Cricket Academies New Zealand

Participant Requirements
This programme requires all participants to be active, so academy students need to ensure they feel fit and able to join a sports training programme of this nature.

Programme Age Limit
Minimum age 18, maximum age decided upon potential participant’s health

Australia Tour
This unique experience gives you the option of training for half (12 or 15 weeks) or a full season (25 weeks), with a fantastic tour included in the programme. The tour gives you the chance to test yourself in games against the Manly Development Squad, Sydney. Australia are undeniably the best cricketing nation in the world, so this is a great opportunity and a REAL challenge!

Please Note
The games are subject to player availability and the schedule of Manly Development Squad not changing.

Academy Coaches
The academy coach is qualified to NZCC Level 3, which is the highest level attainable in New Zealand and only available to expert coaches with a high level of experience and ability. On occasion, there will be guest coaches, which in the past have included Doug Walters, Peter Philpott and Ashley Mallett.  

Matches and Local Teams
Each Saturday the Academy players will represent one of the sides in the local premier competition or open grade, depending on the level of each player. It is important that you submit a “cricket CV” before you arrive, so the coach can allocate you to a side appropriate to your playing level and experience. By playing regular matches at a good competitive level, the academy and its players are able to evaluate the application of skills taught and learnt during the week, in a real-life environment.

Sundays are rest or personal training days (Some Sundays are used for development matches).

Training Facilities
Training will take place at the Hawkes Bay High Performance Centre and Nelson Park, the venue for all First Class and International Matches played in Napier. This is a unique opportunity to play and train in facilities normally only available to the best cricketers in New Zealand and the World.

NZCC Coaching and Umpiring Courses
Players can sit the NZCC Level 1 coaching certificate (Costs about NZ$200 including admin costs for course), which requires 40-50 hours contact coaching.

Other Services
Your programme has some useful additional services to enhance your stay. You will be provided with more details about these in your welcome pack, which you receive upon arrival. These additional services include:

• Orientation Pack: Orientation pack will include necessary amenities such as mobile phone connection, maps, local and international telephone cards, complementary prepaid vouchers for supermarket etc.
• Travel Help Line: Travel help-line service will include airline ticket booking, domestic travel arrangement by road or air, accommodation bookings, flight change and visa extension.
• Transport: Academy players will be provided with a vehicle (shared with other players) to use for cricket and sightseeing purposes during their stay in Napier. Players must have a full UK driving license to use this service and they are responsible for their own fuel usage.

There are other services included too (such as job finding assistance for those with a Working Holiday Visa); more details are given in the Orientation Pack.

Programme Support
Throughout your stay in New Zealand you will have the support and guidance of our coach and his local team. They will provide you with competent assistance and help you with any questions or advice you may need during your stay. 

In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.

Programme Orientation
At the start of your programme you will receive an in-depth local orientation, to go alongside your pre-departure handbook. This orientation will be conducted by our local programme coordinator and will cover the following areas:

• Programme Structure: what to expect during the programme
• Local Team: which teams you will be placed with, when training takes place etc
• Culture and behaviour: you will be familiarised with the cultural norms of New Zealand and what your expected behaviour will be whilst on and off the programme
• Safety: our coordinator will tell you how to keep yourself and your valuables safe whilst in New Zealand. This will include areas to avoid, what to do in an emergency, behaviour at nighttime and more.