Year 8 - boys

Grade Convenor

• Click here for details >>

Who

For boys who are in Year 8 at school at the start of the cricket season.  It is Club policy that all players must play in their correct grade unless the player concerned has exceptional skills and if this is the case then he or she may play up one grade.

Season Format

The Year 8 grade runs as 2 distinct half-season competitions – one before Xmas and one after.  Players initially register for the first half of the season only.  Teams will need to be re-formed for the second-half depending on the number of players who continue to play for the Club after Xmas.

The first-half season normally starts on the first Saturday after Labour weekend and runs until the last Saturday before Xmas.

The second-half normally runs from the last Saturday in January until the last Saturday in March. 

Where and when

Teams play against clubs across Auckland so some travel is required to game venues when playing away from home.

 In the first half of the season, play commences at 8.30am on Saturday mornings for A and B divisions and at 12:30pm on Saturday afternoons for the Premier division.

After Xmas, games in all Year 8 divisions commence at 1:45pm on Saturday afternoons, except for games in the school holidays which start at 12:30pm.  This enables boys to play for their school in the mornings and for the Club in the afternoons should they so wish.

Draws >>

Refer to Ground Directory >>.

Teams

Teams are made up of 11 players.  As the grade is seeded, individual players are placed into teams based on ability - trials may be required.  Teams will need to be re-formed for the second half of the season.

Team names are:

• Asteroids

• Comets

• Suns

• Planets

• Novas

• Stars

Game conditions

• Teams play on a full-length pitch with a two-piece hard cricket ball.
• All divisions in this grade are Championship grades but the emphasis remains on participation and fun.

In the first half of the season:

• For the Premier division, games are 45 overs and take approximately 5.5 hours on Saturday afternoons.
• For the A and B divisions, games are 28 overs and take approximately 3.5 hours on Saturday mornings

In the second half:

• The Premier division plays 2-day fixtures over two consecutive Saturday afternoons
• The A and B divisions play limited-overs games on Saturday afternoons

There is a wide variety of Playing Conditions which apply to the divisions in this grade to suit the different grade formats and hours of play.  Refer to the Playing Conditions.

Coaching

The Club relies on volunteer support to coach and manage these teams.  Teams would be expected to practice for no more than 1-2 hours per week.

Qualified coaching support will be provided by the Club to both volunteer coaches, umpires, scorers and all players at various times during the season.  This will consist of support during practice sessions and various coaching clinics for players.

Parental involvement

The Club relies on volunteer support from parents.

Each team will need a manager and during the season parents are encouraged to score, umpire and maintain team records and player statistics.  It is important that the coach be allowed to concentrate on coaching but this can only be achieved if parents are prepared to take on these other important tasks.

Alternatively, parents can also volunteer their time for sub-committee work (eg: social, prize giving, team photos etc).  The time commitment for most sub committee work would not exceed 4-5 hours during the entire season. Refer Sub Committees >>.

Uniforms

Players must wear the Club uniform during Saturday morning competition which is available from  Champs Sports at their new location at the College Rifles Sports Complex, 22 Haast St, Remuera. The uniform consists of:

• Blue cap or white brimmed hat with club logo 

• Club shirt <<see club shirt >>

• White longs

• White or cream sports socks

• Sports shoes

• White jumper – optional (the jumper also comes in club colours)  

Note: all cricket equipment is provided by the Club.

Behaviour

Players, coaches, parents and supporters are required to abide by the Club’s Code of Conduct and behaviour must be consistent with the Club’s Values.  Refer to the Code of Conduct >> and Club Values >>.

Awards

At the end of the season, the following team awards are be awarded to players in each team:

• Batting award

• Bowling award

• Fielding award

• Most improved award

These awards will be made at the discretion of each coach and presented to players at the end of season prize giving. Players may not receive more than one team award. Refer Club Events Calendar >>.

Players are also eligible to receive other Club awards which are determined from the team statistics that are submitted to the Club after each game. Refer Club Awards >>.

Outstanding performances by individual players are also recorded by the Club. Refer Club Records >>.

Centurions Club

Tradition is very important at the University Cricket Club. The club recognises every player after they have played 100 games for the Club by presenting them with a special “presentation cap”. They are then officially inducted into the Centurions Club. It will take a player approximately seven seasons to reach this milestone.

Refer Matches played by players >>.

Inter-club fixtures

Every season a team will be selected from all the Year 8 teams to represent the Club in the following traditional fixtures:

• Kohi Cup versus Ellerslie C.C. (1st half of season)

• Tamaki Cup versus Grafton C.C.  (2^nd half of season)

The representative team is called the Junior Blues.  These traditional fixtures are played on Sundays.

Refer Club Events Calendar >>

Selection criteria for the inter-club fixtures

The Club’s Junior Coaching Director will act in the role of Convenor of Selectors.  All coaches will be involved in the selection process and selections for the Junior Blues squad will be based on player statistics, current form and a selection trial.

However, because of the higher playing standard and more competitive environment in these games, players will be selected on merit.

You can find out how the Junior Blues have performed in previous seasons. Refer Traditional fixtures >>.

Representative Cricket

Year 8 players are eligible for selection to represent the Eastern Districts Cricket Association (EDCA) in the Auckland Primary School Boys District Tournament.  Selection for EDCA is based on merit.

Club Manager

The Auckland University Cricket Club employs a Club Manager who is responsible for the control, direction and instruction of anyone employed by the Club and the administration of the Club’s affairs in accordance with the direction given by the elected Board of Management.  Refer Elected Office Bearers >>.

Complaints

Complaints on any matters with the way the club is administered or the conduct of any of its employees, volunteers or members should be referred in the first instance to the Grade Convenor.  If circumstances should not allow this then the complaint should be made directly to the Junior Club Captain.

Under no circumstances shall a member, volunteer or parent directly reprimand an employee of the Club.

^top