Performance Girls

Representative Cricket at all age levels is extremely important for the development of talented cricketers. It provides the opportunity for players to be challenged and have their skills tested to a greater extent than in normal competition. Many players (men and women) who progress along the pathway to first class and international standard have participated in representative cricket at various age grade levels.

Kent has age grade sides for girls at Under 11, 13, 15 and 17. These play in ECB competitions and festivals in Taunton and/or Malvern. These are Kent teams and girls wear the same kit as the professional players – with “Performance Squad” under the new Kent logo.

Some will progress to the Kent Womens' team and even further on into the full England Squad and team.  Most players though will be the best amateurs in Kent’s leagues – or elsewhere as their futures take them. All will be able to say, "I was in one of Kent’s Performance Squads" – and say it with pride.

Some girls will attend specialist sessions (e.g. for fast bowlers) where they spend several sessions under the guidance of top coaches. In recent years these coaches have included Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway, Susie Rowe, Geraint Jones, James Tredwell, Simon Cook, Min Patel and Martin Saggers.

In addition to some friendlies teams play in some special events:

Under 11 The programme centres on development
Under 13 ECB Under 13 Inter-county competition and a 3 day Malvern Festival
Under 13 Emerging Spitfires - Under 13 Inter-county competition
Under 15 ECB Under 15 Inter-county competition and 3 day Taunton festival
Under 17 2 ECB Under 17 Inter-county competition and Taunton Festival

Each team has at least one coach, responsible for individual and team development and mentoring. A manager is responsible for administration and for ensuring the welfare and protection of players.

Kent Cricket Board tries to set the highest standards our Young Cricketers should expect. In turn, we expect our Young Cricketers and their parents/guardians to meet those standards. It is important that we know what we should be delivering and what is expected of players: to this end, parents/guardians and players are required to sign up to a series of Charters.

We explain what our standards and expectation are in two documents:

The Player’s Charter

The Parent/Guardian's Charter

We also require that all the necessary provisions are in place before any young person can take part in a match or event as a Kent Young Cricketer. Those issues of compliance are dealt with in a Registraton Form which we require Parents or Guardians to complete.

The Player Registration Form

All this is overseen by the High Performance Team comprising David Turner (Chairman), Simon Willis (High Performance Director) and Jason Weaver (High Performance Manager).

Those identified as having the most potential are given the opportunity to develop by being placed on the programme of Kent Cricket Academy.

Kent Cricket Performance Squads Age Group Coaches and Managers

Under 11 Coach and Manager: David Sear
Under 13 Coach and Manager: Stuart Mears
Under 13 ES Coach and Manager: Steve Holness
Under 15 Coach: Nick Bier
Under 17 Manager: Mike Ling
Under 17 Coach: Phil Pass

Womens' Coach: Charlotte Edwards
Womens' Manager: Lin Martin