NatWest U19 Club T20 is back for 2016

After a very successful first two seasons, the NatWest U19 Club T20 is back for 2016.

This vibrant competition is all about keeping U19 players in club cricket and giving them the cricketing experience they want - playing with their friends, fast lively matches, a great social atmosphere and a chance to make the club look and feel different for one night a week.

With a focus on retaining young players, the competition was launched in four counties with 60 teams in 2014, and grew to 460 teams across 34 counties last year. Watch this video to find out more about how the
competition works:

Sign up now

ECB are now asking clubs to register their interest to be part of the competition next year to calculate the demand in different areas of England and Wales. To help us plan in advance, it would be great to hear from you before 27 November 2015.

This will allow ECB to then speak to your local County Cricket Board and/or your League to plan for 2016.

Please note - this is not an entry form. We'll contact you during December 2015 with an update on the competition in your local area.

Still unsure? Why not look at our frequently asked questions.

New for 2016

NatWest U19 Club T20 has agreed a partnership with Serious Cricket to be our Approved Supplier for all teamwear and equipment. If you would like to set up your own personalised team store then visit Serious Cricket by clicking on the below logo.



Competition background

The NatWest U19 Club T20 competition was developed through player insight to combat a national trend within clubs - young players dropping out of the game after U15s.

The insight we gathered from 1000 young players (current and lapsed) pointed to these key factors:

After U15s age group cricket, there is no specific offer for young players
16-19 year olds want to play with their friends
Young players are keen to develop their own skills by taking more responsibility (volunteering)
They want short formats, with coloured kit and lively atmosphere where their friends can watch

With the NatWest T20 Blast launching in 2014, the ECB decided to take on board the feedback from the young players, and encouraged clubs to 'bring the Blast' to their home fixtures for the U19 Club competition.
Player retention

As part of the ECB's commitment to help clubs to continue to grow and thrive, the Stay in the Game toolkit was created in March 2014 and the key messages around player retention have been applied within the NatWest U19 Club T20 competition.

Playing opportunities - a chance to play the shorter T20 format with friends. A chance for players who might not get much of a bat or bowl at the weekend (or are unavailable) to get more involved.

Volunteering opportunities - young players take ownership and have more connection with the club. They can be responsible for preparing the match - umpires, scorers, team selection and entertainment.

Club environment - a chance to change the feel of the club and make it more 'teen friendly'. Music, BBQ and coloured kit creates excitement and in return will lead to new faces coming down to watch.

If clubs use the competition for the purpose for which it has been created, it is likely it will have a positive impact on keeping teenage players engaged.
Proven success

At the end of the 2015 season, we surveyed players and team managers to assess the impact of the competition. The results were great: