Our Player Pathway
An accessible player-centred year-round development programme for children aged U9 - U18 that aims to instil a lifelong love of the game and support every child to reach their full cricketing potential.
Our staff and volunteers embrace cricket’s Core Values in
everything we do. These values are embedded into our Player Pathway and
help guide how we work, play and make decisions on and off the field.
We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion across the sport of cricket from those playing, watching, volunteering, officiating, coaching, and working, so that everyone can say “Cricket is a game for me”.
The Cheshire Cricket Board supports the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code
Girls - Jess Lewis
Boys' and Girls' Development Scheme
Taster & Observation Sessions (new from Sept 2025)
These free of charge sessions offer children the experience to sample some of the practices, games and skill development that feature as part of our wider Player Development Scheme. These sessions can also help in player observation and identification and where appropriate, some players can be signposted to representative courses and county trial dates. Courses advertised on website when available.
Summer Course (Jul-Aug)
Open to all children & abilities (8-15 year-olds). 1-week courses (Mon-Fri)
Group coaching, softball games, competitions & nets (hard & softball)
Outdoor venues across the county. Courses advertised on website when available.
Autumn Course (Sept-Oct)
Open to all children & abilities (8-16 year-olds). 4-6 week courses
Group coaching, softball games & nets (hard & softball)
Indoor venues across the county. Courses advertised on website when available.
Advanced Course (Oct-Jan)
Invite only courses for players between 7-18 who have received a nomination from a Cheshire based community cricket club or Cheshire Cricket Board coach. A mixture of group coaching, athletic development, games-based-learning and net sessions (hard-ball)
District Course (Jan-Apr)
BOYS: Invite only courses for U11 (7-11), U12 (12), U13 (13), & U15 (14-15) age groups. At the conclusion of the courses all players will be considered for selection for our District Festivals (U11, U12, U13 & U15)
GIRLS: Invite only courses for Girls for U11, U13, U15 age groups. At the conclusion of the courses all players will be considered for selection for our District Festivals (U11, U13 & U15)
Excellence Course (Jan-Apr)
BOYS: Invite only courses for U12-U17 age groups. At the conclusion of the course all players will be considered for selection for Cheshire's County Age Group squads. Please note – players on the U12-U15 Excellence Course for boys, will also be considered for selection for our District Festivals (U12, U13 & U15).
GIRLS: Invite only courses for U13, U14, U16 & U18 age groups. At the conclusion of the course all players will be considered for selection for Cheshire's County Age Group squads. District as well
Emerging Player Programme (Oct-Apr)
Sits at the top of the Pathway
BOYS: Invite only for high performing players from Cheshire's County Age Group squads.
GIRLS: Invite only for high performing players from Cheshire’s County Age Group squads. In partnership with Lancashire Thunder.
‘’My time with Cheshire was not only the most enjoyable of my childhood but also fundamental in helping me to become the cricketer I am today. The lessons I learnt about teamwork , leadership and all-round cricketing skills at a young age were essential. I can only say thankyou to the coaches who helped me at a young age to get to where I am today’’ George Balderson England U19s, Lancashire
’’Cheshire Cricket helped shape my game to become the player I am today. I learnt to believe in myself and that handwork, effort and determination pays off. Enjoy your cricket and embrace everything you learn on the courses’’ Chris Edwards England LD Captain CCB Coach
‘’Playing club and county cricket in Cheshire played a huge part in my development and really sparked my love for the game’’
Sophie Ecclestone, England, Lancashire, Manchester Originals