The ECB has launched a brand new toolkit to support in delivering or starting their girls' sections with the launch of the Metro Bank Girls' Accelerator Toolkit.
Designed to support clubs at every stage of their journey, the toolkit provides practical advice, resources, and guidance to help create welcoming, inclusive environments for girls and young women. Whether your club is just beginning to offer girls' cricket or is looking to strengthen an existing programme, the toolkit can help you build a clear pathway from All Start Cricket and Dynamos Cricket through to junior leagues and women's cricket.
The toolkit is split into four ket sections:
Step Into Her Shoes
Understand your club from the perspective of girls and young women. This section encourages clubs to review their culture, leadership and decision-making processes, identify and barriers to participation, and consider how they can create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Know Your Starting Point
Every club is different. Complete the club profiling quiz to identify where your club currently sits, before creating a bespoke six-week action plan to support future development. Clubs are placed into one of five categories:
- Starter Club
- Growing Club
- Cautious Club
- Independent Club
- Champion-Led Club
The toolkit then provides tailored actions to help your clubs progress to the next stage.
Tailored Pathways for Every Age
Girls of different ages have different motivations and face different challenges when taking part in sport. This section explores how clubs can provide age-appropriate opportunities, from All Stars and Dynamos through to softball and hardball cricket, ensuring every girl has the opportunity to develop and enjoy the game.
Embedding Girls' Cricket into Your Club
Creating a sustainable girls' section is about more than just playing opportunities. The toolkit outlines four simple steps to help clubs embed girls' cricket into everyday club life by focusing on:
- A range of playing opportunities
- The right people and volunteers to support players
- Appropriate facilities and equipment
- A welcoming and inclusive club culture
By putting these principles into practice, clubs can create an environment where girls feel supported, valued and inspired to continue their cricketing journey.
The Metro Bank Girls' Accelerator Toolkit is a fantastic resource for any club looking to grow the women's and girls' game and ensure cricket is accessible for everyone.
Find out more and access the Club Companion Handbook using the link below:
https://cricketcollective.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/36795534731933-Club-Companion-Handbook