Cricket Victoria and the Grampians Cricket Association teamed up to run a two-day cricket coaching clinic in Ararat this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Twenty young cricketers attended the clinic on Thursday and Friday at the Ararat Fitness Centre.
Pomonal Cricket Club member Bailey Hosemans said he looked forward to the clinic each year.
“It was great, I had a lot of fun,” he said.
“I have been to all of them and they have got better each year.
“I have improved a lot at these clinics because of how the coaches open up my eyes to different things.
“And just being in that environment helps me improve.”
Hosemans said he enjoys playing it during the summer.
“I just love the game play of it,” he said.
“Bowling and batting and just doing it all with teammates.”
Cricket Victoria’s regional cricket manager for central highlands region Campbell Waring said the clinic was a success.
“This was the fourth year we have ran the clinic,” he said.
“It is always ran really well by the Grampians Cricket Association.
“The idea of the clinic is really just about providing them with coaching and the basics of cricket.”
Waring said it was good timing for the clinic with the cricket season about to kick off.
“It brought out enthusiasm for the kids ahead of the upcoming season,” he said.
“If they can see they are improving their game, then they will be more likely to stay playing cricket which is what we want.”
Former Victorian Bushrangers opening batsman Graeme Vimpani was one of the coaches at the clinic.
Vimpani played 30 first class matches between 1995 and 2001.
Vimpani said the clinic had a lot of benefits for the kids.
“It was just good to see kids getting out following healthy active lifestyles rather than sitting at home in front of the screens,” he said.
“And getting the kids involved in a team sport with their friends and making new friends.
“Getting them out there and enjoying the game while having a lot of fun.
“When you play cricket and team sports, you learn lessons that you do not realise at the time.
“Teamwork, discipline and those sorts of things will help the kids in the future.
“I remember going to these sorts of things 30 years ago.
“And I am still friends with some of the people I met at those clinics.”
The Grampians Cricket Association junior matches will start in two weeks.