Thursday, April 18, 2013

N.B. is making noise over new sports program | ns.gmnews.com ...

Cricket clinic for boys and girls grades 2 through 8 will begin April 22

BY KATHY CHANG

Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK ? With the success of the adult cricket leagues in the township, the North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (DPRCS) is expanding its cricket program to boys and girls in grades 2 to 8.

Registration for a free clinic is being accepted for the upcoming eight-week season, which will run from April 22 to June 17. The clinic, which is open for all experience levels, will be held every Monday, 6:30- 7:30 p.m., at Hermann Park located on Schirra Road.

Popular in England, cricket is similar to the game of baseball. It has two teams, each consisting of 11 players. The ball is similar to a baseball, but is made of heavy leather. The bat is flat on one side and curved on the other.

In the field are two wickets ? wooden posts with a piece of wood across the top. Two players, or batsmen, stand by each wicket at the same time while the pitcher, known as the bowler, throws the ball.

Every time the ball is hit, the batsmen trade places with the other batsmen, which equal runs. Batsmen are thrown out if fielders catch the ball or if they knock over the piece of wood on the wicket during their swing. Fielders do not wear gloves to catch the ball.

Lou Ann Benson, director of the DPRCS, said with the support of Mayor Francis ?Mac? Womack and the Township Council, the department is extremely excited to be offering this global sport to the youth of the township.

?Ten years ago, we started recreational boys and girls lacrosse teams,? Benson said. ?It caught on, and teams were formally formed at Linwood Middle School and the high school.?

Benson said she worked with Dan Patel, who is a cricket player, to bring the youth camp to fruition.

Patel said Ashok Patel will be the coach.

?He is the best individual I could find that could teach the game of cricket formally,? Dan Patel said. ?This will be a skills clinic.?

Patel said organizers could expand the clinic into two sessions if there are enough registrants.

Benson and Patel suggest participants come in white loose pants, a white T-shirt and white sneakers so that the children will feel like they are part of a team.

Benson suggested bringing water bottles for the warmer weather ahead. Patel said Benson was worried about the weather when working out the dates of the clinic, but he had to remind her that ?the sport of cricket is played under the hot sun.?

Township Councilman Carlo Socio, who is the council liaison to the DPRCS, said he believes the youth cricket clinic will fit in well with the other programs the department has to offer.

Patel said the goal is for cricket to be at the same level as soccer and lacrosse are in the township.

?Or even be the dominant sport,? he said.

Equipment will be provided at the clinic.

For more information, call 732-247- 0922, ext. 475. Contact Kathy Chang at kchang@gmnews.com.

Source: http://ns.gmnews.com/news/2013-04-18/Front_Page/NB_is_making_noise_over_new_sports_program.html

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