The LCU Grounds Committee was put together at the start of the 2012 season and we met on a regular basis in order to put some structure on what we felt needs to be achieved by a grounds committee.
We endeavored to visit most of the 40 or so grounds under the auspices of the LCU both at the start of the season and recently to review autumn work being done by clubs throughout Leinster.
With the extremely poor weather for most of this season a lot of our work was hampered but we set about or task with two goals in mind.
Firstly we want to put an accreditation process in place for clubs in Senior 1 - 4. We have developed a questionnaire to be completed by Umpires to evaluate grounds, pitches and facilities with the idea of lifting standards and rewarding clubs whom improve as the season and year progresses. We hope to have a sponsor in place for 2013. We have tweaked our form and may well make further changes before it becomes official business next season.
Initially the LCU & SA were reluctant to accommodate us though I believe we have agreed a formula of accreditation that will suit all sides.
Unofficially we trialed our process on 6 or 7 grounds toward the end of the season and it has given us some ideas going forward. We believe with a definite outline of how a ground and wicket should be laid out and a process of rewarding clubs that attain these standards cricket standards will improve throughout Leinster.
We had some issues with clubs unwilling to co-operate with the basic requirements of playing at certain levels i.e. unwilling to prepare wickets, refuse to mark wickets between innings, have basic equipment to hand like rollers, brushes etc. We feel that clubs like these should be banished from serious cricket and the executive should advise clubs of this and should make clubs aware of their responsibilities.
Many clubs have very willing supporters and committee members whom help out with ground and playing facilities. Other clubs are not so lucky to have this type of member and often players need to do more to help their groudsmen than just turn up and play cricket.
In the last few weeks we visited a lot of grounds to view their autumn work and were highly impressed with Balbriggan Cricket Club with improvements in their ground particularly now that they are playing in Division 2.
YMCA too have made great improvements both in their wickets and their practice facilities and are to be highly commended.
Other grounds that stood out were Civil Service and Ring Commons. Also Halverstown and Mullingar continue to make great strides and the introduction of Swords and Dundalk into the leagues is encouraging but new clubs need to set themselves certain goals and maintain and improve their facilities.
Secondly clubs that use artificial wickets must maintain them to a higher standard than they are. Particularly those new clubs that are reliant on County or Borough Councils cutting grass etc. We feel these clubs should make a better effort to maintain their own areas and not continue to overplay especially at a time when the season is finished. Aprons and run-ups need to be repaired and reseeded exactly as grass wickets need to be. So no cricket should be played when growth has stopped.
We would like to have two independent fully trained pitch assessors in place for 2013 in order that clubs take the matter of improving wickets seriously. Whether we use outside assessors or swap between jurisdictions but generally wickets in a lot of grounds within the LCU have declined in recent years and without training and advice this will continue. We need to set about the task of having expertise in every club in Leinster and if this means sending delegates on courses overseas so be it. It was encouraging at a recent grounds mans course held at YMCA before the cup final to see the age profile of the participants and the enthusiasm of them. But it was disappointing how many senior clubs are not represented on these courses and then we wonder why their wickets are poor. It’s not always the weathers fault!
Recently the LCU Development Committee have embarked on their own accreditation plan and while we seem to be at cross purposes we have established the necessity to have representation on this committee by the Grounds Committee so we will all be working together for the cause of cricket.
In a short space of time as a cricket season is it is very difficult to push through changes like this grounds committee have tried to achieve and I hope that those on this committee who seek re-election tonight should be re-elected in order to finish a job that will help enhance cricket standards.