The Ballarat Cricket Association (BCA) is committed to providing a clear, inclusive, and development-focused junior pathway for young cricketers across the region. Our programs align with Cricket Australia’s Junior Formats to ensure safe, age-appropriate, and engaging experiences for all participants.

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Junior ‘Non-Competitive’ Programs (U11)

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The BCA facilitates non-competitive cricket programs for the U11 age group, designed to introduce young players to the game in a fun, supportive, and development-focused environment. These programs do not involve premiership points or finals and are open to both boys and girls, with female players receiving a two-year age dispensation.

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Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria, and the BCA strongly encourage female cricketers to participate in their female-only competitions as their primary pathway, while also supporting those who wish to be involved in mixed (“open”) competitions.

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Within the national junior framework, the U11 competition follows Junior Cricket 1 guidelines. Individual clubs are responsible for delivering the entry-level Junior Blasters and Master Blasters programs, while the BCA administers all formal competition structures beyond those introductory stages.

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Junior ‘Open’ Competitions (U13, U15, U17)

The BCA offers competitive junior cricket for the U13, U15, and U17 age groups (based on age as at September 1 each season). These formats operate for premiership points and finals positions and are open to both male and female participants, including a two-year age dispensation for female players.

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As with all junior pathways, Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria, and the BCA recommend that female players participate in female-only competitions first, while still encouraging those keen to experience open-age cricket to take part.

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Within Cricket Australia's Junior Formats:

• U13 competitions align with Junior Cricket 2

• U15 and U17 competitions align with Junior Cricket 3

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These formats ensure that players progress through appropriately scaled match environments that build skills, confidence, and enjoyment as they develop.