Berkhamsted Cricket, Facilities and Tours

TOURS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Berkhamsted cricket teams embark on a major overseas tour every three years with the most recent tour party (including a 1st XI, U16 & U15 squad) travelling to Sri Lanka during the Easter break of 2019. These trips are undoubtedly one of the most memorable sporting experiences of the students’ time at the School and the opportunity to play cricket in challenging sub-continent conditions whilst immersing themselves in the cricket and local culture of this beautiful island. The 2019 trip included matches for each squad at the Pallekele International Stadium, the new test ground in Kandy which had hosted the England Team only months before. There were also day trips to Elephant Orphanages, wonderful hotels, the very best of Sri Lankan hospitality and an excellent standard of cricket wherever you travelled in this cricketmad island.

“The highlight of my experience at Berkhamsted has been the opportunities I have had to further my experience as a cricketer. In Year 12 the School went out to Sri Lanka on tour and with this being just prior to the start of the season and was perfect timing. On the tour not only did I get to know the players in the team much better but I also got to play at some incredible grounds, the main highlight being a one-day game at the Pallekele International Stadium.”

Sports Scholarship Programme

Scholarship Curriculum and Mentoring

Successful candidates will be involved in a scholarship curriculum which includes an individual mentor who will meet with the scholar regularly and support them throughout the year. Scholars are also required to attend termly scholarship seminars/webinars with guests speakers who will deliver session on topics relevant to their sporting programmes. There will also be the opportunity for the senior scholars to do some mentoring of their own whilst working with younger age groups squads both in the off season and during the season. Each scholar will receive a progress report at the end of the academic year and a review of scholarships will take place at the end of Year 8 and Year 11.

Scholars Weekly Schedule

Each cricket scholar will work closely with the Head of Cricket and need to show excellent determination and organisation skills due to significant training and academic commitments throughout the year and the challenge of balancing preparing for external examinations and performing at a high level during the summer term.

During the off season (Michaelmas & Lent terms) cricket scholars are expected to commit to a busy weekly schedule to include an after-School session with School and Bucks CB, at least a 1 to 1 session and, for pupils in Years 9-13, two strength & conditioning sessions a week. During the cricket season scholars will continue with their 1 to 1, strength & conditioning sessions but also have two timetabled cricket sessions and a minimum of one fixture a week (often two). All sessions are playercentred with the aim of improving their technical, mental and physical approach to their overall performance. The School also actively encourages successful candidates to participate in other sports.

Scholar Support

One of the most important aspects of being a sports scholar is being able to combine the demands of their sporting programme with their academic studies. This is even more important for cricket scholars who must contend with public examinations during their season. Scholars occasionally require some additional support to manage their workload and schedules and this is facilitated through the following: 1. Scholarship Mentor - scholars have access to a mentor throughout their time at the School who are there to support them with managing their sporting and academic commitments as well as setting and monitoring targets. Mentors and scholars will meet regularly.

2. Physiotherapist – the School physiotherapist runs a weekly clinic and works closely with the Athletic Development coaches to design and implement suitable programmes for the sports scholars and elite athletes as well delivering required treatments and rehabilitation.

3. Athletic Development – Berkhamsted has two full time Athletic Development Coaches who provide all our elite sportsmen and women with Strength & Conditioning programmes. Athletic Development has become and integral part of the Berkhamsted sports programmes and it is imbedded within all our teaching so that students.

4. Tutor & Head of House – every pupil at Berkhamsted will have a tutor and House master who oversees their pastoral care and academic progress. These key members of staff will also liaise with the scholars’ mentor when required.

5. Boarding House Master – a range of residential boarding opportunities (full, weekly, flexi) are available at Berkhamsted and a number of our senior scholars have chosen to board with us. The boarding staff are experienced in working with understanding the needs of pupils on sports scholarships. 6. Learning Support - the learning support team offer study skills support and extra academic support on a 1 to 1 basis to those who require additional help with any academic studies. This has proven to be invaluable for some pupils who have found the transition between Schools a challenge.

7. School Counselling – the team of counsellors offer additional support to all pupils whenever required.

Partnership - Buckinghamshire Cricket Board

Berkhamsted School is extremely proud to be in partnership with Buckinghamshire Cricket Board to help develop the cricketing talent in the local area and currently has 24 boys and girls in the Bucks CB squads. This partnership allows a clear dialogue to take place between the County and the School to make sure both parties are working in the same direction to deliver the best possible outcome for the player.

In recent years this relationship has evolved and is now firmly embedded in all that happens with Berkhamsted Cricket. During the winter, the School hosts a weekly EPP indoor session run by both Bucks CB and Berkhamsted School coaches. Jason Rance (Bucks Cricket Board Head Coach) runs weekly 1 to 1 sessions with selected Berkhamsted students who are on the EPP pathway, this allows our students access to top class coaching from county coaches without having to travel. The partnership continues in the summer term as Bucks CB coaches help to deliver the cricket programme across the School, including our girls and Preparatory School programmes. Berkhamsted’s fantastic facilities host a number of Bucks matches throughout the summer which include a number of county fixtures as well as an internal trial/fixture day with nearly 200 Bucks boys and girls playing cricket on Chesham Road playing fields. The School and County also have several annual fixtures against one another during the season for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. The highlight is the 1st XI match against Buckinghamshire U17s, a fixture that always proves to be a tight contest.

Scholarship Case Studies

Scott Rolfe - 1st XI Cricket Captain and 1st XI Football

Scott joined the School in Year 9 on a sports scholarship and has represented the Cricket 1st XI for four seasons (Captain for 2 years) and 1st XI Football. Scott has also been an integral part of the Bucks CB U17s & Academy squads in recent years. He is studying Economics, Geography & Psychology and hopes to study Law & Politics at Cardiff University whilst pursuing his cricket and a place in the MCCU set up.

“They have been the best years of my life and the memories and friends I have created through sport will last a lifetime. I have learnt valuable leadership skills and the team ethos has been brilliant.’ It was the best choice of my life, haven’t regretted a single moment and it has set me up for the future. I will certainly recommend Berkhamsted to anyone, I cannot speak highly enough how it has developed me as a cricketer and all-round individual. ‘I have had 2 incredible tours to Sri Lanka, which I will treasure forever and would have been otherwise unable to experience.” “Initially what stood out about Berkhamsted was the effort that staff made to show me the School and the facilities available to a cricket scholar.’ The scholarship trial day was really useful for me as I was introduced to Mr Walker (Head of Sixth) and got the opportunity to train alongside the current Berkhamsted 1st XI, who were all extremely welcoming. The coaching I received at Berkhamsted was nothing short of exceptional. Coming from a School where I was the only player in my year who owned a set of whites, I never imagined being able to play competitive cricket with my School friends. At Berkhamsted, I have been able to do that and I can confidently say that it is the most I have enjoyed training and playing with a team in my life.”

Ben Adshead - 1st XI Cricket and 1st XI Football

Ben joined the School in Year 12 on a sports scholarship and has represented the School at both 1st XI Cricket and 1st XI Football. Ben represented Bucks CB U17 in 2019. He has done this whilst studying 3 A levels (Economics, Maths & Physical Education) and hopes to study Sport Science at Leeds University next year.