JUNIORS

We offer fun, inclusive cricket for players from Year 0 through to Year 8, starting with our free Have-A-Go programme for the youngest players and progressing through soft ball and hard ball grades. Players are grouped by school year to support development and long-term pathways, with a focus on skill-building, teamwork and enjoyment.

GRADING GUIDANCE

Our players play in their school year grade at the time of registration. This means that if a player is in Year 4 at school in September when registering, they play in Year 4 for the forthcoming season.

Where possible, we try to keep players together season on season. However, from time to time, players may be placed in another team to ensure our teams are balanced for the season and competition. When this happens, we will communicate with you and endeavour to put players into teams with at least one friend.

Players may be placed one grade higher or lower than their school year by exception. Any player who plays in an age grade that is not their school year requires dispensation from Cricket Wellington. Cases are considered by Cricket Wellington on a case-by-case basis. Dispensations are required annually.

From Year 5 cricket (hard ball) onwards, KCC advocates all players play in their school year. This supports our player pathways and transition to college and club cricket.

HAVE-A-GO UNICORNS

School new entrants (Year 0) and Year 1 cricketers play in our Have-A-Go Unicorns. Sessions are always at Karori Park (we do not play games against teams from other clubs). Our Unicorns receive a fun introduction to cricket and learn the basics of batting, bowling and fielding. Parent participation is encouraged in supporting our youngest cricketers with what can be some tricky skills to get the hang of. In the second half of the season, they start to play games against each other to introduce them to Year 2 cricket.

The emphasis is on learning some key cricket skills and having a great time with their friends in a relaxed atmosphere.

Families wanting to trial are welcome to head along and participate. Registration can be made throughout the season.

All gear is provided and Have-A-Go is free.

Player's will receive a branded shirt to wear to sessions. This is returned at the end of the season.

Player's will also receive a team photo.

For the 2025/2026 season our Have-a-Go head coach will be Angus Bumby. Angus will run the sessions at Karori Park (in front of the clubrooms) at 9am on Sunday mornings. Sessions will run for between 45 minutes and one hour. The first session will be on 16 November 2025 with a break over Christmas before recommencing in late January. Registrations will be open all season – use the registrations page to register. Come along and see what it’s about!

Player Pathway - Step 1

Have-A-Go is the perfect introduction to cricket for our youngest cricketers. We encourage all children who are in Year 0 or 1 to play in our Have-A-Go grade as this provides a great skills and a solid foundation to build on season after season.

YEAR 2 TO YEAR 4
(SOFTBALL CRICKET)

Our Year 2 and Year 3 cricketers play dual pitch cricket. Players are placed in a team of between 8 to 10 players and play games against other clubs across the Wellington region. It is a fast, fun format, designed to keep players active and engaged. Games typically last between 45 minutes to one hour. Teams will need a parent volunteer coach to run the games and also to run a mid-week practice. Previous cricket experience is not required as we have plenty of volunteers within the club that are more than happy to share their knowledge of the game.

Our home games are played on Terawhiti turf, at the southeastern corner of Karori Park. It is an artificial turf, which provides for a consistent bounce.

If your cricketer is Year 1 and has already done a season of Have-A-Go as a Year 0 they are welcome to join a Year 2 team (or equally welcome to re-do Have-a-Go). However, as outlined in our grading guidance, they will need to repeat a softball grade to ensure they get back in sync with their year group before hardball cricket begins at Year 5. We recommend repeating one of either Year 2 or Year 3 because the dual pitch format is a lot of fun (and has a shorter game time).

Our Year 4 cricketers play one last season of softball cricket, but where a more traditional (single pitch) format is used. The game time doubles as a result, to approximately 90 minutes. Our home games are played at Karori Park (on the grass pitches).

All team gear is provided by the club. Cricketers are welcome to use their own bat if they prefer, but it is not compulsory.

YEAR 5 TO YEAR 8

(HARDBALL CRICKET)

Year 5 is the first year of hardball cricket. As outlined in our grading guidance above, we advocate that cricketers must be in Year 5 at school before they play hardball cricket.

All gear is provided for hardball cricket (except for a protective box, which players must supply their own).

The format for each year group is set out below.

More Information: https://www.sporty.co.nz/hbcricketcamps

HAWKE'S BAY CAMPS

Karori Juniors have a long and proud history of participating in these camps. This format provides a unique opportunity for keen cricketers to play against cricket clubs throughout the North Island.

The Hawkes Bay Cricket Camps were established in 1979 and organised by Ray Mettrick. Ray administered the camps for 22 years and since 2001 they have been organised by Hawke's Bay Cricket Association with Craig Findlay coordinating all but one of these years. Ray was awarded a Queens Service Medal in June 2019 for his Services to Cricket, finally being recognised Nationally for his work in cricket. The tournaments are run throughout the month of January.

Tournament Format

All grades are 11 aside traditional cricket.
You can be dismissed first ball.
As we play between 4-6 games and there are many opportunities to bat, retirements will be on runs, not balls. Teams will play in a pod structure, with players have the opportunity to bat and bowl throughout the order.
Teams/grades are based on Term 4 2025 school years.

Costs for Camps

Costs for the 2026 camps are:

Year 4/5 - $2,800 / team (accommodation and food for teams provided)
Year 6, 7, 8 - $3,745 / team (accommodation and food for teams provided)
Year 6 - 8 Girls Grade - $3,495 / team (accommodation and food for teams provided)