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An overview of the junior league competitions
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The BCF runs three junior league competitions Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15
and also has an Under 17 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 years 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.
© Belgian Cricket Federation
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