All Stars Cricket is an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) initiative that provides a fantastic first experience for 5-8-year-olds through an engaging eight-week programme.
Available at over 2,200 locations across the UK, these fun-filled sessions introduce fundamental skills in a safe and inclusive environment, putting smiles on thousands of young faces every season.
Here’s everything you need to know about All Stars Cricket.
What Is the All Stars Cricket Programme?
All Stars Cricket is an exciting programme that teaches children aged 5 to 8 the basics of cricket, and much more!
All boys and girls in the age group are welcome to join, and theinitiative is fully inclusive, supporting a wide range of abilities, disabilities and different learning needs. The focus is firmly on fun and participation rather than competition.
All Stars Cricket runs for eight weeks, with one session per week that lasts an hour. The training is packed with fun activities, games, and skill-building exercises.
Junior cricketers will learn the fundamentals of batting, bowling, catching, and throwing. But more importantly, they’ll also learn teamwork, movement exercises and come to appreciate cricket’s great values.
The fun games are led by trained and DBS-checked Activators, who are usually club members, local volunteers, or parents. All activators receive ECB-approved training to deliver enjoyable, safe and inclusive sessions tailored for young boys and girls.
Where and when is All Stars Cricket held?
- The programme is run nationwide at over 2,200 accredited clubs and centres. In fact, there’s a good chance you’ll find an All Stars Cricket centre not too far from home.
- All Stars Cricket takes place in the late spring and summer months, from around May/June to August.
What Skills Does All Stars Cricket Teach?
Through lively and stimulating activities, the programme teaches both cricket-specific techniques and fundamental movement skills, always emphasising teamwork, fun and positive experiences.
To ensure a safe and encouraging environment for beginners, plastic bats and lightweight foam or plastic balls are used throughout, meaning there’s no need for bulky pads, gloves, or helmets! Adding to the excitement, every child that registers receives a personalised t-shirt, bat, ball, and backpack.
The key course features include:
- Batting: The basic techniques, focusing on watching the ball, developing a neat backlift and making a sweet connection that sends the ball racing to the boundary!
- Throwing: Practising both underarm and overarm techniques. Developing the skills to gather and throw a ball quickly and accurately towards the stumps.
- Catching: Learning the importance of keeping eyes on the ball and getting their hands in the right position. Small and large balls are used to teach the techniques and build hand-eye coordination.
- Bowling: Practising the correct overarm delivery action, focusing on keeping the bowling arm straight.
- Running: To help raise fitness levels, the sessions include plenty of movement and running games.
- Teamwork: Participating in team games to encourage working with others.Learning that, in cricket, all players must work together to make the team the best it can be.
- Communication: Learning the basics of cricket language and teamwork. Understanding how to communicate with your batting partner and what calls to make when fielding a ball.
- Spirit of cricket: Playing fairly, being considerate of others, and respecting the game’s values and traditions.
As they master new skills, the junior All Stars earn stars in their activity booklets, creating a sense of achievement, pride and progress.
What Are the Benefits of All Stars Cricket?
Let’s look at some of the terrific benefits that make the programme so popular:
- Skill development: Little All Stars learn the basics of cricket as they improve their essential hand-eye coordination. They also build fundamental movement and communication skills that transfer to other sports and everyday life.
- Physical activity: The physical outdoor play promotes an appreciation of a healthy, active lifestyle while championing the cricket spirit.
- Social interaction: The teamwork, bonding, and support help kids make new friends and develop more social skills (including sportsmanship).
- Confidence building: The safe, supportive setting encourages the future heroes to try new activities and build self-esteem.
- Family-friendly: Mums and dads are welcome to join in, creating opportunities for quality family time.
Can Parents Get Involved in All Stars Cricket?
Parents are very welcome to join the fun, and there are several ways mums and dads can take part. You can follow the play from the side of the field, cheering on your budding Ben Stokes or Kate Cross. Alternatively, if you’re feeling energetic, you can join a warm-up or even participate in the entire session.
There is also a more formal way to get involved—assisting Activators. During registration, parents are asked if they want to help with the programme. If you say yes, your centre will contact you with further information, and you’ll be given lots of support along the way.
Alternatively, you could go on to train as an activator yourself and enjoy the rewarding responsibility of leading groups of kids in the future.
Whichever way you choose to get involved, you’ll gain loads from the experience, namely:
- Quality family time: Sharing in the jam-packed fun is an excellent way for kids, mums and dads to bond, laugh and grow.
- Community connection: All Stars is a welcoming space where you can connect with other families and foster a sense of community.
- Rewarding experience: Parents get a chance to see their kids develop teamwork and social skills while having a great time.
- A healthy dose of exercise: Joining your little ones in play and exercise provides a good, healthy workout.
How Do You Register for All Stars Cricket?
Registration is simple and can be completed online via the ECB site or local cricket club websites. Use the ECB club finder tool on the site to search for your nearest All Stars Cricket club or centre.
With over 2,200 accredited locations across the UK, the widespread network is designed to help families find a convenient location to join the programme.
Costs and Kit
The standard All Stars cost is £50 for the full eight-week programme. Some centres may charge an additional membership fee.
Included in the cost is a personalised All Stars Cricket kit for your little boy or girl. The colourful kit is delivered to your door and includes:
- T-shirt with your child’s name
- Plastic cricket bat
- Soft ball
- Backpack
- Cap
- An activity booklet
It’s a great welcome pack to make kids feel like part of the team and get them excited to race onto the field of play.
A Brief History of the All Stars Programme
All Stars Cricket launched in 2017 with England legends Jonny Bairstow, Michael Vaughan, and Lauren Winfield-Hill actively supporting the new project.
The ECB and former players recognised that the country’s junior cricket system did a lot of good work, but could do more to make the game accessible to more children and their parents.
All Stars Cricket came about to provide a centralised, informative, user-friendly route to access and enjoy a great cricket and developmental experience for the whole family.
Since 2017, thousands of happy kids have passed through the programme, supported by proud parents.
FAQ
What comes after All Stars Cricket?
After completing the All Stars Cricket programme, children aged 8 and older can join the Dynamos Cricket programme. Dynamos is the next step up and delivers more advanced skills and game-based learning in a supportive environment.
Many cricket clubs have junior sections or squad training for kids who are passionate and committed to improving their game.
Are there All Stars Cricket Holiday Camps?
The ECB has introduced All Stars Holiday Camps to give kids more ways to play; however, availability can vary by region and club. The holiday camps are built around the same activity and skills development programme as the weekly sessions.
To find holiday camps or sessions, use the ECB’s official All Stars Cricket centre finder or check with clubs in your area.
Like the weekly programmes, every child who registers for camp will receive a personalised t-shirt, bat, ball and backpack.
What happens if a coaching session gets cancelled due to bad weather?
If a session is cancelled due to poor weather, local clubs usually offer a catch-up session or indoor alternatives where possible. Always check with your chosen club. They will communicate directly with parents if sessions need to be rescheduled.
Final Thoughts
All Stars Cricket is a fantastic introduction to cricket for juniors, blending skills development, fun, and exercise in a safe and supportive format.
The training not only teaches the basics of cricket but also helps children develop confidence in their abilities and make friends. Not to mention, it also encourages fitness and teamwork and could lay the foundation for a lifelong love of the sport.
This summer is the perfect time for your family to try All Stars Cricket. Visit the ECB website to get started on your little one’s 8-week adventure.
