Junior Cricket Grade Information

Junior Cricket Formats

Hutt District Cricket Club – Juniors, is well organised providing cricket for children from the age 4 up to the age 13. Grades are based on the child school year at the start of the cricket season.

Our junior club is one of the largest clubs in the Wellington area, where we have around 25 junior teams, over 250 boys and girls, playing cricket throughout summer. Many of our past junior players have gone on to play 1st Xi cricket for their colleges, Senior Premier for our club, the Firebirds and for the NZ cricket teams (age grade, Black Caps, White Ferns).

Our teams are managed and coached by a fantastic group of parents who enjoy the challenge and reward of seeing their children grow into great cricketers. We teach the value of good sportsmanship, positive attitude and perseverance in doing the best you can do.

Have a Go - Year 0/1

Who : School Year 0/1 (Age 4-6)

A fun introduction to cricket, learning the basics of batting, bowling, and fielding. This achieved by using a variety of play activities, basic drills and minor games using safe, plastic equipment to improving their skills.

The emphasis will be on having a great time with friends. Parent involvement is required and is supported by club coaches. Have a go is the first step on a pathway that can lead to a lifelong involvement in cricket.

Sessions will be run on Friday evenings @ 5 pm at the Hutt Rec outside the club rooms.

Softball - Years 2 to 3 Dual Pitch

Who : School Year 2/3 (Age 6-7)

This grade is played on a Saturday morning. The games are played on dual pitches, meaning all players are involved for the whole game. Games last about an hour and are scheduled to minimise travel. Teams generally comprise a minimum of 8 players. Games are played with a soft ball.

Every effort is made for the players to be in a team where they have a number of their friends.

What is dual pitch? Click here for more information

A fun youtube view showing how to play Dual Pitch cricket using lego : click here to watch

Softball - Year 4

Who : School Year 4 (Age 8-9)

Year 4 Softball is a 20 over game. Similar to "normal", cricket but played with a "soft" ball

Teams have 8 players and play against other cricket clubs around the Hutt Valley each Saturday morning between 8.30am and 10.30am, in the Year 4 competition. All gear playing gear is provided by the club. No safety gear required. Every effort is made for the players to be in a team where they have a number of their friends.

In an effort to speed up the games all teams bowl all their overs from one end.

Click here to watch the NZC Age & Stage video

Hard ball - Years 5 to 8

Who : School Year 5 through to Year 8 (Age 9-13)

Games are played on Saturday mornings from 8:30am to 11:30am

Year 5 is the start of the hardball journey which continues onto Year 8. Playing formats and pitch lengths increase as you get older. Details of each grade can be viewed below.

Games are played with a 142g cricket ball. Protective gear is worn by batsmen and wicket keepers. Helmets are compulsory. Though the club also provides each team coach with team gear, many players choose to use their own equipment.

Year 5 & 6 Playing Guidelines from NZC

In the Year 5 and Year 6 grades each team has 8 players and to encourage full participation, all players must bowl and bat. Each side bats for 20 overs on 16m pitches (5 overs in Pairs). Outs have runs deducted.

Year 7 & 8 Playing Guidelines from NZC

In the Year 7 and 8 grades each side bats for 30 overs on 18m pitches, there are 9 players to a side and to encourage full participation, all players must bowl and bat. Players face a maximum of 30 balls (including wides and no balls) before facing retirement. You can go out before this, but not within the first 6 balls you face

Click here to watch the NZC Age & Stage video

Club Team Selection Policy

Where possible we aim to keep the same players together in the same team, from one season to the next. Ideally new players will be placed in a team with their school mates, unless that team already has enough players and another team is short on numbers.

Club Grading policy

Our policy is that children play in the grade that corresponds to their school year at the start of the season. Where they are currently playing up a grade, corrections are made at Year 5. This may require applicable players to play two seasons in Year 5*.

Females playing Saturday hardball cricket are eligible to play down two grades.

Players who start playing hardball late may play one grade lower than their school age until they are competent to move to their correct grade.

*Exceptions can be made in writing to the Junior Convenor and generally apply to siblings, where parents are coaching their own children.

Wet Weather Cancellation

Cricket Wellington will as close to 7am as is possible on Saturday morning post any changes to draws on their Facebook page should the weather look doubtful for play.

Cricket Wellington cancellation policy can be found here.

For junior games, in the event that you turn up to a game and the field is unsuitable for play (ie. it’s under water) or the weather has turned dramatically, please discuss with the opposition and make a decision as to whether to play.

We will also update our Facebook page with details from Cricket Wellington should games need to be cancelled due to wet weather