Junior Internationals

The first junior international team to represent Belgium was the national Under 15 squad that travelled to Berlin to play in the European Under 15 Second Division Championships in August 2001. Belgium notched up a creditable 6th place in the eight-country event.

In 2002 the Belgian national Under 13 team was the only Affiliate side in the European Under 13 Second Division Championships and came second in what was otherwise an all-Associate tournament. They lost to the tournament winners by one run off the last ball of the match.

This year the Under 15's are going to Bordeaux (France), the Under 13's are once more competing in the Dutch regional competition and the Under 17's have started playing in the third division of the BCF League competition.

Junior Leagues

The BCF runs three junior league competitions – Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 – and also has an Under 19 squad that plays in the Third Division of the senior league. All junior league matches take place on Saturday or Sunday mornings and have trophies for the side that wins the particular league. The Under 17s play in the senior afternoon schedule.

The Under 11 competition is played as pairs cricket with an Incrediball, giving all players an equal opportunity to enjoy and learn all aspects of the game.

• 2004 Age Criteria – Under-11
  Must be born after 01-09-92 and before 01-01-95

The Under 13s play in a league based on 20-over matches with a three-quarter-size hard ball. A national squad is formed early in the season and plays in the 45-over Dutch provincial championships during June and early July. Every two years, a national Under-13 squad takes part in the ECC U13 B championships. In 2002 the Belgian team came second in these championships, which were held in Tuscany, Italy. This year’s championships will be held in Gibraltar in August.

• 2004 Age Criteria – Under-13 Players
  Must be born after 01-09-90 and before 01-01-93

The Under 15 competition is based on 20 overs and is played with a full-size hard ball. In 2001, a national squad travelled to Berlin for the European U15 B Championships and came 6th. In 2003, the championships were held in France and the Belgian team finished third. The 2003 squad also played a number of matches against the Dutch U15 Development XI.

• 2004 Age Criteria – Under-15 Players
  Must be born after 01-09-88 and before 01-01-91

The Under 17 squad plays 40-over cricket in the national Third Division senior league. Additional matches are arranged against Dutch and other sides. Other Under 17 players play for their clubs in senior sides.

National Indoor Squad: From 2004, the Belgian national team participating in the European Indoor Championships has been selected on a development basis, with U17 and younger players making up the team but being led by a senior captain. The Belgian side came 8th in the 2004 championships, which were played in the Netherlands, and automatically qualified for the 2005 event.

All players under the age of 19 are required to abide by ECB youth cricket regulations. These include wearing a helmet and other appropriate protective gear while batting. There are also restrictions relating to close fielding positions.

From time to time the BCF runs national coaching clinics for junior players. These are headed by a top-level professional coach, usually from England.

Happy Cricket is a private initiative that aims to introduce cricket into Belgian schools and thus introduce as many kids as possible to cricket. Alex Oltmans, the man who is Happy Cricket, wants to show kids that cricket is FUN!

The BCF supports Happy Cricket as an integral part of cricket development in Belgium.