Nathan Elliott, batting for Red Star, will take on a temporary role with Wairarapa Cricket. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected]
Simon Roseingrave is about to take guard in a demanding new development role with New Zealand Cricket [NZC].
The Wairarapa Cricket general manager is “excited and nervous” about a 15-month secondment to NZC to establish and roll out a national development plan for junior cricket.
“It is a challenge, and in a call with NZC last week they talked about the fact, they want to do it once, and they want to do it right. Therefore, there’s quite a bit of pressure around it and a lot of onus of doing it correctly, but then that’s exciting in itself,” Roseingrave said.
“I’ve embraced the challenges locally and we’ve moved forward as an association. I think this is my opportunity to take those learnings from Wairarapa, because we do some things really, really well and apply that to the national stage.”
Roseingrave is well qualified to lead the group, having won NZC’s Best Women’s Cricket Strategy Award in 2015 and the Administrator of the Year at the Wairarapa Times-Age Sports Awards in 2015 and 2019 for his innovations in developing women’s and junior cricket.
Initially, the programme will focus on how to get more five- to nine-year-olds playing cricket.
“It’s looking at the entry points to cricket, and how that is rolled out nationwide, the resources for coach support, and the bringing in of a few different ideas, and it’s not simply just putting a new cover on the same book.
“It’s looking at how we can do things differently as a sport, integrate new ideas, and make it an experience that anybody can come into and enjoy.”
Roseingrave said there had been no junior national development plan for about 12-13 years, and programmes have been done piecemeal rather than on a national approach.
“The part I’m contracted for is moving on from the work Wellington Cricket chief executive Cam Mitchell has been undertaking, which is a research project for NZC around the state of the game around the country.
“I will be building on that and pulling in other expertise, and not necessarily cricket, because there could be experts from other areas that come into it.
“Initially, I won’t be travelling around the country talking to the regions because that has already been done, but as things start to progress with what the development plan will look like and what resources we will have, I would imagine there will be a bit of that going on because I will be involved in rolling it out around the country.”
Roseingrave said the project outcomes are aligned with NZC’s vision ‘A Game for all New Zealanders’, and the desire to make cricket accessible for anybody who wants to play the game.
“It’s not just gender diversity, it’s ethnic diversity, it’s incorporating opportunities for those with disabilities. Part of my role will be engaging with expertise in those areas to make sure that we do align with their needs as well.
“We, therefore, need to make sure with what’s being offered in that junior space provides the skillset for children to enjoy.”
Roseingrave will continue to work for Wairarapa Cricket and estimates the secondment, starting on October 1, will take up about 80 per cent of his working week.
Wairarapa Cricket have appointed Wairarapa representative player Nathan Elliott as community and pathways manager to fill the void.
Elliott will oversee competition management and communication, from junior, secondary school to senior, and Coastal Challenge, and will include draws, cancellations, and results.
He will also organise and communicate the male side of the Wairarapa Pathway system, including volunteer and coach support and tournament and fixture organisation.
Female cricket manager Melissa Hansen will also pick up some of Roseingrave’s administration work.
