Following the recent emergence of Academy graduates such as Kiran Carlson, Lukas Carey, Jack Murphy, Connor Brown and Prem Sisodiya into the Glamorgan first XI, Glamorgan are launching a Junior Academy Programme in their quest to ensure the club continues to produce high-quality homegrown players.
The Junior Academy will replace the current skill set groups (batting, spin and seam bowling) that have been working through the winters. The rationale behind the change is an attempt to significantly increase the coaching contact time for the best young players across Wales.
The Junior Academy will be for players from the ages of 12 through to 16 and will help bridge the gap between the Welsh age group teams and the current Academy programme.
Players will be selected predominantly from the Welsh age group squads but also through a network of contacts from institutions outside of Wales and will be identified through a network of coaches and scouts who will be looking for players with the potential to play at a higher level.
Players will be judged not only on performance but also on the desirable high-performance character traits needed to be a successful Glamorgan and England cricketer.
The current girls EPP programme for the most talented young girls in the age group squads will be enhanced through extra investment and will mirror the boys Junior Academy programme.
As with the boys programme the girls EPP will help bridge the gap between the age group programme and the full academy programme. With the promotion of the Wales Women’s team into the first division of the Women’s T20 competition it is vital the best girls are equipped to deal with the demands of that competition.
Glamorgan are also determined to continue to provide women and girls for both the Western Storm Development programme and the Senior Western Storm Team.
The programmes will not only help the players develop technically and tactically but will also involve a rigorous sports science support programme to help them develop physically and psychologically.
The groups will meet twice a week through the winter with further practice sessions in the summer. It is hoped there will be a small development programme fixture list to go along with the current age group playing programme the players follow in the summer.
By having more contact time with our most talented young players it is hoped the Junior Academy can accelerate each player’s development to ensure they reach their full potential as early as possible and help ensure we continue to produce high quality young cricketers and role models Glamorgan, Wales and England can be proud of.