Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams

I suppose it's a lot easier to find time for cricket at boarding schools, what with the kids being there on summer evenings and at weekends.

 

In my experience (25-30 different primary schools - odd high school and some SEN ones) many have taken out the competitive angle of things even like sports day. It saddens me as for some who aren't academically astute but are physically so can't be shown to shine and rewarded on the one day they ought to be. All the kids get graded in their tests and SATS etc but don't get recognition for been the fastest runner of best thrower. I once even got pulled up by a Head as I gave the kids an end of term option as a treat for effort and good behaviour of what they'd like to do in my last session. They'd spoken between themselves prior to it as I'd said get your heads together for next week. They chose as a group lads v lasses football. Mid lesson he collared me and said I'd got to mix it up........ Wtf. He reported me.

The majority of schools didn't have a football team, nevermind a cricket one. I've coached in schools and had to provide my own balls as I've had a group of 30 kids and football is the term topic and there's 2-3 balls in the equipment room. I've had to take my own pump in to make those useable. Then walk through school and there's tablets, computers, laptops galore sat in a library doing nothing. Another school where they'd spent hundreds on tennis nets for the last term and asked if I could plan a tennis term. Turned up, they'd no rackets or balls so had to improvise and use hands and football to play versions like head tennis.

I worked in some pearlers. Some good ones as well but sports provision in my experience is definitely bottom of the tree.

 

I think it's a generation thing as well. Grandad, Dad now son play. If there's not the initial starting point it's very rare for a kid to just randomly decide to take it up. And like we've all more or less said the opportunity isn't always there.

 

Not STEM, is it?

They're even getting shut of English Lit now, don't be daft asking for funding for sport!

(On your side here by the way, just in case the sarcasm isn't obvious )

 

Time is a huge issue from my experience. I play at a local club - there's loads of All Stars (U9s), plenty move up to U11s right through to U17s. But then when you ask them to play on a weekend for the 2nd or 3rd team, they don't want to give up 10 hours of their weekend. Can't blame them really.

I can see 50 over league cricket dropping right off in the next 5 to 10 years. I can see T20 being the preferred format - maybe starting at 2pm on a Saturday and finishing at 5pm.

Kids love the coloured clothing and pink balls etc. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's better than the game dying out completely.

 

The funding was brilliant in the 5 years post the 2012 London Olympics and it's sporting legacy. Then wallop. The walls came tumbling down to quote Sir Paul Weller.

 

Another thing that doesn't help. I've loads of mates I go to football with. Most aged 25-50. Mention going to Shaw Lane to watch Barnsley on a nice summer afternoon. Free in. Can take your own tinnies. So more or less a free day out. They all turn their noses up. But go and sit a beer garden paying £4 a pint. They could do that at Shaw Lane for next to nowt and not even watch the cricket. It baffles me. What chances do the kids have ?!?

 

Never known a school round here not to have a competitive sports day or school teams and tournaments. You have a Wakey and Barnsley school athletics day too at secondary.
I can see why girls v boys might have been commented on @Cunning Stunt.
Often sporting success gets recognised in school assemblies too.

 

Vast majority of schools I worked was Donny, Huddy and a few in Barnsley.

The boys v girls was their choice so I went with it as a treat. I played on the lasses team. They loved it. Last session before leaving primary school. Signing each others white PE polo shirts after the session. I'd bought them all ice pops etc with the staffs permission. Surely that's what it's all about?!?

The main two schools I worked for celebrated attendance and student of the week. All academic and not anything to do with sporting achievement.

Just my experience.

 

My experience in Liverpool is different - we've played loads of different competitive sports. School football scene is quite big too my proudest moment was getting to Anfield with my school team. Also taken children to cricket, swimming, indoor and outdoor athletics , curling, dodge ball tournements.


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If you're talking primary, I doubt student of the week would be the most academic, more someone who had put the sffort in and improved.

 

It got shared about so no-one was left out. Regardless of effort or achievements. Just so nobody was excluded.

 

You're very lucky then. I wasnt employed by the schools. I was self employed and got my work through a company that had TA's and permanent coaches. I spent 6-7 years in one particular school and had glowing references from the Head.

I did experience the difference between schools. I suppose it was the majority of times I got put with the more behaviourally challenged kids due to my age, experience and parental skills. That rather than sticking an 18 year old Uni student in. Behaviour management is key. So I reckon I got a raw deal tbf. But I wouldn't change it. Prefer the naughties to the privileged. Far more comfy and enjoyable.

 

Taught in private schools and in areas of high deprivation much prefer the tougher kids