Table Cricket
Table Cricket is amazing because it brings out their abilities and capabilities.Table Cricket Programme
Our Table Cricket programme is part of the SEND schools programme and takes place throughout the school year, where qualified cricket coaches deliver weekly sessions at your school or centre. Schools, both Special Schools and Mainstream SEN units, and Community Groups can access the programme, which provides young people with a disability the chance to play the sport we all love.
Alongside the coaching sessions, we invite all groups to join us at our County Table Cricket Competitions, which take places annually in February/March and allow students to put their skills to the test against other schools in a friendly and safe environment. Competition winners have the opportunity to progress to the Lord’s Taverners Regional and National Table Cricket Finals, with the latter taking place at Lords Cricket Ground, the home of cricket.
What is table cricket?
Table cricket is an adapted version of cricket, played on a table tennis table and specially designed to give young people with a disability the chance to play and compete in the sport we all love.
“At table cricket there is no expectation – it celebrates what they can do. Table Cricket can build a community – playing with others, being involved.”
How does it work?
This is a very strategic game! There are different scoring zones around the table and, just like in regular cricket, fielders have to be carefully positioned to prevent runs or to get the batter out.
Teams of six take it in turn to bowl or bat, with the bowler using a ramp to deliver the ball (either a regular ball that runs true or a weighted one that swings around). The batter scores by hitting the ball into the scoring zones, avoiding the fielders if they can!
How does it help young people?
Alongside the enjoyment of playing the game and competing, table cricket has been shown to develop teamwork and social skills among players. It also helps coordination and cognitive skills.
The game is played by young people with both learning and physical disabilities. It enables young people to understand tactics, draw the best out of team players and to build a social life. For the young volunteers involved in coaching and umpiring, table cricket helps to develop self-confidence, leadership skills and enhances their future employment prospects.
case study: brimsham green school
As a teaching Assistant at the Brimsham Green School, Liza has been involved with running the weekly table cricket club for the last 10 years, encouraging everyone to get involved and have fun. The school enter the table cricket competition every year, and have reached the final at Lord’s on three occasions, coming third in 2019. In the case study and video Liza and Brimsham Green students describe the way Table Cricket has improve their confidence, and given them a real sense that they can achieve anything.
Jeanette Tate / Disability Development Officer
You’ll find Jeanette working in schools across the County to provide a sustainable pathway from school to community hubs and providing support to cricket clubs to ensure a welcoming environment for those with disabilities. Jeanette leads the ECB Disability Champion Club Programme which is designed to make clubs more inclusive and provide a club-based playing offer for people with disabilities.
Furthermore, Jeanette chairs the Disability Development Group and supports and development the County Disability Cricket Programme.
Jeanette is passionate about her work as every day someone achieves something which she finds rewarding as young people develop friendships, communication and independence overcoming the challenges they have through cricket.