Trying the kids' gloves approach

Kiddies Cricket is cricket with a difference.

It, however, is played along the traditional lines of the sport and is more than ideal preparation for the established version of the game.

The essential difference is the equipment ' the bat, balls and stumps ' are made of plastic.

The idea behind this form of cricket is to get as many children as possible to develop an interest in the game from early, explained Jeff Broomes, co-ordinator of the inaugural Scotia Bank Kiddies Competition.

The initiative was started by the West Indies Cricket Board, which organised sessions on weekends during the lunch-breaks of international matches in the Caribbean this season.

It was further felt the sport could be developed in a competitive environ-ment.

The tournament, which started last Thursday with 12 primary schools, is restricted to students in Class 3 and under.

'At that age, the idea is to get children to love and enjoy what they are doing,' Broomes said.

It was first suggested by a former Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) board member more than a decade ago after he learnt of it in Australia.

No one, Broomes said, picked up on the idea.

'It is something being used in Australia to generate interest and excitement, where you can play without fear of getting hurt and develop the love for the game,' Broomes said.

His point was emphasised by St. Giles coach Sylvan Stoute.

'The ball is easier to accept by children. It doesn't hit that hard,' he said.

'It dispels all the fears children would carry to cricket, fear of getting hit and getting bones broken.'

Stoute and his Erdiston counterpart Evans Hinkson shared the view that it was more than useful preparation for hard ball cricket.

'It is a good starting point. The basic things are involved,' Stoute said. 'The ball still travels. It swings a bit too. It teaches the kids to get in line and do the basic things.'

Hinkson, who described the ball as 'something between hard ball and tape ball', said he would not be surprised if this type of cricket became the preferred option for children at that age.

'Once it is organised very properly, I think it could almost replace hard ball cricket at primary school level because it has the enthusiasm and the support,' he said.

Hinkson had one criticism of the equipment.

'The bat, ball and stumps are probably too light,' he said. 'It can cause problems, especially in a match where the wind is pretty high.'

The involvement of girls is being encouraged as much as possible.