Durham Cricket Foundation is partnering with Everyone Active to deliver free cricket sessions for people over 50 and people with disabilities in Washington Leisure Centre.
Everyone Active will support the Foundation’s “50 Not Out” project, which aims to improve older people’s mental and physical wellbeing, by bringing walking cricket sessions indoors during the winter.
The funding from the sports facilities operator means that the sessions, which in the summer were taking place at Emirates Riverside, will remain free of charge to participants.
Additionally, the Sports Facilities Operator has backed up the addition of a disability offer in Washington, which will bring free cricket sessions to people with physical and/or learning disabilities.
The Foundation will run the sessions every Thursday and Friday from October through to April at Washington Leisure Centre.
Details about the available sessions are below.
Walking Cricket
The competitive but gentle paced version of the cricket we see today. Walking cricket is cricket as we know it, however, you have to walk to score your runs.
Walking cricket is played inside with plastic equipment and a softer ball, no running is allowed whether it be batting or bowling, walking only. It is played in pairs and normally one team against another. Everyone bowls, fields and bats. Included are warm up drills and small games before a game of walking cricket.
Sessions will run every Friday, starting on 8th October. Two sessions will be available every week:
Social Walking Cricket at 9:00am – 10:30am
Competitive Walking Cricket at 10:30am – 12:00pm
Social Walking Cricket is for those playing to meet new people, this can include beginners who want to learn and improve, playing for the love of the game and full of enjoyment.
Competitive Walking Cricket is suited to advanced players who may have played before (recent or otherwise) who want a slightly faster-paced game.
Disability Cricket Sessions
These sessions are open to players of all abilities and ages. The disability cricket sessions will involve learning and practicing skills along with different game variations which are all tailored to meet the needs of the participants. We aim to provide a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Sessions will run every Thursday, starting on 7th October at 10am – 12.00pm.