The 2023 Cricket Season has started to take shape and there are lots of opportunities for Women’s and Girl’s Cricket in 2023. Over the past weeks and months, Somerset Cricket Foundation and the ECB have been working to put together a year of opportunities, activities, fixtures, and events that will provide numerous cricket offers for female cricketers of all ages.
The following article provides a brief description of the Women’s & Girl’s Cricket offers available in Somerset. Additionally, clubs are now able to enter each competition and express an interest in hosting festivals throughout the summer.
Girls’ Summer Playing Offers
Girls-Only Dynamos Cricket
Dynamos Cricket caters for boys and girls, but many clubs across Somerset and the rest of the country made the decision to offer a “Girls-Only” Dynamos Programme, which proved to be very popular and for many clubs.
In 2023, Girls-Only Dynamos Cricket will also be an option for cricket clubs and could perhaps be the start of a girls’ section at your cricket club!
If you would like to host a Girls Only Dynamos session, please contact Colette Gooding.
Girls Only U9s & U11s Bradfords Cricket Festivals
With the success of Bradfords Community Cricket Festivals last summer, we will be running mixed and girls only U9s and U11s festivals throughout the summer. The festivals allow clubs who run All Stars Cricket, Dynamos Cricket and those who are new to cricket the opportunity to play multiple games of cricket in one afternoon. For many this will be there first experience of cricket representing their club. The pairs format ensures that all players have an equal chance to bat, bowl and participate in the game in a friendly and inclusive environment.
The games will be 8-a-side and the format is countdown cricket, based on the Hundred competition. Each innings will be 40 balls with everyone getting the opportunity to bowl, batters will bat in pairs for 10 balls.
Under 11s Girls’ Festivals
For girls who have recently started cricket and are not yet ready for the transition to hardball cricket during the season.
In addition to the league, there will also be several opportunities for Under 11 Girls teams to participate in county-wide festivals, offering several fixtures on the same afternoon. These festivals are a fantastic option for clubs who may not be able to commit to regular fixtures or travel distances. They also provide brilliant developmental and coaching opportunities for the teams, in a social, fun, and enjoyable environment!
Festivals will be 8-a-side pairs cricket.
Expression of interest to take part and host festivals can be made here.
Under 11s & U13s Softball Girls’ League
The U11 Girl’s league will provide weekly opportunities to girls across Somerset, in small, localised groups. The league will be 8-a-side pairs cricket.
Entry for all Somerset Cricket Foundation Girls Leagues can be made here.
Under 11’s, U13s & U15s Hardball Girls’ League
The Under 11’s & U13s Girls’ League is a county-wide group, which allows for each team to play a number of fixtures against teams. With the development of the girls hubs this winter we have seen a large number of girls really enjoying hardball cricket and would like to provide more girls with the opportunity to be playing hardball girls only cricket. These will be 8-aside competition.
Entry for all Somerset Cricket Foundation Girls Leagues can be made here.
ECB Under 19’s Girls’ Club T20 Competition
This competition requires direct entry with the ECB – Registration Form can be found here
ECB U15S & U13S GIRLS’ CLUB T20 COMPETITION
This competition requires direct entry with the ECB – Registration form can be found here
Women’s Summer Playing Offers
Women’s Soft Ball Festivals
Women’s Softball Festivals are a great opportunity for teams newer players and new clubs starting softball cricket. The Women’s Soft Ball Festivals are social, relaxed, friendly, and centred around participation and ‘having a go’! Each club offers a unique spin on their own festivals, with some offering food, drinks, music and much more!
Each Women’s Soft Ball Festival is free to attend, and beginners are encouraged in a supportive environment. Throughout Somerset, we will be hosting festivals the first Sunday of every month during the summer across the county.
If you would like to host a festival please fill in the attached form
Women’s Soft Ball League
The Women’s Soft Ball League, has for divisions. Division 1 & 2 (8 aside) play normal cricket rules with Division 3 playing pairs cricket. The Women’s softball leagues is one of the most popular Women’s Competitions in Somerset with already 31 teams expressing an interest to be involved next summer.
The current format of the league for 2023 can be found here.
Any teams who would like to enter the league please contact Colette – Colette.gooding@somersetcricketfoundation.org by Friday 13th January.
Women’s (T20) Blitz
Last year Somerset Cricket Foundation launched the Women’s Somerset T20 Blitz with 8 teams involved last year we are hoping this will grow into this summer. The competition aims to bridge the gap between softball cricket and the newly formed WEPL. Throughout this season we will also be offering team the opportunity to play friendly longer format matches.
The current format of the league for 2023 can be found here.
Any teams who would like to enter the league please contact Colette – Colette.gooding@somersetcricketfoundation.org by Friday 13th January.
The Women’s Hardball and KO Cup has taken place over a number of years and with this years finals taking place at the Cooper Associates County Ground it was a great event. With the finals set to take place at CACG again this year entries are open to any Women’s teams looking to get involved.
Women’s West of England Premier League (WEPL)
The Women’s West of England Premier League (WEPL) has become the ‘top tier’ of Women’s Club Cricket in the region. In line with the current Saturday league already taking place across region.
Eight clubs from across Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire have agreed to merge with WEPL to form only the second Women’s Premier cricket league in the country, having closely watched the success of the East Anglia Premier Cricket league (EAPL) and their support of a Women’s structure within a premier league.
The new 40-over league, featuring the use of pink balls and coloured clothing, is being established as a direct result of the tremendous growth in the number of girls and women playing cricket across the region.
Matches will be played on eight allocated Sundays that do not clash with any fixtures being played by Western Storm, the regional representative squad which currently bridges the gap between county and international cricket.
The eight founding members are: Golden Hill, Frenchay, Dumbleton (Gloucestershire), Bath, Taunton Deane, Bridgwater (Somerset), and Royal Wootton Bassett, and Devizes.
Vitality National Women’s Club T20 Cup & Plate Competition 2023
Following the success of last year’s ECB Women’s Club T20 Competition, it’s great to see this competition return in 2023. This competition is an ECB-managed, open-age competition, which starts in May with localised rounds. The fixtures take place on the same dates as Women’s County Fixtures, presenting an opportunity for all club cricketers to enjoy a national competition alongside their club league programme. Clubs are also able to invite 4 guest players from other clubs to form a team, ensuring a full team can be raised.
The competition follows a “knock-out” cup format, starting locally and leading to regional and national rounds.
The entry for the 2023 season is managed directly by the ECB and entry forms can be found here.
Courses, Events, Workshops and Activities
Female-Only National Programmes Activator Training
All Stars Cricket and Dynamos Cricket relies on an inspiring volunteer workforce to deliver the energising, thrilling and supportive national programme sessions. With many clubs offering ‘Girls-Only Dynamos’ and with nearly 30% of all participants being female, it would be fantastic to see a wealth of inspiring, female role models as National Programmes Activators in 2023!
To become an activator, there are 3 simple pre-requisites;
a) Attend a free, 3-hour activator training session.
b) Complete a few quick, e-learning modules and ‘Safeguarding Young Cricketers’ Qualification (Free)
c) Hold a valid ECB DBS check. (Free for volunteers)
Any clubs who would like to host a Female-Only National Programmes Training please contact Colette – Colette.gooding@somersetcricketfoundation.org
Female-Only Foundation 1 Course (Spring 2023)
Following on from the success of the 2022 “Female-Only” Foundation 1 course, we have another course taking place in Taunton in the Spring.
- Location: Kings College School Taunton
- Dates: Sunday 26th March & Sunday 2nd April (9:30 – 4:30)
- Discount Code: WOF2023 (This provides you with 50% reduction in the course on completion of the course you will reimbursed the remaining 50%)
Introduction to Scoring & Umpiring Workshops
As the Women’s & Girls’ Cricket Playing offers continue to grow, so too does the need for scorers and umpires to support the growing game. Scorers and Umpires are essential personnel and sit at the heart of cricket activity.
Somerset Cricket Foundation will be hosting two Women’s Only Umpiring and Scoring Courses (Monday 20th February – 6:30 – 9:30 , Weston-super-Mare CC & Thursday 16th February – 6:30 – 9:30, Cooper Associates County Ground) Booking can be made here. This will be an introduced to umpiring and scoring and we encourage as many females as possible to attend. All clubs as part of the rules will be expected to provide and Umpire and Scorer for each match and teams will be deducted points if they don’t provide them.
If you have anyone else interested in umpiring and scoring courses, please contact Nicky Clarke.
