PREMIER CRICKET STRATEGY2017 – 2022

VISIONTO BE QUEENSLAND’S LEADING SPORTS COMPETITION BY DELIVERING OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

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INTRODUCTION

Queensland Cricket, in collaboration with the 12 Premier Clubs, is pleased to present the Premier Cricket Strategy for 2017-2022.

Premier Cricket’s role in the development of players is well established. This strategy aims to enhance and promote that role. Critically, this includes development of high quality wickets, outfields and facilities.

Equally, Premier Cricket plays an essential role in the community by providing a local pathway, access to high quality facilities and coaching, and a place to gather in pursuit of shared interests and experiences.

This plan applies to both Womens’ and Mens’ cricket. Cricket has an imperative over the next five years to sustainably grow and enhance the Womens’ game.

Club sustainability is paramount to achieving the objectives set out in this strategy. Most importantly, this includes financial viability and support for volunteers.

Whilst clubs compete strongly on-field, there is significant need for collaboration off-the-field. This strategy provides a framework for engaging with Premier Clubs and various other key stakeholders to improve Premier Cricket and the game as a whole.

High Quality Wickets, Outfields

and Facilities

Sustainable Clubs

Sustainable Participation

Growth

Connect to and Support

Community Cricket

Enhance and Promote the State’s

Leading Cricket Competition PREMIER

CRICKET STRATEGY

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HIGH QUALITY WICKETS, OUTFIELDS AND FACILITIESThe 12 Premier Clubs have agreed by consensus that collective improvement of wickets, outfields and facilities is the top priority for Premier Cricket in Queensland.

High quality wickets, outfields and facilities are critical to both talent development and community cricket growth. Wickets need to provide maximum opportunity for players to develop and demonstrate skills. High quality outfields not only improve the experience of the game, but highlight cricket’s role in the community by providing a picturesque greenspace. Quality, inclusive off-field facilities promote a high-level sports experience for players, spectators and officials.

BY 2022• 12 Premier Clubs reach agreed facility standards enabling

Premier Cricket to provide a high-quality, inclusive sporting experience and gathering space for the community.

• A collective approach to curation that minimises club costs, enhances the standards of wickets and outfields, and assists volunteers with grounds management requirements.

• Improved wickets and outfields to close the gap to First Class standards.

Reach agreed Premier Cricket

facility standards

Annual improvement based on First Class wicket and ground

standards

Collective Grounds Management

Support

HIGH QUALITY

WICKETS & OUTFIELDS

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BY 2022• Each Premier Club is recognised as a local Centre of

Excellence and provides benefits to the community as such.

• Clear and accessible pathway from each Community Club in greater South East Queensland to a Premier Club.

• Participation in Community Cricket is promoted as an essential part of the pathway.

• Increased participation from Premier Cricket player overflow in Community Cricket.

• A strong case for government support, demonstrating that Clubs cater for maximum and diverse participation.

• Community support that elevates Premier Cricket Competition.

Premier Cricket has a key role to play as a central gathering point in the community and for the game in Queensland. This includes connecting to Community Cricket and Country Cricket to provide opportunities for players and officials from across the state.

Supporting Community Cricket is essential to sustainable participation growth. This is particularly relevant in growing a female player base before progressing to Premier Cricket.

CONNECT TO AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY CRICKET

Premier-Community Club relationships

Develop/demonstrate maximum and

diverse participation across all of cricket

Connection to Country Cricket

CONNECT TO AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY

CRICKET

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ENHANCE AND PROMOTE THE STATE’S LEADING CRICKET COMPETITIONPremier Cricket fulfils development needs of players and officials by providing high quality competitions. In addition to wickets, outfields and facilities, this includes match management, playing conditions and promotion.

The growth of the Twenty20 format provides significant opportunities for Premier Cricket. Whilst we’re yet to fully understand what the International and National Twenty20 landscape will look like in the future, this is identified as an opportunity for Premier Cricket based on anticipated growth.

BY 2022• Premier Cricket playing standards & conditions aid the

development of players & officials by closing the gap to national level.

• T20 has significantly improved Premier Cricket’s profile and created improved pathways to the BBL.

• Effective promotion and media has raised the profile of Premier Cricket as the state’s leading cricket competition. Examples include weekly video content, graphics, teams of the year, season launches, history recognition and community news coverage.

Alignment to National Playing

Conditions

Leverage opportunities

provided from T20

Promotion and Media coverage

Development of Players and Officials

ENHANCE AND PROMOTE THE

STATE’S LEADING CRICKET

COMPETITION

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ENHANCE AND PROMOTE THE STATE’S LEADING CRICKET COMPETITION

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SUSTAINABLE PARTICIPATION GROWTHThe primary focus of sustainable participation growth in this strategy relates to Womens’ and Girls’ cricket. Girls’ cricket needs to grow at junior levels before transferring to senior participation. Premier Club connection to Community Cricket should support this growth.

Sustainable growth of the number of Womens’ Firsts and Seconds teams is identified to simultaneously maintain a high standard of competition and ensure a pathway for all female players.

For both Male and Female Premier Cricket competitions, support for Community Cricket competitions is needed to ensure sustainable participation growth. This is not the primary role of Premier Cricket. However, as is the case at all levels of cricket, a strong base is required. It is also recognised that all Premier Clubs field teams in, or administer Community Cricket competitions.

Support Community Cricket participation

Develop Premier Cricket Youth

Girls Competition

Sustainable growth of Womens’

Premier Teams

SUSTAINABLE PARTICIPATION

GROWTH

BY 2022• Womens’ & Girls’ participation has grown to enable

sustainable programs at both Premier and Community levels.

• A Premier Youth Girls’ competition is well established and provides a pathway to each Premier Club.

• Participation in Community Cricket (Male and Female) has grown to achieve Queensland targets.

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SUSTAINABLE CLUBS

With work being undertaken to improve all aspects of the competition, it is vital that Clubs are sustainable. Volunteer support and financial viability are identified as two key components for Club sustainability.

The Premier Clubs have indicated a willingness to work together to achieve sustainability. Initiatives that could greatly assist this include shared services and commercial arrangements.

Whilst still relatively new, the Premier Cricket Development Program has been established to drive Premier Cricket standards nationally by assisting Clubs to fulfil their dual role of talent development and community engagement. Leveraging this program can further assist Clubs to achieve sustainability.

BY 2022• Collaboration between the 12 Premier Clubs and QC has

improved the financial viability of Clubs and the competition.

• Commercial opportunities have delivered increased benefits to Premier Clubs.

• Each Premier Club’s operation is sustainable through effective volunteer recruitment, retention, training, recognition and planning.

Volunteer Recruitment, Retention,

Training, Recognition & Planning

Leverage Premier Cricket Development

Program

Financial ViabilityDevelopment of Players and Officials

SUSTAINABLE CLUBS

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This strategy is designed to:

1) Facilitate early engagement with Premier Clubs and any other key stakeholders to consult about initiatives for the following season/s;

2) Be updated annually based on new insights and changes to the external environment.

The implementation model for this strategy is outlined to be followed on an annual basis.

IMPLEMENTATION

Consult with Clubs and relevant

stakeholders (QC and Clubs)

Implement plans for next season

(QC and Clubs)

Update next season’s plans (QC and Clubs)

Consider new insights and

external changes (QC)

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