Norfolk County Age Group Open Trial Nominations 2024-25

As in previous years, the NCB is seeking open trials nominations for player selection in to the highly successful and respected Norfolk County Age Group ‘CAG’ cricket system for the 2024/25 summer season.

(Similar to last year, players are no longer required to be nominated by a qualified coach and it is encouraged that parents/guardians fill out the nomination form. However, we still encourage parents talk to coaches before submitting nominations.)

This is a superb opportunity for players to be a part of the County Youth Player Pathway for boys and girls. Similar to previous years, we are planning to hold our initial trials outdoors at Horsford Cricket Club, Manor Park. Some sessions may also be held indoors at Langley Prep School.

2024/25 CAG Outdoor Hardball Trial/Assessments

The exact dates and times for each session are still to be decided but these will be held initial trials in late August and run by CAG coaches. We will communicate with all nominated trialists once full details of the Open Trials have been confirmed. (Players that cannot attend in August will be given the opportunity to trial at a later date.)

Any player already in a CAG Squad for 2024 does NOT need to be nominated or attend the outdoor trials as they will join at the second stage of trials.

2024/25 Nomination Categories

The 2024/25 County-Age-Group open trials nomination process will now start at Boys U12s and Girls U13s.

• County Age Group – Boys (U12, U13, U14, U16, U18)
• County Age Group – Girls (Two x U13, U15, U18)

Minimum Age

The minimum age we will accept nominations for both the U12 Boys and U13 Girls nominations is a genuine U11 cricketer as of the new 2024/25 school curriculum year (School Year 6 in 2024/25). Children in school year 5 or below will not be able to be included in the formal County Age Group setup but will be able to be included in the Development Hub programme (see below).

Development Hubs (Under 10 Boys, Under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls) 2024/2025

Instead of running formal County Age-Group Squads for the Under 10 Boys, Under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls Age-Groups, we will be running regional development hubs instead which focus on providing quality coaching opportunities for more players than a traditional county squad throughout the winter months (before and post Christmas) and then providing match play opportunities during the summer season.

Full details about the Development Hubs for 2024/25 will be shared once the deadline for nominations for the CAG trials/assessments has passed.

Norfolk Youth Cricket Hardball Trial Process

Phase 1 – Open outdoor trials for all age-groups. These take place outdoors in August at Manor Park, Horsford Cricket Club. All players welcome. Existing County Cricketers not required to be involved in Phase 1 of the process. County Coaches will observe all players and recommend players to be put through to Phase 2 of the trial process. All players informed of decision via email following sessions.

Phase 2 – Indoor trial process that will take place at Langley Preparatory School (Taverham Hall) between October and December each year. There will be multiple sessions per age-group. At this stage, the previous year county players join the process along with those players who were successful in phase 1 of the process. After the final trial in Phase 2, the lead coach, in consultation with the Performance Manager and assistant coaches will pick the county squad for the season. Feedback provided to those players who are unsuccessful in phase 2 from the Performance Manager.

There is no cost for being involved in the Norfolk Youth Cricket trial process.

Open Trials Registration

Please try to ensure you list your player in the right age group. Please list the age group they will be in for the 2025 season. Remember that a player should be under that age at midnight on 31^st August 2024 (i.e. for a 2024 U13 player they need to be Under 13 years old on 31st August)

Nominations this year are only being accepted online. Please complete the form online at:

Please Note: In order to be eligible to play for Norfolk, all players need to meet at least 1 criteria listed below.

• Born in Norfolk
• Live in Norfolk
• School in Norfolk
• Play Club Cricket in Norfolk

CLOSING DATE

• Monday 19th August 2024

QUESTIONS/QUERIES

If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact NCB Secretary Dave Bowker. david.bowker@norfolkcricket.co.uk