School	Diaz Primary School
Sao Bras High School	Erika Primary School
	Garden Route Primary School
	All Saints Primary School
	Ridgeview Primary School
	St. Blaize Primary School

Coaches at D’Almeida Hub:
Ranwill Claassen
Devin Muller
Godwin Plaatjies

Rosemore Hub based at St Pauls Primary School in George and has 7 feeder schools:

High Schools	Primary Schools
Parkdene High School	St Pauls Primary School
George High School	St Marys Primary School
Parkdene High School	Rosemore Primary School
	Conville Primary School

Coaches at Rosemore Hub:
Angus Roelfse
Bianca Figeland
Sydwill Williams

Each HUB and RPC has 4 Boys teams (u11, u13, u15, u17, u18) as well as 3 Girls teams (u13, u16 and u18) that currently play in the SWD League.

The RPC/HUBS strive to play 30 matches per age group which is a total of 840 matches for the program.

Successes and Representation

Since their inception, the RPC and Hubs have consistently produced players for the SWD Youth Teams and over the past three years have seen more than 50% of players selected, coming ffrom our RPC and Hubs. This is the highest percentage across the country and the coaches are to be congratulated for the work put in on the ground, week in week out.

Looking backwards, players who have been selected for representative teams and have also gone onto coaching include:

• Tyrese Karelse (current SA U19 World Cup Player, SWD Provincial Squad)
• Mthobeli Bangindawo (SWD U19, SW Academy, SWD Provincial Squad)
• Jhedli van Briesies (SWD U13, 15, 17, 19, Cobras Cubs, Cobras Academy, SWD Provincial Squad)
• Mesuli Vuba (SWD U17, 19 (captain), Cobras Cubs, Cobras Academy, SWD Provincial Squad)
• Unathi Mbathane (SWD U17, 19 and Fort Hare Academy)
• Sintu Majiza (SWD U17 and Fort Hare Academy)
• Mihlali Gcanga (SWD U19, SWD Rural XI, SWD Focus School Coach)
• Ayabonga Kitshini (SWD U15, 17, 19 and SWD Academy, Thembalethu Hub Assistant Coach)
• Kamvalethu Feni (SWD U/15, 17, CSA U16 Tap Camp)
• Siyabonga Mbathane (SWD U15, 17, 19)
• Jean Bruiners (SWD U13, 15, 17, 19)
• Ayabonga Anthony (SWD U17, 19)
• Xavier Tekana (SWD U17, 19)
• Tyrique Wessels (SWD U19, SWD Academy)
• Reagan Rhoode (SWD U15, 19)
• Mornwal Esau (SWD U19)
• Yamkela Xakani (SWD U19)
• Anoxolo Kitshini (SWD u13, 15, 17 - captain)
• Sonwabiso Miso (SWD U17)
• Geon Burns (SWD U17)
• Mihle Dingiswayo (SWD U15, 17,)
• Lleyton Avontuur (SWD U13, 15, 17, 19)
• Ayabonga Ngondo (SWD U13, 15, 17, 19)
• Breyton Plaatjies(SWD 17)
• Chumani Manqwenqwe(SWD U15, 17)
• Lee Scheepers(SWD U15)
• Joviano Tock (SWD U15, 17, 19)
• Thabo Djwili (SWD U15, 17, CSA TAP U16 Camp)
• Dristna Arends(SWD U13, 15)
• Liyabona Malifa (SWD U13, 15, 17)
• Jesse Adams (SWD U15, 17 – vice capt)
• Anele Siyo (SWD U13 – capt), 15- vice capt)
• Ravel-Lee Kemmies (SWD U13, 15, 17)
• Rowan Lewien (SWD U13, 15)
• Thruston Murphy (SWD U13, 15)
• Antonio Bruiners (SWD U13, 15)
• Enzo Jaftha (SWD U13, 15, 17)
• Simamkele Ndukwane (SWD U13, 15)
• Lindokhule Sizani (SWD U15)
• Ziano Lewis (SWD U15)
• Raymondo Sauer (SWD U15)
• Sibabalwe Msi (SWD U15)
• Davino Koert (SWD U13)
• Enathi Kitshini(SWD U13)
• Josh Karelse (SWD U13)
• Cameron Avontuur (SWD U13)
• Sherwin Plaatjies (SWD U13)
• Juvandre Alexander (SWD U13)
• Igcobe Kitshini (SWD U13)
• Lithemba Lucas (SWD U13)
• Michaela Andrews (SWD Girls U19, SWD Womens)
• Mbali Ndukwana (SWD Girls U19, SWD Womens)
• Zoe Meyer (SWD Girls U19)
• Sange Somatambe (SWD Girls U19)
• Chani Damons (SWD Girls U19)
• Vuyiseka Bonga (SWD Girls U19)
• Sphamandla Sampoe (SWD Girls U19)
• Cheyenne De Villiers (SWD Girls U19)
• Gavoney Jansen (SWD Girls U19)
• Meche Jacobs (SWD Girls U19)
• Pamela Kumalo (SWD Girls U19)
• Zimkitha Khona (SWD Girls U19)

Many of the players above have been selected and attended Cobras regional camps, specialist training camps as well as being selected to represent the Hubs under the RPC in the National RPC U17 Week. In 2019 Geon Burns captained this selected team.

The Future

As can be seen from the list of players who have been selected above, the program is a successful one, but one that can be dramatically improved with further investment into the existing structure. The latest players to begin to come through the ranks of the RPC and Hubs are the girl’s cricketers with 10 of the 15 SWD Girls U19 squad coming from the RPC or Hubs.

An U10 hardball program has been started to introduce hardball cricket via the RPC and Hubs to the feeder primary schools in their areas to capture the players lost from the transition phase of mini cricket to hardball. A lot of potential cricketers are lost at this stage, simply due to lack of access and this program is something that with investment will produce further results down the line.

Access to quality facilities remains a challenge for the Hubs and RPC because of the growing numbers in the program. Facilities include items such as rollers for pitches and covers for turf wickets. Equipment and team clothing are another challenge for the hubs with equipment being used Monday to Saturday through the summer and then Monday to Friday in the off season as well as every second Saturday.

With distance between towns, schools and other hubs vast in the SWD region, transport always remains a problem. These are areas that SWD is investigating to partner with local business and other entities to continue to change the lives of these young boys and girls.

It is SWD Cricket’s vision to expand the number of Hubs into other towns, beginning with Knysna to enhance the footprint of this program and bring access to the un-tapped talent in these areas.

KFC MINI CRICKET PROGRAM

BACKGROUND

Mini Cricket was launched in South Africa during the 1982-83 cricket season to encourage the growth and development of cricket amongst boys under 9 and girls up to under 13 years of age. Mini Cricket gives all young children the opportunity of being exposed to the game of cricket.

The concept of Mini Cricket, which has the roots in the softball cricket played in the West Indies, has been received with tremendous enthusiasm by schools, teachers, parents and most importantly, by children.

The keywords in Mini Cricket are participation and enjoyment. It provides a medium where children can be coached while taking part in a modified game of cricket.

In its basic form, Mini Cricket consists of fast, scaled down games with eight children per team. Games last approximately one hour and one coach can supervise and instruct up to sixteen children simultaneously.

Among the many advantages of Mini Cricket is the low cost involved. The game can be played on any reasonable level surface and no pitch preparation or maintenance is involved. Mini Cricket eliminates boredom and distraction often encountered at net practice among young children and the use of specially formulated softball eliminates the fear of facing a hard ball and does away with the need for protective equipment such as pads and gloves.

OBJECTIVES

The rules of Mini Cricket ensure that every child taking part will bat, bowl, keep wicket and field during the course of the match. This prevents the domination of matches by better players and gives everyone an equal opportunity.

Games of Mini Cricket should be flexible, provide fun, activity and excitement, and should be based on the development of basic skills in batting, bowling, fielding and wicket keeping and also athletic development of child in a simple form.

The major aim of Mini Cricket is to provide a game of cricket in its simplest form to young children and at the same time provide enjoyment.

• To lay the foundation of a lifelong interest in cricket
• To prevent better players from domination
• To give all children, irrespective of ability, an equal opportunity
• To provide physical exercise in an enjoyable form
• To develop self-confidence
• To develop ball skills, which would be useful in other sports

COACHING PROGRAM

The main function of the Mini Cricket coach is:

• To see that the fun and entertainment aspect is maintained at all times
• Minimize talk, maximize action
• Minimize criticism, maximize praise and encouragement
• Always keep discipline, organization, safety, and correct handling of equipment in mind at all different Mini Cricket sessions
• Do not over-coach – teach one aspect at a time
• Encourage parent involvement
• Be enthusiastic so as to encourage youngsters to follow
• Be on the lookout for talented youngsters
• Give kids wings to fly and roots to grow

Coaching programs are run continuously throughout the season by a team of coaches representing the Union. All four of them are past/present players, playing for clubs and senior teams.

To ensure that the basic rules of Mini Cricket are followed, these coaches had to forget (only temporarily!) about the following:

• Bowler: run-up to deliver the ball, and
• Batsman: that famous AB de Villiers-side-swipe&hellep;

Coaching the coaches: Ensuring that the coaches concentrate on the “development”-part of cricket, rather than concentrating on the natural-born cricketer and his/her progress through the pipeline.

Coaching the kids: Ensuring that the correct movements were drilled into them for bowling, batting, wicket-keeping and fielding positions. Correct movements ensures less/no injuries when they’re moving into the hardball-structure of cricket.

SUCCESSES

In the 2014/15 Season, Cricket South Africa implemented the Activity-based Fund Scorecard. The main aim is to establish the level of delivery of each member affiliate in specific programs related to the Operation Model. It is to drive improvement in several areas and to provide Members with an opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for performance.

The KFC Mini Cricket has established an average 87% percentile since its (ABF Scorecard) inception.

Growth of the program has been part of the Scorecard to establish sustainability for the program, as well as ensure that kids (and coaches) continue having fun, while continuously developing cricketers and their skills:

SEASON	SCHOOLS	KIDS	COACHES
2016-17	213	4841	352
2017-18	240*	7348	732
2018-19	200**	9592	853
2019-20	197***	10845****	709

* In 2017/18 we introduced Grade R to the program, with about 37 new Pre-schools added to the database.
** In 2018/19 some primary schools were declared inactive. This was either due to no communication received from these schools for more than one season, or because they decided to focus on other sport codes at school level.
*** In 2019/20 a few more schools were classified as inactive. These schools will be contacted again in future.
**** Even though we’ve “lost” some schools active in the program, kids and coaches became more active across the board, with more age groups and intensive coaching clinics and exams for coaches.

EVENTS

In a normal nine-month season, we host two major provincial events:
1. Provincial Seminar
This event is annually hosted in August. Close to 100 coaches are invited to spend the day listening to representatives of Cricket South Africa and KFC rolling out their objectives for the coming season, as well as successes reached nationally in the Mini Cricket program.

2. Provincial Festival
This event is annually hosted in November. 800 kids, 120 coaches and possibly a friendly giant...participates in this event, where kids showcase their prowess with bat and ball for members of Cricket South Africa and KFC.

REGIONAL PROGRAMS

SUCCESS & GROWTH

COORDINATORS

Region	Name	Contact Number	E-Mail Address
Dysselsdorp	Ms Glenda Stalmeester	073 547 1000	glendastal@gmail.com
George	Vacant
Hessequa	Ms Lavona Cloete	076 252 2216	lavonacloete1@gmail.com
Kannaland	Ms Meryl Daniels	078 446 1672	danielsmeryl1@gmail.com
Knysna	Ms Christelle September	072 418 1139	ChristelleSeptemberNew@gmail.com
Mossel Bay	Mr Timino Carelse	083 779 0969	carelse.diaz@gmail.com
	Mr Will Trollip		iamwgt44wp@gmail.com
Oudtshoorn	Ms Felicity Prins	074 341 6785	josmit@mweb.co.za
Central Karoo	Vacant
Plettenberg Bay	Ms Leana Trollip	072 294 4752	leanagerber44@gmail.com

LONG OUTSTANDING SERVICE

ENQUIRIES

Genevieve Anthony
Mini Cricket Coordinator
South Western Districts Cricket – NPC
Cell phone: 066 0295043
Facsimile: 086 2474014
Email: genevievea@swdcricket.co.za
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SWD2KFCminicricket