Our Boys’ Talent pathway is centred around our Talent Development Framework ‘The Cumbrian Way’, helping players across the region achieve their ambitions in cricket.
Click the link below to download our Talent Development Framework.
Early Engagement Programme (EEP)
Our EEP is for 8–12-year-olds forms the start of the performance pathway and bridges the gap from schools, clubs, leagues and national programmes.
Our EEP is completely free of charge – something no other national county offers – to ensure our programme is as inclusive as possible.
For the more advanced U11s, there is also now a clear route into the U13 pathway, ensuring talent is recognised and supported.
MCC Foundation & District Programme (7 to 17 year olds)
Our new partnership with the MCC Foundation has enabled us to develop our existing District provision and offer this programme free of charge. This is a programme aimed at State School pupils.
This programme will be delivered January – April and will consist of 10 weekly sessions for boys and girls in four areas of Cumbria in order to reduce travel for players and parents. This increase in areas will help us have more girls involved at Sub-County level and help us develop our performance pathway. The age groups, which are stipulated nationally, are split in to U13s & U15s for boys, and U14s & U17 for girls. Each age group in each district will then play eight matches in the summer.
Skill Set Sessions
Skill Set Sessions are a great opportunity for coaches to work towards delivering the fundamentals in the Cumbrian Way coaching philosophy.
The programme is delivered pre-Christmas and runs for six 90-minute sessions.
County Age Groups (CAG)
The CAG programme gives boys 33 hours of winter contact time and 12 matches per squad in the summer, whilst girls have 29 hours of winter contact time and 12 summer matches per squad.
Selection is made from assessment sessions in September, with players then invited to Skill Set Sessions. CAG squads of 14 are then made and communicated to parents in early December for training beginning in the second week of January. Those not selected are encouraged to join the MCC Foundation & District programme.
Final summer CAG squads are selected at the final assessments in April. Summer matches run from April to September.
Elite Player Programme (EPP)
This programme is an ECB winter programme designed at upskilling our best young talent.
Boys
The boys’ provision has 90 contact hours over winter, with strength and conditioning, nutrition and psychology training to help them grow as players.
This is delivered in partnership with Becoming Your Best, who will help develop the players both on and off the field.
Girls
Whilst there is currently no ECB programme for girls, we know the importance of giving the girls the same opportunities as the boys.
As such, 10 girls on the Elite Player Programme will come together once a week and receive 36 hours of contact time overall, as well as support on strength and conditioning, nutrition and psychology.
They will also benefit from the partnership with Becoming Your Best.
