Page 4 - West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club

Despite a challenging 2019/20 season, that was, until the current season, the most challenging season in memory, every volunteer running the Club or Age Divisions in Juniors backed up again so we had a stable leadership team. This is a remarkable testament of the quality and commitment of our volunteers. It also gave a solid platform going into 2020/21.
The outcome was a spectacular success. The competition started on time and our volunteers, at all levels got full teams on the field. Registrations were also strong.
Collaboration
Covid-19 has brought with it a high level of collaboration. We have seen active and engaging support from CNSW and Association level, peak sporting groups have worked together with Councils, on changing competition start and finish times. Also, clubs have been more willing to accept Association decisions around the structure of competitions made in good faith without constant appeals. At Club level we have also seen a greater willingness for people to accept change and tougher rules around how games are played. If these changes can be embraced going forward this is a positive that we can all build on.
Record Team numbers
Initial planning focused on the budgetary impacts of reduced numbers of between 10% and 30%. The focus then turned to retention and setting out a start-up roadmap with contingencies for each major milestone. The registration outcomes are covered in later reports.
The new ‘Normal’
Covid-19 has caused a change in the way we do things. Time will tell what is short-term and what is irreversible but it is already clear that we now have a new ‘normal’ in the way our Club is administered.
Zoom is here to stay. During the pandemic it allowed us to run the Club without the need to be physically present at meetings. Going forward, this will give our leaders the opportunity for flexible working arrangements for people with commitments such as child care. This will open up the opportunity to broaden our volunteer base.
On the field, it is likely that use of hand sanitiser will be familiar; physical distancing will be followed; shining the ball with saliva or sweat will be a thing of the past; sharing towels, drink bottles will cease. Also, use of team kit bags will come to a rapid end with players using their own playing gear.
Achievements
While off-field achievements were the outstanding achievement of the 2020/21 season our on-field achievements were also outstanding. These will be covered in more detail in subsequent reports herein.
However, let me say, that the on-field successes belong, not just to the winning teams, but to the Club as a whole – players, officials, coaches, managers, parents and volunteers.
To call out a few highlights: record team entrances for Juniors & Seniors; strong registrations for Junior Blasters, Girls & Blowfly Cricket; a very successful Academy & Skills Clinics sessions. Add to this the overall performance of our teams has been noteworthy. A highlight was winning the Junior Club Championship for the 1st time since 2008/09 despite the qualification being changed by the Association in the last decade
to limit the ability of large clubs from winning this award and our ‘Participation Over Results’ policy that evened talent across teams.
Celebrating our Women
Andrew Miedler will cover this in more detail in his report. I would though like to touch on the amazing achievements of the women in our Club:
• Danielle Chivers – CNSW and Cricket Australia ‘Young Community Leader of the Year’
• Lisa Sthalekar – Australian Hall of Fame Inductee;
• Maddie Jones won the Good Sports Award for NSW Champion & also Australian Club Champion Runner-up for the Good Sports Award
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