Sunday League is a competition for junior and youth participants. Depending on the age and circumstances of each player, their purpose for participating may vary. Here are some of the benefits and experiences WBOPCA believes Sunday League provides:
A connection between cricketers who play Saturday club cricket for their school and Bay of Plenty based premier clubs. Players feel they have a club (or clubs) that will support their cricketing journey beyond school and clubs feel their development pathway is supported by WBOPCA.
A platform for players in Year 10 and above to continue to play cricket against their peers. A vast proportion of cricketers in Year 10 and above in Western Bay of Plenty will be playing senior cricket. Sunday League gives them an opportunity to play with and against their peers. This is especially important for players beginning their senior cricket journey as this step up is often challenging from both a technical and social perspective; Sunday League offers them an opportunity to test their capabilities against players at a similar physical and emotional developmental stage.
An opportunity for players from the different Bay of Plenty sub-associations (Western Bay, Rotorua, Taupo, and Eastern Bay) to play each other. This offers a variety of opposition and novel competition.
A first taste of traditional cricket for Year 7 and 8 players. There are currently no district cricket opportunities for players in Year 7 and 8 in the Bay of Plenty. Sunday League at this level, provides an opportunity for players to play a format of cricket that is closer to the traditional game, should they desire this.
An increased opportunity for role development. Junior cricketers will be playing formats of cricket on Saturday that require them to be generalists; everybody has equal opportunity to bat, bowl, and field. Sunday League provides an environment in which players, in conjunction with coaches, can work towards trying out more specific roles that lean towards their preferences and/or talents. Similarly, players in Year 10 through 13 might be playing in Senior cricket teams where their role of preference isn’t an option for them due to the combination of adult and youth players in this space. Sunday League provides a platform for these players to explore roles and challenges.
Grass wicket experience. Many players in Year 7 - 10 particularly, won’t receive an opportunity to play on grass wickets very often because the grade of cricket they predominantly play isn’t scheduled on grass surfaces. Playing on grass wickets offers a different challenge and promotes the development of different skills so whilst Sunday League games won’t always be scheduled on grass wickets, WBOPCA will aim to provide these as much as possible.
Clubs
The Sunday League competition grades are open to any club with a team entered into the BOPCA Premier competitions.
WBOPCA has identified that such clubs have pathways and resources that allow them to successfully transition youth players into senior teams, particularly as school leavers, at an appropriate level for their experience and ability.
Lakelands has permission from WBOPCA to combine resources from three Premier BOPCA clubs - Geyser City Cricket Club, Central Indians Cricket Club, and Lake TaupÅ Cricket Club - because of the lower volume of junior players in this area.\
WBOPCA would consider the amalgamation of other clubs specifically for Sunday League on a case-by-case basis.
Teams
Each club may only enter one team into each grade.
It is expected that clubs will enter their ‘best available’ team in each grade for each fixture to keep the competition as level as possible. Furthermore we would anticipate that each club should work towards building squads that are resilient enough to cope with players who may have competing representative commitments, or cannot play on occasion, as they manage workloads for their own health and wellness.
Players
Interested players may join any participating club to take part in Sunday League. If your child does not belong to a club/school that offers Sunday League (perhaps because they don't have a Premier cricket pathway), they are eligible to join any other club. Players must be registered members of Saturday club cricket teams in the Bay of Plenty to be able to play Sunday League. It is not possible to play Sunday League without playing Saturday cricket.
Intermediate - Year 7 and 8
The intermediate grade is open to players in Year 7 or 8 in Term 4 2024 and then Year 8 and 9 in Term 1 2025
In Term 4 2024 teams will participate in a T20 competition, playing each other team once or twice, depending on entry numbers. This usually takes up three Sundays in Term 4.
In Term 1 2025 teams will participate in a 40-Over competition, playing each other team once.
Finals will be provided if time allows so long as more than four teams have entered the grade.
Junior Secondary - Year 9 and 10
The junior secondary grade is open to players in Year 9 or 10 in Term 4 2024 and then Year 10 and 11 in Term 1 2025
In Term 4 2024 teams will participate in a T20 competition, playing each other team once or twice, depending on entry numbers. This usually takes up three Sundays in Term 4.
In Term 1 2025 teams will participate in a 40-Over competition, playing each other team once.
Finals will be provided if time allows so long as more than four teams have entered the grade.
Senior Secondary - Under 19 or those in Year 11, 12, and 13.
The senior secondary grade usually only participates in a T20 competition pre-Christmas, playing each other team once or twice, depending on entry numbers. This usually takes up three Sundays in Term 4.
WBOPCA has identified that player development is not always about on-field technical skills and attributes.
We can see when a player hits the ball further, bowls it faster, or takes more catches and the majority of coaching hours are spent on improving such physical skills.
It is just as important to teach the skills you cannot see.
We don't immediately notice the athlete who has had an adequate amount of sleep and nutritious breakfast before a game, or the one who isn't injured because they understand how to stretch and rest their body, or the batter about to face the fastest bowler using their breath to stay calm, courageous, and focused. We can't see these things, but they still contribute to performance.
We have committed to fostering learning opportunities in all areas through workshops led by industry experts. Spaces in these workshops will be offered to Sunday League players and coaches first and then the wider public.
For the 2024/2025 season we will be partnering with Anna Veale from Fresh Coaching.
Anna's mission is to inspire and empower athletes to not only excel in their sport but also to become well-rounded individuals, fostering a community
of passionate, skilled, and empathetic players who embody sportsmanship both on and off the field.
She will be running workshops on positive thinking and growth mindset as well as breathwork to enhance sporting performance.
More information to come and you can learn more about Anna at her website - https://www.freshcoaching.me/
Term 4 2024 - T20
- Intermediate (Year 7 & 8) = $55 per 20 Over game
- Junior Secondary (Year 9 & 10) = $55 per 20 Over game
- Senior Secondary (Year 11 - 13) = $55 per 20 Over game
Term 1 2024 - 40 & 50 over games
- Intermediate (Year 7 & 8) = $110 per 40 Over game
- Junior Secondary (Year 9 & 10) = $110 per 50 Over game
- Senior Secondary (Year 11 - 13) = $110 per 50 Over game
WBOPCA aims to provide one neutral umpire for every Sunday League game.
These umpires will be qualified to at least New Zealand Cricket's foundational level (Level 1) or equivalent experience.
Youth umpires will also receive mentoring and support from experienced Level 3 umpires throughout the season.
If you, or someone you know would be interested in contributing to the cricket community through umpiring the occasional youth game on a Sunday, please email wbopca@gmail.com