Cricket 101: Schools Give Students a Taste of the Global Game

Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2025
cricket-story

 

Students, teachers and coaches in the Grand Erie District School Board continue to benefit from the second year of a special Ontario Ministry of Education grant. The grant has funded professional development sessions and cricket-focused equipment.

During the winter, instruction is given in the gym with an emphasis on the rules and how the game is played. It’s usually played between two teams on a field with a wicket at each end. Schools will continue the program outdoors when the weather is not a factor.

Cricket, like baseball, originated in England in the 16th century. It was played at the 1900 Summer Olympics and is scheduled to be included again in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with men's and women's tournaments.

While Grand Erie has tested new sports for several years, the objective is to continue creating opportunities that encourage participation at the intramural or eventual varsity level. With eight secondary schools and 10 elementary schools now involved, plans are being reviewed to stage an inter-school day of play later this year.

“Grand Erie received funding that will help us build awareness, education and involvement in cricket,” said Jeff Benner, principal leader. “The pilot project resulted in much interest and lots of interaction.” That paved the way for instructional and educational sessions with Ontario Schools Cricket Association (OSCA) representatives.

Jim Merrick, principal at Delhi Secondary School, said staff and students at his school have enjoyed the classes and participation. “There’s a saying that if you build it, they will come,” said Merrick, slightly altering the line from the baseball movie Field of Dreams. “Everything starts at the grassroots level. We gave it a try and feedback from our students was that it was fun, there was lots of exercise and it was a great way to get many involved.”

Ansh Kaler, Grade 11 student at Delhi Secondary, understands that the cricket program goes beyond sport by engaging classmates to enjoy time together and value the importance of teamwork.

“Some students have played the game before and learning came easy,” said Kaler. “For others, it was an introductory program and a new learning experience where we helped each other. It’s fun, we love it and one day we might get a chance to play against other schools.”

Nick Corrigan, who took the initial workshop, teaches at Edith Monture in Brantford and introduced the program to his students. “When we launched cricket, students took to it very quickly and getting them involved and active has always been the goal,” said Corrigan, a former athlete of the year in his student days. “Sports allow for transferable skills, especially a new sport. Students build resilience, teamwork, leadership, and discipline.”

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