With the easing of lockdown restrictions we resumed our Pathway programme at the beginning of April, with the opening phase of activity providing a progressive reintroduction to training for approximately 650 players. Within Phase 4 of the programme we delivered over 180 individual sessions, in just 16 days at six sites across the county for the Girls Under 11, 13, 15 and 18 and Boys Under 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 18 Age Groups. We would like to give a special and deserved thanks to the Clubs and Schools who enabled us to deliver this phase of activity, namely;
Kingham Hill School
Banbury Cricket Club
Cumnor Cricket Club
Moreton Cricket Club
Aston Rowant Cricket Club
Oxford Downs Cricket Club
Our Pathway programme now progresses from the training environments delivered within Phase 4 into Phase 5, where players selected to transition through to the Phase will be provided further development opportunities via localised, peer to peer match play environments.
The Internal block of activity within Phase 5 will run from the 2nd May through until the 6th June 2021 and will consist of Internal Practise Fixtures and either; Internal Festival Days or Internal Fixtures depending upon the age and stage of development. All players within each age group are split into balanced Talent Pools so that we can facilitate the Internal Practise Fixtures and will then be selected in teams to compete in the Internal Fixtures or Internal Festival days.
Approximately 560 players have been selected for Phase 5 of the Pathway programme, which itself will comprise 58 scheduled days of activity across the eleven Age Groups. Securing access to the quantity of facilities required has been a significant challenge and we are incredibly appreciative once again to all the Clubs and Schools who have kindly offered to host activity during this block of activity.
The Phase of internal match play activity supports the coaching teams in confirming their talent selection decisions for the final squads, by ensuring that decisions have been informed over a longitudinal period of time, including observations and assessment within multiple environments (indoors, outdoors, training and match play). Selection involves the identification or retention of players with the greatest potential for long-term success, with the decision making process itself involving an assessment of current performance, a prediction of future potential and the consideration of a breadth of other factors, such as skill discipline depths.
Performance Cricket Manager, Matthew Barnes