• Ensuring that all members have the opportunity to play in competitive and friendly matches, thus learning the art of sportsmanship, as well as testing their skills against their peers from other clubs.
  
• Teaching our members about the spirit in which cricket is played as well as the techniques of the game.
  
• Providing high quality practice facilities upon which members new to the game can learn the techniques and experienced members can hone their skills.
  
• Delivering high quality coaching on a consistent basis to all academy members, regardless of ability.
  
• Ensuring that all ability groups have a coaching plan and, as ability develops, members have the opportunity to test their ability in higher groups.
  
• Ensuring that all potential members are encouraged to join, by us removing all the barriers that we can to encourage maximum participation and ensuring that existing members welcome new members fully into the club.
  
• Providing a safe and secure environment in which members can both play and learn cricket and have fun, whilst mixing in a new and diverse environment.
  
• Cricket is more that just a game. We believe that the phrase “its not cricket” empowers those of us who teach the game to stress the values of fairness, competition, inclusiveness, good sportsmanship and life long friendship that the game can bring. We want our members to take pride in winning, but also to recognise and applaud the victors when they have been beaten. We want our members to celebrate each others successes but also be supportive when others fail. In this way, we will teach our members not only cricket, but also skills that will serve them well throughout their life. This is why Cricket is more than just a game.

When we have achieved this on an ongoing basis –
we will have achieved the mission of the Cobham Avorians Cricket Academy.

About the Academy

The Academy was started in 2004 following the club 1stXI's promotion to the Surrey Championship Premier Division. It is the intention of the Academy to ensure that we have enough coaches to be able to coach members efficiently. We aim to have no less than 1 coach per 10 members. This allows us to offer focussed coaching to all and we aim to ensure that ever member has the opportunity to learn, improve and participate at all times. It is our intention to restrict membership if we are unable to satisfy this ratio. We currently compete in the West Surrey Youth Cricket U13 League. From 2007 we will compete in the West Surrey Youth Cricket U11 league as well. It is our plan to enter a U15 league in 2008. At U11 level, girls and boys compete on an equal basis. We welcome lady academy members and when there is a demand we will enter a ladies team in an appropriate league in the most appropriate year.

When does it happen?

Training sessions take place on Friday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm from the end of April until the beginning of September. Home matches usually take place on Sunday mornings. We also run some winter nets. Details will be published on the website.

What does it cost?

Academy membership for the year is £70 which includes 1 child and social membership of the club for parents and the cost of Friday night coaching sessions. Each additional child is £15. Cheques should be made payable to Avorians Cricket Club. There is also an additional £5 fee for each match played in. Under 11s pay just £3 match fee. We will never allow money to be a barrier to play cricket. Should any family feel that they are not in a position to pay the full fees on an ongoing basis, or be in a situation where there is a short term financial problem, then we urge them to contact, on a confidential basis, either the academy director or the club welfare officer and an individual arrangement can be agreed.

Money will never be a barrier at the Cobham Avorians.

How do I join?

To join the Academy, please complete the forms below and or post to 27 Ravensfield Gardens, Epsom, Surrey KT19 0ST. The first session is free of charge to give you an opportunity to see if you like us but we do need these forms completed prior to attending, so please bring them down on the first night.

Forms

• Membership Form
• Player Profile Form
• Availability Form
• Photography, Transport and Changing Policy
• Self Declaration Form (to be completed by parents)
• Photography, Transport and Changing Rooms Form to be signed by parents.
• How we carry out a Risk Assessment
• How we deal with an incident
• How we record an incident
• Our Equity Policy Statement

Leagues

The Under 13s playing in the West Surrey Youth Cricket League and from 2007 the Under 11s will also be entered into the same competition .

Selection Policy

Academy members are always selected above non-members. We will try and win games by selecting our best possible teams (our long term aim has to be to improve the standards of the colts and eventually the whole club however we will be as inclusive as we can be to develop a motivated squad of up to 20 per age group. If you have any questions on selection please speak to the age group manager concerned in the first instance and then to the Academy Director by if you require further clarification.

Coaches

Please click here for information on, and contact details for, our coaching staff.

Parent Helpers

We are always on the look out for parent helpers. If you think you might be able to help us on a regular basis, either with Friday night sessions or on match days please contact the Academy Director by or the relevant age group manager.

Equipment

Our sponsors Ffk supply white cricket shirts for all members. Please speak to the relevant age group manager if you do not have one. Ideally we would like all colts to own their own bat, box and helmet; however we do have a small supply of helmets and bats. There are a number of good cricket equipment shops in the area. We recommend Romida and Fordham Sports.

Communication

Regular (usually weekly) e-mail updates are sent out to members. You will automatically be added to the mailing list to receive these on joining but if you have not been receiving them please notify the Academy Director by . Teams for the coming week are usually e-mailed out at the beginning of each week.

Welfare

Tina Talbot is our club welfare officer. If you have any questions on Welfare please contact her by

Code of Conduct for Academy Members

COBHAM AVORIANS CRICKET CLUB is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore, members are encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the club with Academy Director, Darren Talbot

As a member of COBHAM AVORIANS CRICKET CLUB you are expected to abide by the following junior club rules:

• All members must participate within the rules and respect coaches and other officials and their decisions.
• All members must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
• Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.
• Members must wear suitable kit for training sessions, as agreed with the coach/team manager.
• Members must pay any fees for training or events promptly.
• Junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or whilst representing the Association/Club at competitions.
• Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the Association/Club premises or whilst representing the Association/Club.

Code of Conduct for Academy Parents/Carers

• Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them.
• Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials.
• Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results.
• Never force your child to take part in sport.
• Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all.
• Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.
• Publicly accept officials' judgements.
• Support your child's involvement and help them to enjoy their sport.Use correct and proper language at all times
• Encourage and guide participants to accept responsibility for their own performance and behaviour.
  

Events

We have an Academy Awards night in mid-August which usually starts with an inter-club tournament open to all members. Other Academy events include a spectacular Firework night which is fast becoming the talk of Cobham!

Questions

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Academy Director by

Coach Biographies

Darren Talbot - Academy Director, Under 13 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07912 873 591 |

Darren set up our Academy in 2004 following the club's promotion to the Premier League. A former captain of Surrey Young Cricketers, Darren has played club cricket for Walton-on-Thames, East Molesey , Oatlands Park and Dover . Mainly a slow arm bowler, Darren still holds the KCS Wimbledon school post-war record for number of wickets in a season (56 in 1987) and also held the Walton-on-Thames 2nd XI League record for wickets in a season. His best bowling was 8-46 and his top score and only century (to date!) was 102 whilst guesting for Old Gordonians v Harrods. Since starting the Academy Darren has stopped playing regularly due the time constraints involved with running the Academy but is keen to return to action in the near future. Darren holds the UKCC Level 1 coaching qualification and will be taking level 2 in the autumn.

Peter Worth – Coaching Co-ordinator, Under 13 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07774 264445 |

Peter was (is!!) a right arm fast medium bowler and a right handed batsman who made his senior debut for Blackheath Wanderers Cricket Club at the age of 15 in 1977. He played for BWCC between 1977 and 1987, was a member of the Kent U19 development squad in 1980 and represented Royal Holloway College , University of London between 1982 and 1985. His career top score was 101 not out, his best bowling figures were 7-31 and he took one hat trick. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Royal Holloway, University of London Cricket Club . His son, Dominic, is an Academy Colt. Peter is taking the UKCC Level 2 coaching qualification this autumn. Odd cricketing fact: “Opening the bowling one day, having bowled a maiden in my first over, I took a hat trick, (batsmen 1, 3, 4) in my second over. My colleague opening the bowling at the opposite end, also having bowled maiden in his first over, took 2 wickets in 2 balls in his second over, leaving our opponents somewhat struggling at 0-5!”

Steve Harpley – Executive Coach
Tel: 07855 437179 |

Steve is a classed as an all rounder in all areas! A right arm fast medium bowler and right handed batsman. Steve made his senior debut at the tender age of 11 for Bagshot 3 rdXI in the summer of 1992. He left Bagshot four years later and moved to Valley End for a season, where he still plays on Sundays. Steve then left to peruse stronger colts’ cricket and moved to Guildford where he spent 7 seasons. He became a captain at Guildford for 3 seasons, for the 3 rdXI on Saturdays and two successive years for the 1 stXI on Sundays. Steve enjoyed three seasons playing on and off for the Saturday 1 stXI in the Surrey Championship and was involved in the game when the Avorians scored a then league record 400 plus at Guildford . Steve then moved on to play for Cranleigh 1 stXI for a season before arriving to play for the Cobham Avorians 1 st XI in 2006. Some may say more clubs then hot dinners......... how wrong they are! Steve is an ECB level 2 coach. He has coached for 8 years, coaching all ages from under 7 to aduls. He currently coaches during the winter at the Surrey Cricket Centre and has coached there for 5 years.

"Cricket clubs success comes from developing youth. Cobham Avorians are late starters, but will reap the benefits in years to come, helping the whole club develop to become a major force within surrey cricket. I'm looking forward to helping Darren, Peter and the club over the coming years to help produce excellent young cricketers while also ensuring that fun is had by all."

Simon Yorke - Under 11 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07973 617964 |

Simon has played cricket and enjoyed it all his life but by his own admission has never been very good at it! However with his four boys he is undefeated in garden cricket with a top score of 36 with six and out in the flower bed (although they might dispute that but Dad's decision is always final!). Simon loves teaching sport to children and would have loved to done it for a living and still would like to once he has funded the four kids if he can ever get them of the payroll. Simon is taking the UKCC Level 1 coaching qualification this autumn.

Will Cooper - Under 11 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07751 202059 |

Still being a pup in the cricketing world, Will's feels that his experience is somewhat dwarfed by some of his esteemed colleagues! He is an off spin bowler and right hand batsman who made his senior club debut for Whiteley Village 1st XI aged 12 and then played for them for 10 years. He played at Royal Holloway University and was part of one of the most successful eras of cricket ever there. In the four years he played, the team lost only twice and became ULU cup champions twice. In this time Will was leading wicket taker, had the best average in the club and also the best economy rate. He also had an overall batting average of 37.50 which considering he could only bat as high as number 8 was a pretty good achievement! He was greatly honoured when, in his final year he took up the presidency and managed to train and introduce the first ever women's cricket team to the College. Will is currently introducing himself to all parts of Cobham Avorians Cricket Club having joined us in 2006 and hopes to be playing for us as soon as his transfer forms are completed! Will is taking the UKCC Level 2 coaching qualification this autumn.

Brian Burgess - Under 9 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07831 159806 |

Brian is married to a cricket widow having played competitive cricket since the cradle and is currently working at Lord's as a tour guide. He captained Kent , London and South of England schools and played top club cricket in London/South East, Manchester , and Birmingham and represented the League side in each area. He also played for Cheshire and toured Hong Kong , New Zealand and Australia with the Midlands Club Cricket Conference team. He recently played for the Surrey over 50s in the County Championship . As an opening batsman Brian scored 55 centuries (and lots of 0s). He also kept wicket (moderately he says modestly) for about 20 years and bowled very occasional off spin (with one 5 wicket haul). Brian played for Avorians for 15-20 years, including in the Surrey Cricketers League championship winning side. He is a UKCC Level 1 qualified coach.