FOLLOWING up on a highly successful 2021 season, which saw the staging of an inaugural Over-50 tournament, the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) is anticipating an even more prosperous 2022.
The 2021 season was also boosted with the addition of the North ground at Ellesmere, following the return of the South the previous year. Both grounds were inaccessible for over four years, following infrastructural works by the City authorities at the twin venue.
With the Annual General Meeting (AGM) set to be held virtually on January 30, the Association has already received several new applications for consideration for the new season, set to commence in May.
The inaugural Winter Season, which got underway at the end of November and which was halted for the Christmas season, was set to resume on the second weekend in January but suffered a postponement because of the Ontario health authorities COVID-19 restrictions. The SCA is however aiming for a February 5 restart following the Provincial government’s announcement that gyms will be allowed 50 per cent capacity.
The Winter Season is being held at the luxurious and spacious Pickering Soccer Centre, Ontario with double-headers being played a weekly basis. While five teams started initially, there’s the likelihood that several more will join once the season recommences.
Pointing out that outdoor cricket is limited to the summer season in Canada, SCA President Shiv Persaud disclosed that it was critical to have competitive cricket for prolonged periods to truly develop the skillset and mindset of players.
“An indoor season during the winter, although a shortened game, will provide clubs with the opportunity to grow, in addition to their indoor training. It will be helpful in honing skills as well since players have to learn how to rotate strike and minimise dot balls. Bowlers have different playing conditions to adapt to with little room for error,” Persaud emphasized.
The SCA will also be participating in the Cricket Ontario 2022 National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) training. This program provides coaches with the required training in making ethical decisions, planning a practice, teaching and learning.
The NCCP provides standardized, inclusive, and sport safety education to coaches and coach developers. Since 1974, more than 1.8 million coaches have engaged in NCCP training to develop their own coaching skills and to improve the performance of their participants at all levels of sport.