HOW IT WORKS
The Proteas may be facing off against the Aussies, with series against Bangladesh and England still to come, but there’ s a very different type of cricket showdown taking place at Newlands this November.
And while the playing field may be slightly smaller, the competition will be no less intense when the eighth Lord’ s Taverners South Africa and Spirit Foundation-funded Table Cricket Festival, delivered by Sporting Chance, takes place on 26 November.
This year marks an important step forward for Table Cricket, with Cricket South Africa throwing their weight behind the programme and opening the door for it to grow beyond the Western Cape.
More than 80 young players, aged nine to 16, from special needs schools across Cape Town currently take part in the Table Cricket Champions League. Astra, St Joseph’ s Marist, St Joseph’ s Montana, Eros, Vista Nova, Jan Kriel, Filia and reigning champions Tembalethu are all represented.
The latest inter-school matches, held at the end of August, saw Vista Nova, Tembalethu, St Joseph’ s Marist and Filia go head-to-head, with plenty of energy around the tables and teammates cheering each other on.
There’ s plenty to learn along the way. Players develop hand-eye coordination, practise numeracy skills and learn to work together. They also get the chance to make friends, build confidence and experience the excitement of representing their school.
For educators, watching their learners grow in confidence and discover new skills is a big part of the reward. For the players, it’ s about enjoying the game, being part of a team and having the chance to compete.
That is what makes the programme so valuable. It gives children with disabilities a place in cricket where they can develop their abilities, enjoy the company of teammates and discover the satisfaction that comes with playing sport.
The Spirit Foundation and Lord’ s Taverners South Africa, working alongside Sporting Chance and now with the added support of Cricket South Africa, are helping to create more opportunities for young people to take part in the game.
The backing from CSA could see Table Cricket reach more schools beyond the Western Cape, bringing the programme to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play.
Bradlyn Stuurman, Sporting Chance, Operations Director / Coach of the Table Cricket programme, explained:“ Through the coaching sessions, I have had the privilege of watching participants learn, grow, and take to the game with enthusiasm and pride. For many learners, it’ s a chance to emulate their South African cricket heroes, and it also gives the opportunity to experience the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a team. Table cricket is more than a game – it’ s a chance to build confidence and show that every person has the power to shine.”
For more information on Table Cricket, please contact Natalie Pollock on 082 722 9653 or gm @ sportingchance. co. za
Table Cricket is an adapted version of the game, played on a table tennis table with equipment and rules designed to make cricket accessible to children with disabilities. Originally developed in the United Kingdom by Doug Williamson of Nottingham Trent University, it was introduced to South Africa by Lord’ s Taverners South Africa.
HOW IT WORKS
Table Cricket is a very strategic game played by teams of six players. There are different scoring zones around the table that can be blocked by manually moved fielders. Teams take turns to bowl or bat, with the batter using a small, signature-size bat to score and the bowler using a ramp to deliver the ball.
Batting
The challenge for the batter is to aim for the green scoring zones around the table, to earn two, four, or six runs
The game has been running in South Africa for around a decade, but the introduction of the Champions League has added a new dimension. Inspired by successful structures in the UK, the inaugural league last year gave schools the chance to build teams, develop skills and compete against one another in a more structured format.
The response from players, coaches and educators was overwhelmingly positive. Now in its second year, the league is bringing together players who are becoming more experienced, more competitive and increasingly eager to see what they can achieve.
Bowling
When bowling, the ball is sent down the ramp towards the batter. Each delivery must be pushed- not flicked. The bowler has the option of using two balls. The first runs true and the second- known as the swing ball- contains a bias which enables you to bowl in a curved line.
Fielding
There are nine fielders around the edge of the table. Four are fixed, and cannot be moved; five are active, and can be moved side to side
Click here for the full Lord’ s Taverners guide
https:// www. lordstaverners. org / media / 1117 / guide-totable-cricket. pdf
www. modernathlete. co. za 41