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Grounds and Facilities

There aren't many greater pleasures than the smell of fresh cut grass at the start of the cricket season

CS Grounds Support

Should you require specialist support for you groundstaff, Cricket Scotland can arrange for one of our Facilities Consultants to visit the ground and provide a report. For further information please contact your regional development officer.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to facilities. However, you need to consider what are your priorities as a club and what image and culture you want to project and create for your club.

Below are some areas to consider and guidance that might be helpful to your club.

Your Playing and Training Facilities

Providing and maintaining safe, high-quality playing surfaces is hugely important, be they fine turf, non-turf or indoor practice facilities.

We are committed to raising standards in all areas of our game, including achieving the best possible playing surfaces at all grounds from the smallest club to international venues.

We are fortunate to have an excellent relationship with the ECB who provide outstanding resources and guidance on all aspects of playing and training facilities that we can tap into. Links to some of these resources are outlined below and they also have a dedicated cricket groundsmanship website that we highly recommend.

For all information on cricket groundsmanship click on the link HERE

Cricket Ground Equipment

Providing and maintaining quality ground equipment helps to raise the overall standard of a cricket ground, this has a knock on effect on the standard of play and hopefully helps to improve everyone’s cricketing ability and their enjoyment of the sport.

Sightscreens and electronic scoreboards help to give a cricket ground a better overall look, as well as improving the playing experience. Flat sheets and mobile covers help to reduce the effect of adverse weather conditions which of course means more cricket can be played by all. Things like mobile cages and bowling machines are fantastic for providing high quality practice and coaching opportunities on or off your match wicket.

Crickets Scotland’s preferred ground equipment supplier is Durant Cricket, please visit their website for more information. To view the Cricket Scotland catalogue from Durant Cricket, click HERE

Fine Turf

Cricket Scotland recommend using the ECB guidance for turf pitches. This can be downloaded below and it sets out procedures and methods for ground care related to turf pitches and outfields.

Recommended guidelines for the construction, preparation and maintenance of cricket pitches and outfields

The guidelines contained in the above document can be used as a general guide to all aspects of construction, management, maintenance and pitch preparation of cricket grounds.

Club groundsmen can use their knowledge of local conditions to adapt the recommended guidelines to suit their site.

Additional help can be found at this turf care blog HERE.

Non-Turf

Cricket Scotland recommend using the ECB guidance for non-turf pitches. This can be downloaded below and it describes the requirements for outdoor non-turf/synthetic cricket pitch systems, specifically practice areas and match pitches.

Performance Standards for Non-Turf Cricket Pitches Intended for Outdoor Use

Approved Non-Turf Pitch Systems and Suppliers

Cricket Scotland’s preferred non-turf supplier is Club Turf

You can also download below the ECB approved list of suppliers

Download and read full list of approved non-turf pitch systems and suppliers.

Indoor – Developing the Right Sports Hall

Cricket Scotland recommend the ECB guidance on cricket provision for indoor sports halls. This provides practical advice for clients and designers on the issues that need to be considered when designing indoor sports halls with cricket provision.

Our guidance on indoor sports halls with cricket provision

For more information and guidance on anything relating to facilities, please contact your Cricket Scotland Regional Participation Manager initially.

Off the Pitch

Developing your facilities off the pitch is just as important to the long term sustainability of your club. See below for ideas and guidance on how to make your facilities work for you.

Climate Change and Utilities

Electricity, gas and water are all utilities which most clubs need.  There are organisations out there who can help you to make savings and also be an environmentally responsible club.

The Climate Challenge Fund is something to look at if your club thinks it might have a project which would tackle climate change.  The Keep Scotland Beautiful website is a good source of information: HERE

Food & Drink

Serving food and drink within your clubhouse can be a great way of boosting income and encouraging more people to visit your clubhouse.  A really good cricket ‘tea’ can often be the main attraction for some players and tales of ‘great’ cricket teas quickly spread throughout the cricket community!

Food Standards Scotland provides a source of guidance on food preparation and allergy labelling – http://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/ – that should be of use to your club.

If your clubhouse wishes to sell alcohol, being aware of the alcohol licensing legislation is crucial. You need to have a license and you need to understand the responsibilities that come along with selling alcohol – http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/policies/drugs-alcohol/alcohol-licensing.

Music

Adding some background music, particularly when hosting a festival or tournament, is a great way of boosting the atmosphere at your club. We highly recommend this, particularly for social gatherings and for junior nights as it creates a more welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. This is particularly important when we are trying to attract new groups of people and changing an often held misconception of the stuffy cricket club.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Services (SCVO) offers guidance on what is required by your club:

http://www.scvo.org.uk/running-your-organisation/legislation-regulation/music-film-licensing/.

Developing Your Clubhouse

If you are thinking of building a new clubhouse, or up-grading your current facility, sportscotland have a facilities team who are there to help your club.  They can be contacted at –  facilities@sportscotland.org.uk – and there is a section on the sportscotland website dedicated to facilities – http://sportscotland.org.uk/facilities/

You can also contact your Cricket Scotland Regional Participation Manager who is there to support you with this process.

Insurance

Insurance can be a ‘scary’ area for some clubs – and particularly for volunteers who have little, or no, experience in the area.  Cricket Scotland has a partnership with ExtraCover Insurance – as specialists in the sports insurance market they understand the needs and requirements of Cricket Clubs, Associations, Committees and Leagues and are the only insurance brokers supported by Cricket Scotland and the ECB. Further details are available at  extracover@marswool.com

Tax Guidance

Support with HMRC and tax guidance are often overlooked by clubs, largely because it can be confusing and complicated. However, that is no excuse to ignore it and as a club you need to understand your legal obligations.

GB Sport – http://www.gbsport.org.uk/ – are experts in this area and deliver regular workshops for sports clubs so they can be trained in this area and have a better understanding of their responsibilities.