The U9s year is an exciting one for this busy and fun age group. They progress from soft ball cricket to training and playing with a hard ball. The coaching programmes continue to develop sound cricket techniques, with increased attention on developing match awareness. The coaching sessions and plenty of matches are designed and organised with both these in mind.
Training is on Wednesday evenings, from 30th April 2025 from 6:15pm-8:15pm, for 15 weeks. Training venue will alternate between New Road and Shrewsbury House School Sports ground. All training is included within the Club Membership and is delivered by our professional coaches.
All players will have the opportunity to play in plenty of matches on well kept wickets. The majority of matches will be hard ball, played mainly on Sunday’s and occasional midweek evenings. Soft ball matchplay is also arranged for developing players. Most matches will be 8 a side pairs cricket, which will allow all players a large amount of play to develop batting, bowling and game awareness.
For the 2025 season, we will play in the Surrey Junior Cricket Championship League, where we have entered 5 hard ball teams; a huge amount of cricket for all!
We will again look to host our own very popular Esher tournaments.
Match playing Kit: All hard ball players will be required to have their own protective kit (Bat, Helmet, Pads, Gloves, Box). Soft ball cricketers just require a bat. For matchplay we play in the Esher Navy Blue Playing Shirt and Navy trousers. Kit is available to purchase from the club kit shop and is supplied by Masuri. For the shirt, numbers are allowed on the back, but no names please.
Training and Matchplay Focus – U9 Player Pathway
| Batting | – We use the winter programme to introduce the group to Hard Ball Cricket |
| – 6 to 8 batting shots introduced to the age group | |
| – The use of bowling machines to assist in batting skill sessions | |
| – Gaining a knowledge on how to play certain types of deliveries | |
| – Gaining an understand of playing with good hands & controlling the bat face | |
| – Match awareness batting sessions | |
| – Backing up, running between the wickets, calling procedures | |
| Bowling | – For consistency in bowling – Strong run ups, side on bowling actions and good follow throughs |
| – To be able to bowl a fairly consistent length | |
| – Understanding on how to bowl consistent good lines | |
| Fielding | – Have a good understanding of field placings |
| – Start and finishing points when walking in | |
| – How, when and where to back up in the field | |
| – Starting to attack the ball to save runs |
Age Group Managers: – Russell Smith and Michielle Smith
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Michielle by clicking on the email above.
Please see below for our 2024 Season Report (U8)
Successful U8 Cricket Season
As we wrap up this year’s Under-8 cricket season, we celebrate the incredible journey and achievements of our young cricketers. The season was a hallmark of dedication, skill development, and camaraderie. Each player’s efforts in both soft ball and hard ball this year were commendable, contributing to a fantastic proper first season of competitive cricket.
Enthusiasm and Team Spirit
From the outset, the players brought fantastic enthusiasm, energising both practices and matches. This spirit fostered a strong sense of camaraderie, as they supported one another not just in cricket but it was also clear to see that they are forming lasting friendships. The team spirit was a key component of the players enjoying their cricket this season.
Commitment and Hard Work
The commitment shown by the players throughout the season was excepVonal. High attendance at practice sessions underscored their dedication. Each player was eager to learn and the enthusiasm spilled over into matches, where they consistently applied themselves and started to develop a keen sense of competitiveness.
Development of Skills
The players’ skill development was a standout feature of the season. Initially, the focus was on mastering basic cricket skills—batting stance, bowling action, fielding techniques, and understanding match rules. As the season progressed, significant improvements were observed. Batting techniques became more consistent, bowling accuracy improved, and fielding agility increased. Their growing tactical awareness was clear, with some making intelligent decisions during matches, highlighting their evolving cricketing acumen.
Transition to Hard Ball Cricket
A major milestone was the transition of a number of players from soft ball to hard ball cricket. This step marked a significant advancement in their cricket journey, reflecting not only skill progression but also maturity. The training was introduced gradually, focusing on safety and confidence-building. The players adapted remarkably well, demonstrating the bravery and flexibility that will benefit them in future sporting challenges. Whilst some embraced hard ball cricket from the start of the season, it was fabulous to see a number of players move into Sunday hard ball training and several progress to playing against u9 hard ball teams.
Memorable Achievements and Highlights
The season was filled with individual and team achievements. From scoring their first runs to taking their first wickets, each moment was a step in their development journey. Whether experiencing victory or learning from defeat and the resilience of these young athletes displayed was commendable. We were particularly proud of the players showing huge character when playing against older boys in the hard ball fixtures. Whilst the results may not have always gone their way, they showed up with great passion and enthusiasm regardless.
We also capped off a great first season with the u8 soft ball tournament. We fielded two strong teams, showcasing the talent this u8 group has to offer. One of the teams made the final and were a handful of rounds away from winning their maiden competition. A fine effort.
Parental and Community Support
This season’s success was bolstered by crucial support from parents. Whether cheering from the side lines or playing their part in helping to manage, score or provide cakes and biscuits! This support makes a huge difference to how the fixtures run smoothly week in and week out. Thank you to all those that volunteered and for those that haven’t yet, we encourage you to do so.
Looking Forward
I think we all have huge excitement for what the u9 season will bring. A number of the boys are already building their skills over the winter period in the Winter Nets training. It’s clear to see with such dedication that we have a number of talented boys in the age group matching their strong potential with unwavering enthusiasm to take wickets and score runs.
In summary, this U8 cricket season created a great first year platform for young players to be nurtured in a supportive and encouraging environment. Their journey has only begun, and with the qualities they have displayed, they are set on a path to becoming skilled cricketers but more importantly individuals of character and sportsmanship. It has been a season of success, laying the groundwork for many future achievements.