The NJ Youth Cricket program has been invited to enter a Colts team into the Cricket League of New Jersey (CLNJ).

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At the time of its formation as a platform for age-group cricket in New Jersey, Venu Palaparthi, the founder of the NJ Youth Cricket Program said that for the program to truly succeed, it would need to provide the aspiring young cricketers a path towards playing in the senior league. 

NJ's youth cricketers (right) will now have an opportunity to progress into the senior league

"We are developing a process wherein eligible junior cricketers, based on skill level and physical ability, will be certified to play alongside senior coach-mentors in a team in the CLNJ," Palaparthi noted February 12, 2011.

Almost a year later, the program has been invited to enter a Colts team into the Cricket League of New Jersey (CLNJ).   

Coincidentally, the preparations for the Colts team began on March 24, 2012, which is the National Youth Cricket Day.  In celebration of this important milestone, the NJ Youth Program announced that it would also become an affiliate of USYCA. 

The Colts will play under the supervision of their full-time coach, Coach Earl Daley, who will guide the young cricketers as they face senior clubs in Division 3 of CLNJ and the Colts team will at all times also include at least two senior mentors to ensure that the transition for the juniors is a gradual and positive one.

Since its inception, the NJ Youth Cricket Program had four objectives - (a) to create an opportunity for match play for girls and boys trained in the basics of cricket (b) provide an outdoor setting during the summer for these young cricketers to practice and play their cricket (c) provide opportunities for the young cricketers to play age-group cricket matches against other junior teams and (d) provide a feeder into senior leagues so that the boys don't drift away from cricket due to lack of playing opportunities as they get older.

"With the formation of Colts team, the last and perhaps the most important objective has been accomplished," Palaparthi said yesterday.  "It is extremely satisfying to create a roadmap for entry into the senior league.  The senior leagues are very competitive and intense.   What we have done here is created a system where the juniors are exposed to higher levels of cricket in a controlled environment."

"Based on their performance in the Colts, we will have a league draft for those boys who are ready for even bigger things," he said.

There are presently numerous junior camps and coaching programs in the NJ region.   More recently, cricket has been added to the recreation programs run by parks departments in some townships.   But participants of these camps have not had a pathway to playing in matches.   Only the most resourceful or well networked boys were able to continue their cricket journey.   The NJ Youth Program and its Colts initiative streamline that evolutionary process.

Colts announced that it will have a free try-out on Sunday, March 25th at DreamCricket Indoor Nets in Hillsborough, NJ.   If needed, as second free try-out will be held the following Sunday, i.e. April 1, 2012.   A handful of boys who have represented the Atlantic Region at the Under-15 level will be invited without the need for a try out. 

In order to improve transparency, the NJ Youth Cricket program published FAQs in connection with the Colts qualification and selection process.  

"Those that don't qualify for Colts will be invited to play age group cricket under the watchful eyes of Coach Damion Morgan until they too are ready for the senior league," Palaparthi said.

Palaparthi also announced two important affiliations that NJ Youth Program had entered into.   "Firstly, we are grateful to CLNJ for their continuing support of youth cricket.   Few know this, but the NJ Youth Cricket Program is now an extension of CLNJ and this affiliation is mutually beneficial.   As a result of this affiliation, CLNJ now has a platform for youth cricket development and a feeder for fresh young talent.  The youth program benefits from CLNJ's regional and national affiliation and its non-profit status for fundraising.   In addition, CLNJ has offered coaching and mentoring assistance."   Internally, NJ Youth Program will be referred to as CLNJ-Youth.

Palaparthi also announced that NJ Youth Cricket Program will soon be associated with USYCA.   "USYCA is doing stellar work on the schools cricket front by donating equipment, providing training to physical education teachers, and conducting exhibition games.   Our affiliation with USYCA will hopefully lead to this wonderful game of cricket getting introduced to more and more New Jersey's schools," he said.  

Although the program is only now getting affiliated with USYCA, the program's founder Venu Palaparthi was an early supporter of USYCA.   His organization, DreamCricket.com donated the first 100 cricket kits during USYCA's formative stages.   The National Youth Cricket Day marks the anniversary of that early support and donation, which was made on March 24, 2010.


NJ Youth Cricket Program on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Youth-Cricket/218694598157367

NJ Youth Cricket Program on DreamCricket Blogs: http://community.dreamcricket.com/community/blogs/off_the_mark/

NJ Colts FAQs: http://community.dreamcricket.com/community/blogs/off_the_mark/archive/2012/03/24/clnj-colts-qualification-and-selection-faqs.aspx