Western Bay of Plenty Cricket Association is swinging the door open wider to give more girls a fun taste of cricket by offering a new female-only non-competitive grade for Term 4.

The new Saturday morning competition is open to girls of all ages and abilities – they can sign up to play via their local cricket club anywhere in the Western Bay of Plenty.

The competition starts after Labour day, running seven weeks to the first weekend in December.

WBOPCA operations and competition manager Mikael Carter says the competition has modified rules and flexibility to further flourish a female cricket community from the ground up in the region.

“We’ve always had some girls interested in cricket and signing up to the existing competitions WBOPCA offers via clubs – but never really to the extent where we’ve been able to offer all-girls grades of cricket.

“That’s something feedback tells us girls would like – particularly when starting a journey in a new sport or maybe a sport that’s perceived to be male-dominant, perhaps like cricket.

“So that’s WBOPCA’s goal – to be able to offer female-only grades to all age groups of girls.”

Mikael says local clubs already work to foster girls into the sport – this initiative will extend on that.

“Clubs have been driving participation – now we’re at a tipping point where we’ve almost got enough [girls to start female-only grades] but our desire is to go to the public and push it further so we can get girls’ grades across the line.”

How will the association do this?

Mikael says the new grade will be flexible in ages and player numbers in teams, it will keep to softball play – and bring more ‘fun’ to weekly offerings.

“For instance, teams might not be the same size – so you can register a team of six players and ‘borrow’ players from another team – as opposed to traditional eight-aside junior grades.

“The idea is teams can share players to work together as a community to give these girls a great experience.

“We also want to include things we haven’t in the past – perhaps a festival day, a ‘bring a friend’ week, or opportunities to travel to neighbouring regions for events with fellow female cricketers.”

Mikael says WBOPCA is conscious it needs to think outside the box when it comes to girls’ cricket.

“Where traditionally all junior cricketers from Year 5 upwards would play hardball cricket, maybe that's not the right option here. With hardball it’s pads, gloves, and a helmet. We’re saying: ‘Let’s make this easy’ and offer more softball options because we don’t want a hardball hurtling towards players new to the game

“This will to ease players into the sport and we still have hardball formats there for those who want that.”

The competition will run at parks and locations throughout WBOP.

“Those interested just need register for a club to play within this competition. We have lots of really passionate volunteers in cricket clubs here that will help new players get involved.”

Mikael says it’s time for girls to realise that anything is possible in sports! “The recent FIFA Women's World Cup was a great example of this, as was the initiation of a Bay of Plenty representative women’s cricket team for the first time last season. 

“You don’t need play a sport for years – you can have a go and see how that feels. There’s no limitations to what you can do or achieve.”

Another factor is breaking barriers to sport – such as perceptions cricket takes a long time to play, you need lots of equipment, and have to wear a white uniform.

“Most junior games are done and dusted in under 90 minutes; many clubs provide team gear to facilitate games and are flexible in regards to clothing, especially for girls.”

“Cricket Express, a local business that sells cricket gear, is keen to support growing females in the game and have provided WBOPCA with two scholarships this year.

“Girls who play in this new Term 4 girls’ competition can apply for the scholarships to support them to obtain cricket gear if they feel it’s a sport they want to pursue.

“Equipment costs can be a barrier to our game – and Cricket Express is helping to break that barrier.”

To sign up to a club to play, visit: https://wbopcricket.co.nz Or email: wbopca@gmail.com