The South Australian Cricket Association today launched a program called ‘Cricket in the Community: a Social Vision’ to create strongerpartnerships between the State’s 25,000 cricketers and local government.
South Australian Cricket Association29-Oct-2002The South Australian Cricket Association today launched a program called
‘Cricket in the Community: a Social Vision’ to create stronger
partnerships between the State’s 25,000 cricketers and local government.SACA’s State Manager of Cricket and Redbacks Coach Greg Chappell
launched the campaign today, saying that cricket was undergoing
phenomenal growth, especially at junior level.’We’ve seen the number of junior players increase by about 60% in the
past seven years. Whole new clubs and associations are being formed
every season’, Greg said.’Two things come out of that. One is that there’s increasing pressure on
the need for facilities; and the other is that cricket has a grass-roots
social infrastructure which has the potential to be a valuable asset for
local government.’The program we are launching today aims at strengthening the
understanding between cricket and councils. We both have a lot to learn
about each other and we can both benefit from that understanding.’Cricket has an increasing need for facilities; and in return, we can
offer local government a way to connect with the local community.’For example, Councils are, in effect, sponsors of cricket but they
rarely celebrate that sponsorship or use it to reach the local people.’The campaign SACA is launching today will operate at two levels:
- ‘The Association itself will take a leading role by seeking to
develop our relationship with the Local Government Association and the
Local Government Manager’s Association. We want to inform them of the
full impact of cricket, not just as a sport but as an important part of
the social and community fabric. But we also want to learn more about
Local Government, so this will be a two-way process. - ‘At a Club level, we have prepared a strategy and an action kit
for the Grade Clubs to follow, which will assist them in building and
developing partnerships with Councils. This is practical and has
outcomes which we believe will benefit both parties. SACA will give
active support to clubs in pursuing these activities throughout the
coming season, and will formally review the outcomes after the finals.
aimed firstly at ensuring Councils have a full understanding of the
depth and breadth of cricket in the community. The second phase involves
working with Councils to develop partnership arrangements which are
mutually beneficial to both cricket and local government, based on
commonalities of purpose and service to the community.’Cricket is more than a great game – it’s a social and community
resource which touches hundreds of thousands of South Australians at
many different levels. Our strategy in working more closely with local
government on a mutual basis has the full support of the Australian
Cricket Board and will help ensure a positive future for the game in
this State’.
