- My child is already a member of Dumfries Sports Club?
No problem. That membership cost will be taken off for a reduced cricket club membership.

- How can I pay for a junior membership?
You can pay online at the club website here www.dumfriescricketclub.com/payments
Or make a direct payment to your coach, team manager or a cricket committee member.

- How do I register my child and as a parent on the club website
https://help.pitchero.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004552094-How-do-parents-complete-the-registration-form-when-joining-my-website-

- When is the ‘cricket season’?
The ‘cricket season’, with games outside, runs during the summer from late April to the beginning of September, but we carry on with activities over the winter months as well.

- How much will it all cost?
We try to keep the cost of playing junior cricket as low as we can. To start playing in matches there is the cricket membership and then having some sport shoes/trainers and there can be a small match fee.

- What equipment is needed?
To start all you need is a pair of trainers/sports shoes. We will provide the cricket equipment.

For a boy the first and only cricket item you definitely need, when they have reached the stage of batting against a hard ball, is a means to wear an abdominal protector and ideally the protector itself i.e. a box and a ‘box holder’. The Club does not wish to provide a box long term for an individual (!) although we do stock some in reserve. Please wear the right 'pants' for training and games!

If you are not sure these, or similar, are the items. Perhaps ask Sports Direct (Dumfries) if they are in stock.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-cricket-pro-briefs-junior-boys-335004?colcode=33500401

https://www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-classic-abdo-guard-857029?colcode=85702901

Your child may want ultimately decide they would like their own cricket kit. If that is an unknown world to you then please ask us, ask the coach. We do not want kit cost to be perceived as any barrier to playing and aim to have club kit which is available to use. Our older juniors naturally grow out of their own kit and sometimes we do get such kit donated in order for it to be used and passed on to encourage the younger players.

- Do I need to bring something to drink?
Not necessarily. There is a water dispenser downstairs in the corridor and it is free to ask for a cup of water at the bar when it is open. If you do bring a drinks bottle please don’t leave it behind. We collect too many. And there are bins outside, rather than the ground, for used bottles.

- What if I leave something?
Ask us or at the bar. We might have put it somewhere safe or behind the bar.

- Can girls play?
Definitely. We want more girls to play cricket.

We think it is a great game for them. They can start with All Stars and progress through the age groups. Our junior teams are a mixture of boys and girls.

We also provide additional girls cricket sessions for those more comfortable in that environment. They can also progress via womens’ soft-ball cricket, indoor womens/girls tournaments, our women’s team and we are proud that one player from the club (so far) has gone on to play for the Scotland Women’s side. Several have played for Scotland Women U17s.

- Can my child progress in the game?
Yes. The cricket pathway with the club is as follows –
All Stars; Kwik Cricket; U11s; U13s; U15s; U18s; Midweek Senior Cricket; Sunday XI; Second XI; First XI; Dumfries Women; West U14s; West U16s; West Women U16s; Scotland U15s; Scotland U17s,Scotland Women U17s; Scotland U19s; Stormers Women (Regional); Western Warriors Seniors; Scotland A; Scotland Women; Scotland Men.

Club players have played representative cricket for West age-group sides, Scotland age-group sides, Scotland Women and Durham County CC.

- Can I join the club as an adult?
Firstly, as a junior parent you are always very welcome at the Club. Don’t be shy about going up and visiting the lounge or the bar.

Yes, you can join yourself. The Sports Club is a members club. Various types of membership are available to participate in all our sports; cricket, tennis, racketball, squash or use the gym. There are different options ranging from trial memberships, monthly payments, and annual memberships for families, single parent families. Ask at the bar for details, ask or see online.

There is also an inexpensive social membership (£10 for 2019). You can support the club and can have formal access to the social facilities, bar and lounge.

And don’t forget that as a member you can also ask the bar manager about the possibility of holding a social function at the Club.

- What is Tea for Two?
Sometimes we need to provide some food for our visiting sides and our players. So don’t be too surprised if we ask for some ‘tea for two’ to be brought i.e. enough to feed your junior and a visiting player with a sandwich or two, or even a traditional piece of cake.

- Can I go on the ground?
Yes. However when a game is in progress please don’t cross the marked boundary onto the field of play and also be aware that the ball can be hit outside that boundary during play. Feel free to do a lap of the ground though.

We do ask that people do not walk or run around on the square (the rectangular bit in the middle where the playing surfaces are) in order to avoid damage. Otherwise access to the outfield is fine when there is no game, just stay out of the way of the grass cutter!

And a little bit of cricketing etiquette; avoid walking directly behind the bowler when he/she is bowling. It puts off the batter when trying to watch the ball in flight and they might also be our player! The saying you might hear is, “Don’t walk behind the bowler’s arm”.

- What can I do when my child is playing?
Well, you might join in! In particular the All Stars sessions encourage parent involvement – “All Stars Cricket is also fantastic for parents. For an hour a week all mums and dads are invited to get involved and play cricket with their children. We know this is a great way to spend time with your child and create memories that will last a lifetime.” See www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars/parents

Alternatively, when the bar upstairs is open you can go inside and get a drink, or a coffee, and watch the cricket outside or watch the TV inside with Sky, etc.

Or you can sit in the lounge upstairs when the bar is closed. If someone has been organised we might have even managed to put out a kettle for some help yourself tea or coffee.

And, since it is sunny South-West Scotland, you could even sit outside on the balcony.

Or you could use the free wi-fi (access details are at the bar). From the double door entrance from the cricket ground you go up the stairs and turn right for the bar, left for the lounge.

Or you might have some me activity time and join to use the gym or the courts.

Or, one of our women’s exercise sessions (CricHIIT) might be on and you can join in!

- Could I and my child come and just play some cricket outside of a formal session or a match?
Absolutely. We would be pleased if you did. You can use the outfield (avoid any grass cutter and any match in progress) and use the net training area and nets (provided there is no training going on there). If you need it, and let us know, we can make some kit available if necessary.

- If we have missed out your specific question just let us know....