ECB boss admits challenges remain for cricket after positive impact report

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The CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Richard Gould, has stated that making cricket accessible to all individuals and eliminating obstacles remains a complex task. His aim is to make cricket a sport that is available and open to everyone, regardless of their background.

On Tuesday, the ECB released a report called the Impact of Cricket Report. This report was created in collaboration with The Sports Consultancy (TSC) who evaluated the initiatives, plans and information of the governing body. They also analyzed the outcomes generated by these activities.

Besides proving how cricket helps individuals maintain physical fitness and good mental health, participating in the sport has been proven to boost children's self-assurance and foster positive effects on communities and social harmony.

The article, specifically discussing the upcoming years 2022 and 2023, displayed that 80% of those surveyed acknowledged playing cricket as a means to remain physically active which they otherwise would not have been without the game.

Additional information indicated that a staggering 83% of guardians agreed that their offspring's self-assurance was enhanced upon participating in the 'All Stars and Dynamos' initiatives under the ECB.

The report discovered that playing cricket is strongly associated with social cohesion. Specifically, 92 percent of participants stated that playing the sport makes them feel like they are a part of their community. Additionally, 83 percent agreed that cricket enables them to value and respect individuals from diverse backgrounds.

The ECB is optimistic that by expanding the game, a larger number of individuals will reap the benefits of its positive impacts and additional avenues will be accessible for participation in the sport.

According to the report's findings, approximately one million kids participated in cricket in the previous year through the involvement of ECB initiatives, affiliated programs, or structured events.

In 2023, there was a significant increase in the number of women's and girls' teams with a total of 717 new teams established. This indicates a growth rate of 20%, which is very promising for the future of women's sports. Additionally, 526 recreational clubs received funding to improve their facilities and make them more accessible and inclusive for people who want to engage in sports. The focus was to eliminate any barriers that may discourage individuals from participating in various sports. Overall, this development is a positive step towards achieving gender equality and providing equal opportunities for everyone to enjoy sports.

Cricket is becoming more accessible in cities through the allocation of funds towards underprivileged areas. These funds have led to over 30,000 players participating in cricket activities through the introduction of cricket-focused community centers, which also offer additional local services.

The head of ECB, Tom Gould, acknowledges that overcoming social and economic obstacles in accessing the sport is still a major challenge for them.

According to Gould, cricket faces tougher challenges compared to its biggest competition, football. The sport is highly dependent on Chance to Shine and the Lord's Taverners for its survival in schools. Without their support, cricket would not have a presence in educational institutions.

Over the course of several decades, we've witnessed a gradual decline in this area, which means that our sport now heavily relies on our clubs and partners to help us gain entry into schools.

Soccer has the advantage of a comprehensive system throughout every educational institution which we lack, thus it's crucial that we recognize this and strive to secure such funding.

The ECB has acknowledged how crucial it is to modify the sport to fit in with city surroundings, guaranteeing entry for a wide range of individuals, leading to the creation of the Core City Hubs initiative in 2018.

Almost 9,000 kids and teens are playing cricket for free every week, all year round thanks to the Chance to Shine Street scheme. The programme is particularly popular among those from diverse ethnic backgrounds, with 81% of the participants hailing from such communities.

According to Gould, the sport's terrain is transforming positively as indoor cricket gains popularity.

He declared that the meaning of a club must be reconsidered, and we are about to do just that.

You don't necessarily need a field and a building to enjoy cricket with your friends. Instead, you could gather your pals and head to a sports center every week to engage in the sport.

The environment is quite distinct, and I find it to be a thrilling environment because it simplifies playing cricket.