Improvements and investment crucial for grassroots cricket

There could be a bright and prosperous future on the horizon, and not just in cricket

Enforced pauses, especially in the sporting arena, are often met with dismay and misery. However, the mid-season halt in the cricket world could prove to be beneficial in several ways. And, when you couple that with significant investment into the grassroots tiers, there could be a bright and prosperous future on the horizon, and not just in cricket.

Investment in any area of sport is crucial but at the grassroots level more so. It’s where players who go on to play cricket for England, competing in iconic events such as The Ashes, are made. Cricket, like so many other sports, is built on grassroots. It’s the sturdy foundation which success grows from, giving us the players and the memories which live on forever.

So, news of GVC’s Pitching In initiative is undoubtedly good for grassroots sports such as cricket. Multi-millions of pounds will be pumped in by GVC Holdings, who own multiple brands in the gaming sphere, with their Party Casino site very much the jewel in their crown. The investment will immediately enable the support and promotion of sports like cricket at a grassroots level, arriving at the perfect time in many respects.

Financial investment is essential, but so is the investment in people as well. And during the mid-season pause, many cricket clubs used their time to good effect. At the grassroots level, cricket clubs are made up of volunteers, and they exist within communities. Unlike those in paid positions further up the pyramid, they may not have the training or the expertise which matches their enthusiasm and hard-working ethos.

The mid-season pause has been effective in allowing volunteers to take part in courses and training, which will enable them to be more proficient at the tasks they undertake. Maintaining a pitch, especially one which is multi-use, is a tricky process even for a person with all the relevant qualifications and expertise. And now, thanks to sporting clubs investing in their people, volunteers have had the opportunity to acquire new skills, which they have then put straight into action before sporting events restarted.

Pitch maintenance is arguably the most critical task at grassroots level, especially. Many cricket clubs will see their field of play used for other sporting activities such as football and rugby as well, which makes the investment in people more essential than ever due to their influence on multiple disciplines of the sport. Having qualified volunteers will also help to save money in the long run, which is vital at the lower levels of cricket.

They will, for example, be able to pass on their skills and knowledge to new volunteers who get involved, which will be a boost for anyone taking on new tasks for the first time. It will allow the wheel of grassroots cricket and other sports to continue turning through generations, keeping the solid foundations in place for many years to come, which can only be a good thing.