Photo Credit: Yeah! Girls
Yeah! Girls is cricket, but not as you know it.
With the objective of increasing young females participation in cricket, Yeah! Girls Hubs are generally 6 weeks in duration, with girls attending one session a week that is 45-60mins of activities and modified games. There is no joining a team or a club, and no requirement to have a set number of players for a team. This removes many of the barriers for girls-only cricket, and has helped make this an attractive and enjoyable programme.
The focus is on being active and having fun with friends, along with some social competition. Participants don’t need any of their own equipment – everything is provided.
In term 4 2020, over 1,100 girls across New Zealand participated in a Yeah! Girls Hub – a big increase from the previous season. Significantly, 74% of the girls indicated they were new to cricket, illustrating that Yeah! Girls is providing an enjoyable first step into cricket for girls who would otherwise not give it a go. MAs and DAs across the country have put a strong emphasise on utilising Yeah! Girls to take cricket into new communities, resulting in a culturally diverse programme which is continually evolving to suit all New Zealanders.
In term 4 2020, there were x58 Yeah! Girls Hubs across New Zealand, spread from Whangarei to Invercargill. NZC, MAs and DAs are currently working in partnership to confirm all term 1 Hubs and we’re planning for another successful term to finish off the 2020/21 season.
A huge element of Yeah! Girls success is the group of around x50 Activators who plan, promote and deliver Yeah! Girls across New Zealand. Activators attend a series of Yeah! Girls training sessions so they develop a thorough understanding of the programme, what we are aiming to achieve and the important role they play in the girls’ cricket experience. For some Activators, it’s also a first step into cricket coaching and delivery, providing a platform to develop staff across the network.
Yeah! Girls is also part of the CWC22 Leverage and Legacy plan, and in the 2021/22 season will tie in closely with other CWC22 initiatives to provide a variety of opportunities to young female cricketers.
You can see more information on Yeah! Girls at www.yeahgirls.nz
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
