Earlier this year, Shane Wilson from Kiama Cavaliers Cricket Club was awarded the Cricket NSW Woolworths Cricket Blast Coordinator of the Year, following a 60% increase in program numbers during the 2024 season.

Now, as Wilson prepares for another nine-week Woolworths Cricket Blast program - designed to teach kids the basics of the game - he hopes to achieve similar success.

“We went from 26 to 42 in one season,” said Wilson. “But we’ve had a bit of a hiccup this time - Cricket Australia’s geo-locator wasn’t showing our program properly until last week, so people couldn’t find us.

“Because of that, we’re currently sitting at around 22 to 25 registrations. Now that the issue’s been fixed and school’s back in full swing, we’re hoping to boost those numbers this week.”

Wilson said he was humbled to receive the statewide award, but emphasised it was far from a solo effort.

“I think it’s important to acknowledge it was a team effort. I had Nathan and Mel Battishall come on board last year, and they made a huge difference to the program. We worked together on a lot of it.”

One of the keys to the program’s popularity was its focus on fun and creativity, rather than just cricket skills.

“We really tried to make it more engaging and not solely cricket-focused,” said Wilson. “Mel created a planner where each week had a theme. Some of the favourites included Pizza Week, Silly Socks Week, BBQ Week, Water Cricket, and more.”

Sessions run for an hour and a half, starting with around 50 minutes of skill-based stations, where kids are grouped by age or ability. After a short break - usually with Zooper Doopers and sometimes fruit (thanks to Woolies) - the kids head back out for informal games.

“They go out and play their own games of cricket, often with their parents and siblings,” said Wilson. 

“It’s not just standing around waiting to bat or bowl - we set up three or four mini-games to keep everyone moving and having fun.”

Wilson’s passion for the program comes from personal experience, having seen the impact it had on his own son.

“Someone did this for my boy years ago - back when it was called Milo Cricket - and it made a huge difference,” he said.

“Last year, my eldest - who’s now 13 - played senior cricket with me. And this year, we’ve brought back a fourth-grade team made up mostly of dads and kids. Just last weekend, we had six kids playing, some as young as 11, alongside their parents.”

“It’s about building connection through sport. And really, where else would you rather be than Black Beach on a Friday afternoon? Parents bring a picnic rug, have a chat, and grab some pizza. The atmosphere is just fantastic.”

This year’s program starts Friday, October 17, and runs every Friday for nine weeks until December 12. Sessions are from 4:30 to 6:30pm, and the program is open to kids aged 5 to 10.

“The first week is what we call a trial week,” said Wilson. “We encourage kids who’ve registered to bring a friend. We’re also promoting it through local schools to help build momentum.”

There’s still time to register. You can sign up via the Kiama Cavaliers’ official Cricket Australia page.