In 2017, 457,061 children experienced cricket coaching and competitions through Chance to Shine in 5,053 state schools – that’s one in every five primary, one in every three secondary and one in every five special schools in England and Wales.

We have supported children and schools to continue playing cricket by funding qualified coaches, training teachers, providing coaching resources and hosting competitions, as well as supporting children to progress to a local club or community cricket hub.

Through Chance to Shine Street, 4,314 children had the opportunity to play all year round, many love the game but had little opportunity to train with qualified coaches and compete within their community.

Giving children a great experience of cricket

In 2017, almost half a million children took part in Chance to Shine. For some, it was their first experience of cricket – 43% of children surveyed had never played before, while 12% had played at a club and the remainder played informally with family.

As one teacher put it, coaches created “a buzz around cricket” and having a “real” coach made the children feel special. 

“I like it a lot because our coach lets us play fun games to start off with to help us prepare for the actual game. He makes the teams fair so that we all have an equal chance. Cricket is always really, really fun!”
- Pupil, Hampshire

 

Building a sustainable culture of cricket

Chance to Shine plays an important role in introducing and sustaining cricket in state schools. Teachers stressed the importance of having an external, qualified, coach to inspire children and teachers alike, as well as to support entry into competitions and make links with local clubs. 

We know how important it is to support teachers to become confident in coaching cricket, and in 2017, 6,827 teachers were trained by Chance to Shine coaches. As a result, 79% of primary school teachers surveyed said they have led a cricket session without a Chance to Shine coach present.

At Godalming Junior School, the staff credit coach Vicki with giving them the skills and the confidence to turn the school in a 'hub for cricket in the area'. Read their story here.

Giving children a route to progress

Since Chance to Shine, many children have continued to play cricket or would like to in the future – as one girl in Wiltshire was keen to stress: “I love cricket because it’s a sport that I’m good at now and it’s a really fun and unique game! My coach Will is very good and my teachers helped me improve too. I joined a cricket club inside and outside of school (Potterne). I did this because I want to get better at a sport that I love.”

The Chance to Shine coaches make sure that they give the children who are keen to continue playing cricket all the information they need to transition to playing the sport out of school. Coaches direct children to their nearest All Stars Cricket session, local cricket club or Chance to Shine Street project.

Creating opportunities through Chance to Shine Street

Street projects provide opportunities for young people in urban areas who, for a variety of social, economic or geographical reasons, are less likely to have access to or play cricket at a traditional cricket club. Street projects are free and run year-round, with at least one coaching session or competition taking place 356 days of the year across 165 projects. 

Cricket was the key attraction for many young people – they had played tapeball cricket before and enjoyed watching and playing cricket with their families in the past. Street provided the opportunity to play a familiar type of cricket more frequently and with a purpose. Sessions are attractive because they offered ‘serious’ coaching and regular competitions. Others value the opportunity to make friends, be active and ‘de-stress’, supported by coaches they like and respect. 

In North London, the Chance to Shine Street projects are giving children and young adults from different backgrounds a place to play the sport that they love. Read their story here.