Street cricket Chance to Shine Street brings cricket to thousands of young people who traditionally face barriers to getting active. It uses the sport to increase aspiration, promote social cohesion and create opportunities in diverse communities and areas of deprivation. There are 200 Chance to Shine Street projects across the country. It’s a fast-paced version of the game played with a tapeball - a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape - in small enclosed spaces. With six players per team and 20 balls per innings, it’s cricket’s answer to five-a-side football. Check the rules out here. Why do we offer Street cricket? We feel that every child, no matter where they live, should have the opportunity to play cricket. Chance to Shine Street is focussed in areas with a lack of accessible clubs and green spaces; it aims to make cricket accessible to young people throughout the country. Street cricket offers a different way into the sport, with 74% of players not part of a traditional cricket club when they joined the sessions. Some - around 1 in 10 - do go on to play at a traditional cricket club or enter park-based T20 leagues but for most the Street project becomes their club. The projects run after-school or at weekends, they are completely free, players don’t need to bring any equipment and can wear whatever they like. The sessions run in sports halls, youth clubs, parks and community centres for two mixed age groups - Youths (8–16) and Young Adults (16–24) – and in some locations we run female-only sessions too. Competition All participants involved in Chance to Shine Street projects have the opportunity to take part in local competitions against other nearby projects in the school holidays, with the possibility of progressing to regional and then national competitions each year. We hold Under-15 and Under-12 age-group mixed competitions as well as a girls only competition. We also run weekly young adult leagues in some towns and cities with opportunities to progress to regional and national competitions for league winners. The chance to compete against others from across the country is something which they relish, and equally as important as testing themselves against the best in the country is the opportunity to make new friends and to visit new places. Who does Street cricket reach? Chance to Shine Street is bringing the game to some of the most disadvantaged areas the country, two thirds of our projects based in the most deprived areas and the sessions provide them with an alternative to hanging out on the streets or sitting at home in front of the TV. 82% of young people who attend Street are from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Street is helping to break down social barriers and integrate people into their local area. In a recent Chance to Shine survey of 826 Street participants 95% of young people agreed ‘I feel like I belong’ when at their Street project. Developing leaders We’re incredibly proud of the fact that 34% of coaches that lead established Chance to Shine Street projects were previously participants or volunteers. Having coaches that come from similar backgrounds is incredibly inspiring for the young cricketers. Coaches deliver life skills sessions as well as cricket. Young people who show leadership potential are encouraged to train as coaches. 88% of young people agreed they felt confident in their ability to be a leader. Find your nearest Street project If you are interested in attending a Chance to Shine Street cricket project, click here to fill in a contact form. Please note this list is not exhaustive and Street projects can change venues at short notice. iFrames are not supported on this page. It's fun and it's healthy and I also like socialising with others and I enjoy playing cricket. - Female Chance to Shine Street cricketer, age 11 Manage Cookie Preferences