The step-up to U11s means pads, gloves & a helmet, ready for hardball cricket.
The format is the fast and fun pairs-cricket from previous years and everyone still bats and bowls.
Our Aims & Approach
To provide opportunities for as many players as possible to play during the season.
This year we have a squad of 32 and will play two 8-a-side fixtures each week for most of the season. It’s the biggest squad we’ve ever had at this age-group and it’s why we’ve entered two teams into leagues this year.
For players to continue to work on and develop all aspects of their game with an eye on long term development.
We’re not developing batters or bowlers at this stage, we’re developing cricketers. We want players to compete, to improve, to have fun with their friends and to get fitter and healthier, with all the physical and mental benefits this brings. We know that player development isn’t a straight line and that all players grow and develop at different rates and at different times; it’s our role to support this journey for as long as possible.
“It’s been a brilliant effort in getting so many games for all the players this year”
—U11s Parent
To provide the best possible environment to play cricket in.
We’re here as coaches to help develop the person and the player. We want them to develop their cricket skills but also to learn how to be a great teammate, to communicate with and support others, to be good decision-makers, to deal with success and failure, to develop confidence, resilience and leadership skills.
We want to establish independent learners who are not dependent on feedback from a coach. On game day, this might look like players being asked to organise themselves or to choose how they want to warm-up. The captaincy will be rotated, sometimes between individuals, sometimes as a pair. No one will have to do it if they don’t want to. Players will be encouraged to make decisions for themselves and to review and learn from how it went. Our focus is on stretching and supporting the players, not giving them all of the answers all of the time.
Teams & Selection
We encourage all members to come to training as selection will be based around the skills and temperament being shown during the sessions. However if you are struggling to make training please talk to the coaches.
For 2024 we are aiming to run two competitive league teams which will include opportunities for less experienced players to develop. In addition we are looking at having regular midweek friendly matches. All teams are open to both U11 boys and up to U13 girls, however selection will ultimately depend on player availability and balance of the team with the aim to give as many opportunities as possible.
All matches are hardball unless otherwise stated and players will need to have their own full protective cricket equipment to include bat, pads, gloves, abdominal guard (box) and helmet.
In U11 league matches, all players will have the chance to bat and bowl as it is pairs cricket (similar to U9s) and players at league level must be able to bowl with a straight arm.
The Monday night Merlins are in the Leeds Wetherby Junior Cricket League and play their home fixtures at Gledhow Sports & Social Club on a grass wicket.
The Friday night Foxes are in the Aire Wharfe Junior Cricket League and play their home fixtures at Meanwood on the Astro wicket (no spikes).
2024 Season Schedule
-
Indoor Training
February 23 – March 22
FRIDAYS
7-8pm[Bookings via TeamApp only]
–
Yorkshire Cricket Centre
43 St. Michael’s Lane
Headingley
Leeds LS6 3BR -
Outdoor Training
April – July
SATURDAYS
10.15-11.15am–
Meanwood CC
Parkside Road
Leeds LS6 4NE -
Matches
April – July
MONDAYS
6pm – U11 MerlinsFRIDAYS
6pm – U11 Foxes–
PLAY-CRICKET SITE
Merlins Fixtures & Results
Foxes Fixtures & Results
Merlins Fixtures
April 29 TABS (a)
May 6 Bardsey (h)
May 13 Collingham A (h)
May 20 TBC
June 3 Scarcroft B (a)
June 10 TBC
June 17 Berwick (h)
June 24 Collingham B (h)
July 1 New Rover Rhinos (a)
July 8 Scarcroft A (a)
July 15 New Rover Rapids (a)
[Subject to change — please check TeamApp for updates]
Foxes Fixtures
April 26 Adel Yellow (h)
May 3 Shadwell Rams (a)
May 10 Addingham (h)
May 17 Menston Sixers (a)
May 24 Olicanians (h)
May 31 Pool (a)
June 7 Adel Green (h)
June 14 Leos (a)
June 21 Alwoodley Daredevils (h)
June 28 Ben Rhydding (h)
July 5 Menston Strikers (a)
July 12 TBC
July 19 Leeds Mods (a)
[Subject to change — please check TeamApp for updates]
![Junior U11s boys and girls cricket at Meanwood CC in Leeds](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63b820360042a12abd6fa1bd/fe3fe1f8-1856-42a8-9be7-709c675950f2/meanwood-junior-cricket-u11s-june-2024.jpg)
Coaches & Helpers
“The coaches have been amazing and it's well organised.”
—U11s Junior Parent