• Ensuring that all members have the opportunity to play in competitive and friendly matches, thus learning the art of sportsmanship, as well as testing their skills against their peers from other clubs.
  
• Teaching our members about the spirit in which cricket is played as well as the techniques of the game.
  
• Providing high quality practice facilities upon which members new to the game can learn the techniques and experienced members can hone their skills.
  
• Delivering high quality coaching on a consistent basis to all academy members, regardless of ability.
  
• Ensuring that all ability groups have a coaching plan and, as ability develops, members have the opportunity to test their ability in higher groups.
  
• Ensuring that all potential members are encouraged to join, by us removing all the barriers that we can to encourage maximum participation and ensuring that existing members welcome new members fully into the club.
  
• Providing a safe and secure environment in which members can both play and learn cricket and have fun, whilst mixing in a new and diverse environment.
  
• Cricket is more that just a game. We believe that the phrase “its not cricket” empowers those of us who teach the game to stress the values of fairness, competition, inclusiveness, good sportsmanship and life long friendship that the game can bring. We want our members to take pride in winning, but also to recognise and applaud the victors when they have been beaten. We want our members to celebrate each others successes but also be supportive when others fail. In this way, we will teach our members not only cricket, but also skills that will serve them well throughout their life. This is why Cricket is more than just a game.

When we have achieved this on an ongoing basis –
we will have achieved the mission of the Cobham Avorians Cricket Academy.

About the Academy -   our cricketing philosophy

The Academy was started in 2004 following the club 1stXI's promotion to the Surrey Championship Premier Division. It is the intention of the Academy to ensure that we have enough coaches to be able to coach members efficiently. We aim to have no less than 1 coach per 10 members. This allows us to offer focused coaching to all and we aim to ensure that every member has the opportunity to learn, improve and participate at all times. It is our intention to restrict membership if we are unable to satisfy this ratio. We currently compete in the West Surrey Youth Cricket U14 & U12 Leagues. We have a thriving girls’ group and we welcome new lady Academy members.

Who's Who in the Academy

Peter Worth – Academy Director

Peter joined the Avorians in 2005. As Academy Director he represents the Academy on the main club committee and he is also the Academy Treasurer.

Darren Talbot – Director of Youth Coaching

Darren joined the Avorians in 2004 with the specific objective of establishing the Academy. Upon the establishment of his own cricket coaching business he took the role of Director of Youth Coaching – where he is responsible for all cricketing matters relating to the Academy.

Jayne Mather – Welfare Officer

Jayne is the parent of two Academy members. As welfare officer, she is responsible for ensuring the safety and well being of all our Academy members.

The Academy Committee

The Academy has a committee that meets on a regular basis to discuss matters in relation to youth cricket to the Academy. The committee is comprised of Peter, Darren and Jayne and:

Nicola Moore (Parent)

Tom Barr (Parent)

John Beckett

The Academy and the Club are always looking for volunteers to help with a wide variety of tasks. If you would like to get involved and help or if you have a specific skill that you feel may be of use to us, please have a chat with any one of the committee members.

Parent Helpers

We are always on the look out for parent helpers. If you think you might be able to help us on a regular basis, either with Friday night sessions or on match days please contact the Academy Director, the director of Youth coaching or the relevant age group manager.

When does it happen?

Training sessions take place on Friday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm from the end of April until the beginning of September. Home matches usually take place on Sunday mornings. We also run indoor winter coaching.

What does it cost?

Academy membership for the year is £70 for Under 11s and lady members and £90 for Over 11s. Your “cricket age” for the 2008 season is classified as your age on 31/8/07, i.e. more or less the same as the school year.  This membership is for the first child and includes associate membership of the club for parents and carers, allowing you to enjoy the benefit of our recently refurbished clubhouse. Each additional playing child is £25. The Academy does not charge match fees.

We will never allow money to be a barrier to play cricket. Should any family feel that they are not in a position to pay the full fees on an ongoing basis, or be in a situation where there is a short term financial problem, then we urge them to contact, on a confidential basis, either the Academy Director, the Director of Youth Coaching or the Club Welfare Officer and an individual arrangement can be agreed.

Money will never be a barrier at the Cobham Avorians.

How do I join?

In the first instance, please contact the Academy Director or the Director of Youth Coaching

Membership forms and policies are available below. You are welcome to come down and try a session to see if you like it, but we do need the player profile form completed before you can take part. If you bring it along on the first night, that will be fine.

After that, if you are hooked, most are!, you can complete the membership form at your leisure and post to 27 Ravensfield Gardens, Epsom, Surrey KT19 0ST. Or just bring it down on your next night. We will have a welcome pack ready for you.

Forms

• Membership Form
• Player Profile Form
• Photography, Transport and Changing Policy)
• How we carry out a Risk Assessment
• How we deal with an incident
• How we record an incident
• Our Equity Policy Statement

Competitive Match Selection Policy

Cricket is a competitive game and our selection policy reflects this. Whilst full inclusion at all times is an admirable aim, in competitive cricket we have to field teams that have the best chance of winning to give our opponents a proper game, which they, like us, deserve.

Coaches

Please click here for information on, and contact details for, our coaching staff.

Parent Helpers

We are always on the look out for parent helpers. If you think you might be able to help us on a regular basis, either with Friday night sessions or on match days please contact the Academy Director by or the relevant age group manager.

Equipment

Our sponsors Ffk supply white cricket shirts for all members. Please speak to the relevant age group manager if you do not have one. Ideally all Colts must own their box; however we do have a supply of helmets, bats,  pads and gloves for people new to the game, so please don’t rush out and buy it all before you know if it will be a success! There are a number of good cricket equipment shops in the area. We recommend Romida and Fordham Sports.

Communication

Regular (usually weekly) e-mail updates are sent out to members. You will automatically be added to the mailing list to receive these on joining but if you have not been receiving them please notify the Director of Youth Coaching by . Teams for the coming week are usually e-mailed out at the beginning of each week.

Welfare

The welfare and Health and Safety of our Colts is of the highest importance to our club. Jayne Mather is our Club Welfare Officer. She, or a nominated substitute, is at the club on Academy training nights. If you have any questions on Welfare, feel free to talk to her or do contact her by You are also very welcome to discuss any concerns you have with any of the coaches.

Code of Conduct for Academy Members

COBHAM AVORIANS CRICKET CLUB is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore, members are encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the club with Academy Director, Darren Talbot

As a member of COBHAM AVORIANS CRICKET CLUB you are expected to abide by the following junior club rules:

• All members must participate within the rules and respect coaches and other officials and their decisions.
• All members must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
• Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.
• Members must wear suitable kit for training sessions, as agreed with the coach/team manager.
• Members must pay any fees for training or events promptly.
• Junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or whilst representing the Association/Club at competitions.
• Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the Association/Club premises or whilst representing the Association/Club.

Code of Conduct for Academy Parents/Carers

• Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them.
• Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials.
• Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results.
• Never force your child to take part in sport.
• Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all.
• Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.
• Publicly accept officials' judgements.
• Support your child's involvement and help them to enjoy their sport.Use correct and proper language at all times
• Encourage and guide participants to accept responsibility for their own performance and behaviour.
  

Events

We have an Academy Awards night towards the end of the season, when we recognize not only achievement but also advancement. The age group squads will usually play against an Academy v Parents, generally depending on the bravery of the parents! Other Academy events include a spectacular Firework night which is fast becoming the talk of Cobham!

The club itself hosts a number of events across the year that cater to most tastes. Academy parents and carers are most welcome to attend. Keep an eye on the website and on the regular email updates that are sent out.

Every Saturday, from May 13th, during the Cricket season, our Senior Teams play in the highly competitive Surrey Championship competition. Our 1st XI is in the Premiership and the standard of cricket is exceptionally high, the teams boasting many former pros, current county 2nd XI  and minor counties players. The 1st XI matches are all day affairs and lead to much exciting cricket being played. All support is most welcome – there cannot be many better places to recover from the trauma of Saturday morning supermarket shopping than watching an hour or to of exciting cricket at Convent Lane.   

Questions

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Academy Director by

Our Coaches

We are lucky to have a mixture of experienced qualified coaches, enthusiastic volunteers and junior assistants. All our qualified coaches are ECB CA members and should be noticeable by their tracksuits on an Academy evenings. Our volunteers and junior assistants also wear noticeable uniforms. All our coaches have current CRB checks and our qualified coaches are also qualified first aiders.

If you want to have a chat with a coach, please do stop one of us at any time. We do however have to coach and the health and safety of our members is our highest priority so we may well ask to have any substantives discussions at the end of a session.  

Coach Biographies

Darren Talbot - Director of Youth Coaching, Under 14 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07912 873 591 |

Darren set up our Academy in 2004 following the club's promotion to the Premier League. A former captain of Surrey Young Cricketers, Darren has played club cricket for Walton-on-Thames, East Molesey, Oatlands Park and Dover. Mainly a slow arm bowler, Darren still holds the KCS Wimbledon school post-war record for number of wickets in a season (56 in 1987) and also held the Walton-on-Thames 2nd XI League record for wickets in a season. His best bowling was 8-46 and his top score and only century (to date!) was 102 whilst guesting for Old Gordonians v Harrods. Since starting the Academy Darren has stopped playing regularly due the time constraints involved with running the Academy but is keen to return to action in the near future. Darren is a Level 2 coach.

Peter Worth – Academy Director, Under 14 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07774 264445 |

Peter was a right arm fast medium bowler and a right handed batsman who made his senior debut for Blackheath Wanderers Cricket Club at the age of 15 in 1977. He played for BWCC between 1977 and 1987, was a member of the Kent U19 development squad in 1980 and represented Royal Holloway College , University of London between 1982 and 1985. His career top score was 101 not out, his best bowling figures were 7-31 and he took one hat trick. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Royal Holloway, University of London Cricket Club . Both of his sons, Dominic and Alexander , are Academy Colts. Peter is a Level 2 coach and a qualifed umpire.

Will Cooper - Under 12 Coach/Manager
Tel: 07751 202059 |

Still a pup in the cricketing world, Will feels his experience is somewhat dwarfed by some of his esteemed colleagues! He is an off spin bowler and right handed batsman who made his senior club debut for Whiteley Village 1st XI aged 12 and subsequently played for them for 10 years. He played for Royal Holloway University and was during  one of the most successful eras of cricket ever there; in the four years he played, the team lost only twice and became ULU cup champions twice. In this time Will was the leading wicket taker, had the best average in the club and also the best economy rate. He also had an overall batting average of 37.50. Will is a member of the Avorians Saturday 2nd XI and is a level 2 Coach.

Katherine Robson - Girls Coach

Joined us in 2007 to take charge of the rapidly increasing ladies section, Katherine is a member of the Surrey Ladies squad and a level 2 coach, and also works for Surrey Cricket’s George Abbot training centre.

Ashley Golder – U14 Coach

Ashley is a long serving member of the Avorians CC and has been an Coach at the Academy since its inception. He is the middle order batting stalwart of the Saturday 2nd XI team of which he is currently captain. Ashley is a Level 1 Coach.

Steve Frise – U10 Coach

Started life as an all-rounder at Richmond Colts before progressing to a middle order slogger for Teddington 3rds in the mid 80's, eventually hanging up his boots at the grand old age of 20! After not playing for nearly 20 years, Steve was talked out of retirement and has been a regular big hitting (slogging?) member of the Avorians Sunday team for about 5 years. With his limited ability he understands that winning isn't everything and particularly enjoys the fact that most Sunday games are at home - not too far to travel and he can bring the wife and kids along for much needed support in a safe, friendly environment. Plus the teas are good!

Tim Moore – U12- Volunteer Coach

Tim is an enthusiastic cricketer whose re-introduction to the sport has been hastened by the fact that his three sons are all Academy colts. Tim will be taking coaching qualifications this autumn.

Mark Barrow - Volunteer Coach

Mark is a long standing Avorians member who was Chairman of the Club for some years. He now has  reached the pinnacle of  club service in being a Academy Volunteer. Mark is a middle order batsman as part of the Saturday 2nd XI squad and his son is an Academy colt. Like Tim above, Mark was unable to resist the presurised salesmanship of the Academy Director and will be taking coaching qualifications this Autumn.

Tom Collins &  Joel Bailey - Junior Coaches

The Academy is delighted to welcome two of our junior members onto the coaching staff for 2008. Tom and Joel bothe broke into the Saturday 2nd XI last year and great things are expected of them in the years to come. They have both passed the ECB junior leaders course in February, and the older members of the coaching staff look forward to welcoming some fresher legs in 2008.