Protective equipment
Helmets with faceguards are mandatory for all batting and close fielding, alongside pads, gloves and an abdominal guard. This is not negotiable, and it is not left to the player.
Player welfare
Player safety
Most parents never ask us these questions out loud, so we have answered them here instead. If anything below is not clear enough, ask us directly — we would rather have the conversation than have you wondering.
What we commit to
Six things that apply
at every session
The right ball for the age
Younger and beginner players use soft and modified balls. Hard-ball safety is taught explicitly before a player moves to it, and the coach decides when they are ready.
Bowling workload
Fast bowling puts real strain on a growing spine. We follow recognised junior over limits, and a coach will stop a child bowling even when the child would rather carry on.
Heat, hydration and weather
Weather policy applies to every session. Sessions are cancelled when conditions are unsafe, and lightning within range stops play immediately, without exception or debate.
Supervision
A minimum of two adults is present at every session. No child is ever alone with a single adult, and every player is handed back to a parent or guardian at the end.
Privacy
Photos are published only with parent consent, which you can withdraw at any time. We never publish a child’s date of birth, address, phone number or email on this website.
Straight answers
Questions parents
are right to ask
Are the coaches background-checked? +
Yes. Every CYCC coach is qualified and background-checked before working with players. Coaching is never delivered by an unchecked adult, and parent volunteers who help at sessions do so alongside a checked coach, never in place of one.
Is a hard cricket ball safe for my child? +
It is, in the right order. Younger and beginner players do not face a hard ball at all — they use soft and modified balls, which is how cricket is introduced worldwide. Moving to hard ball happens when a coach judges a player ready, with full protective equipment and after hard-ball safety has been taught explicitly. It is a coaching decision, not a parent request or a player’s choice.
How much bowling is my child allowed to do? +
Less than they will want to. Junior fast bowlers are limited by recognised over limits for their age, because repeated fast bowling loads a growing spine in a way that does not show up until years later. Coaches track this during sessions and matches and will take a child off even mid-spell.
What happens if my child takes a blow to the head? +
They come off, and they do not go back on that day. Any suspected head injury means immediate removal from play and a call to you, regardless of how well the player says they feel. Returning to cricket after a suspected concussion requires clearance from a medical professional, not from a coach and not from the player.
Is there first aid at sessions? +
A first aid kit is present at every session and coaches can reach your emergency contact immediately, because you provide it at registration. For anything beyond a minor knock we call emergency services first and you second.
Who has my child’s medical information? +
Only the coaches and officials who need it in order to respond in a medical situation. Medical and allergy details are collected at registration and are not shared further. Please do not send medical details through the website contact form — it is not the right place for them.
Can I stay and watch? +
Always, and we would rather you did. Parents are welcome at every session and every match. If you cannot stay, a parent or guardian must remain contactable for the whole session.
Will my child’s photo end up online? +
Only if you have given photo consent at registration, and you can change that decision at any time by telling us. We never publish a child’s full name alongside their photo, and never their date of birth, address, phone number or email.
What if my child is being treated badly by another player? +
Tell us. CYCC has no tolerance for bullying, discrimination, abusive language or unsafe behaviour, on or off the field, and that applies to players, parents and coaches equally. Raising it early is not making a fuss — it is how we find out.
If something is wrong
How to raise
a concern
If you are worried about your child, another child, or the conduct of anyone at CYCC, say so. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to have proof. A concern raised early and turning out to be nothing is a far better outcome for everyone than the alternative.
- 1. Speak to your child’s coach at the session, if that feels right.
- 2. Or go straight to the club by email — you do not have to go through a coach.
- 3. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first and tell us afterwards.
Nothing is too small
Parents often wait because they do not want to cause trouble for a volunteer, or because they are not sure it counts. It counts. We would much rather answer a question that turns out to be nothing than find out later that a family sat on a worry for a season.
You can raise something anonymously if you prefer — use the contact form without your name.
Still have a question?
Ask it before you register, not after. No question about your child’s safety is one we will think is a waste of our time.