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When Glossop Cricket Club identified junior cricket as the key to its long-term future, they knew success wouldn't just depend on attracting more young players - it would depend on building a strong, confident team of volunteers to support them.
Over the last five years, the club has transformed both its junior section and its volunteer workforce, creating an environment where parents, players and members feel encouraged, supported and inspired to become coaches.
From Five Volunteers to More Than Thirty
Five years ago, Glossop Cricket Club had just five playing teams across junior and open-age cricket, with junior coaching delivered by a small group of volunteers and, at times, an external coaching provider due to limited capacity within the club. Junior participation had declined, and there was a noticeable gap in players progressing into senior cricket.
Recognising that this wasn't sustainable, the club made junior cricket a strategic priority.
Today, Glossop Cricket Club boasts:
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126 All Stars participants, including 79 girls.
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18 Girls' Dynamos participants
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Around 70 junior players across Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 18 teams
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Competitive 1st and 2nd XI teams
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Development opportunities through 3rd and 4th XI cricket
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A women's softball team
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Two veterans teams
Alongside this growth, the club has increased its volunteer coaching team from just 5 people to more than 30 volunteers supporting junior cricket.
Creating a Volunteer Culture
Rather than relying on volunteers coming forward, Glossop actively creates opportunities for people to become involved. Parents and Guardians are identified through All Stars Cricket registrations, approached personally by club members and introduced to volunteering in a supportive, welcoming way. Volunteers are encouraged to shadow existing coaches before taking on responsibilities themselves, helping to remove the fear of "not knowing enough about cricket."
The club has also created an environment where volunteering feels like being part of a community.
Friday evenings combine junior coaching with music, food and social activities, making the club an inviting place for families to spend time together. Volunteers receive branded coaching clothing, a complimentary drink after coaching sessions, are entered into a monthly volunteer raffle and are regularly recognised through the club's social media channels.
These small touches help volunteers feel valued while strengthening the club's culture.
Investing in Coach Education
As volunteer numbers grew, Glossop wanted to equip its coaches with the knowledge and confidence to deliver high-quality, enjoyable sessions.
In May 2026, the club hosted a Foundation Coach course ran by the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation, enabling 10 volunteers to complete their formal coach education together. The club heavily promoting the opportunity through coaching and junior team WhatsApp groups with club committee members and existing coaches personally encouraged individuals they felt would become excellent coaches.
The club's long-term ambition is for every volunteer coach and team manager to hold a recognised coaching qualification, creating a consistent coaching experience across every age group.
Feedback from participants
Every participant rated the course 5 out of 5, and every attendee said they were definitely planning to coach at their club using the skills they had developed.
One participant commented:
"It was excellent – far better than I anticipated."
Another said:
"I enjoyed the course being active participation, and not a classroom-based one reading stuff off slides."
As one coach reflected:
"It's given me a really solid base on which to build my coaching skills."
More Than Coaching
The club's investment in volunteers is already delivering benefits far beyond coaching. Parents and Guardians who first became involved through All Stars Cricket have since taken on a wide range of roles within the club, including:
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Club Secretary
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2nd XI Captain
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Team managers
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Volunteer coaches
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New senior players
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Girls' Softball Manager
Young players are also beginning to see coaching as part of their own cricket journey, with initiatives such as the Young Cricket Collective and the Duke of Edinburgh Award helping to create a clear pathway into volunteering.
Looking Ahead
Glossop Cricket Club's ambition is to create an environment where every young player enjoys cricket, develops their skills and has the opportunity to progress.
By investing in volunteers, the club is building the foundations to expand its junior offer, increase participation and ensure that every player benefits from safe, fun and inclusive coaching.
Volunteer recruitment remains one of the biggest challenges facing many cricket clubs. Glossop Cricket Club's experience shows that, with a proactive approach, strong leadership and a genuine investment in people, it is possible to build a thriving volunteer workforce.
Well done to everyone at Glossop CC!