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Her Game Too Cricket are thrilled to announce that Next Level Cricket Academy have become the latest to partner with the campaign.
Established in November 2020, Next Level Cricket Academy was founded to provide high-level coaching for girls and increase access to relatable roles models.
Headed by the duo of Kira Chathli, Surrey/South East Stars wicket keeper and The Hundred winner, and Sebastián Connor, Surrey Young Coach of the Year nominee, NLCA aims to create an environment that “challenges, inspires and develops young girls”.
As we see an influx of young girls getting involved with cricket, with the England & Wales Cricket Board reporting a 20% increase in Women and Girls teams from 2022 to 2023 (ECB, 2023), it is crucial that we provide them with platforms to build their self-confidence to progress in cricket, as well as outside of the sport. This is where the work of Next Level Cricket Academy enters the frame.
Working in partnership with female professional cricketers, NLCA is enabling young female cricketers to learn first-hand from those who have already experienced the journey themselves.
Through the “ability to meet, discuss with and learn from women who are now at the pinnacle of domestic cricket”, NLCA empowers their girls to work towards their dreams and helps develop their skillsets for the future.
With year-round offerings, Next Level Cricket Academy runs a range of courses and camps, as well as 1-2-1 sessions.
Winter/Summer courses consist of weekly training sessions, providing the girls with high-level training and the opportunities to enhance their skills whilst being coached by professional female cricketers. Split into Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced, these courses operate at a maximum of 1-6 coach to child ratio; resulting in a significant amount of contact time with each child, helping to hone each girl's unique technique.
For a slightly different approach, NLCA also offers Holidays Camps. Centred around fun, these camps are about emphasising the importance of enjoying cricket, regardless of what level you are at on your cricketing journey.
With both coaches and professional players getting involved in the action too, this helps create “a wonderful environment to keep learning about cricket, whilst also putting enjoyment at the heart of the activities.”
In the community, NLCA has also delivered sessions in local estates in partnership with the Surrey Foundation. Open to all, these projects are designed to illustrate how cricket can be accessible no matter how much space or equipment people have.
Looking to the future, Next Level Cricket Academy is striving to increase its capacity to deliver programmes and community projects across London and the UK. Now, NLCA has entered a partnership with Her Game Too Cricket.
On the partnership, Sebastián Connor, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NLCA, said: “This exciting new partnership with Her Game Too (HGT) reaffirms our message that cricket can be a game for all girls and NLCA will continue to act as a home to protect, increase the knowledge around and develop women’s and girl’s cricket.
Having seen the impact that discussions, regarding mental health, puberty, stress and the challenges within cricket, have had with our cohort, we want to ensure that not only our members, but the wider community know that there are safe spaces to discuss these issues.
The HGT campaign is a strong voice in the community, providing valuable information around a wide range of challenges in women’s sport. Being able to spread this information to as many people as possible is pivotal and NLCA is proud to champion the messages Her Game Too spread, as we look to increase all types of female participation in the sport we love.”
Paige Caunce, Director of Cricket at Her Game Too, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Next Level Cricket Academy and to begin working with them to push the message that cricket is a game for all.
As we see more girls aspire to play professional cricket, it’s crucial that centres like NLCA are established so then we can help them achieve their full potential.
Her Game Too are incredibly grateful to Sebastián, Kira and the team at Next Level Cricket Academy for their support and we are looking forward to following along on their journey as they continue to expand.”
To learn more about Next Level Cricket Academy, you can visit their website here: www.nlcricketacademy.co.uk
Instagram: @nextlevelcricketacademy
LinkedIn : Next Level Cricket Academy