GMCL Juniors – 2026 End of Season Survey

As preparations begin for the 2027 season, the GMCL Board is seeking feedback from clubs on their experiences during the 2026 junior cricket season and on a range of potential changes for next year. The purpose of this survey is to understand what worked well, identify any challenges faced by clubs, and gather views on how our competitions can best support participation, player development, enjoyment, and long-term retention across all age groups.

We recognise that clubs have different priorities and face different challenges, so it is important that any future changes are informed by the experiences and needs of our member clubs. Your feedback will help shape the structure, regulations, and playing formats for the 2027 season, ensuring that the competition continues to meet the needs of players, clubs, coaches, volunteers, and parents. We encourage clubs to provide as much detail as possible in their responses.

For 2027, the GMCL Junior Board is considering a change to the U11 Premier League (Top Tier only)  moving from the current 8-a-side pairs format to 11-a-side cricket under full cricket rules.

The divisions below the Premier League would remain as 8-a-side pairs cricket, meaning the proposed change would only apply to the Premier League.

The main reason for considering this change is to give the stronger U11 squads an opportunity to experience 11-a-side cricket and full cricket rules at an earlier age. This would provide a more gradual introduction to the format they will encounter at U13 and beyond, rather than making the jump directly from pairs cricket.

It is also worth noting that U11 players selected for GMCL Interleague teams already play 11-a-side cricket under full cricket rules, so the proposed Premier League format would bring those players' club cricket more closely in line with that experience.

The proposed playing conditions would be:

11 players per side
Full cricket rules
20 overs per innings
Batters retire on reaching 25 runs
The final playing conditions, including the retirement rule, would be subject to club feedback and consensus.

The Lancashire Cricket Federation (LCF) requires GMCL to identify our qualifying/winning teams within a set timeframe so that they can progress into the later stages of the LCF competition.

This puts significant pressure on the junior fixture programme, particularly because of ground availability and the limited number of suitable playing dates. To ensure that we can complete the competition and provide the LCF with our winners by their required deadline, we are considering restricting entry to the LCF Cup to teams competing in the top tier of the relevant GMCL league.

We recognise that this would mean teams outside the top tier would no longer have access to the LCF Cup. To provide those teams with an alternative knockout competition, we are therefore considering introducing a GMCL League Cup, available to teams outside the top tier.

Importantly, League Cup fixtures would not be played on the normal designated junior league night. Fixtures would be arranged for another mutually convenient date, by agreement between the two clubs.

For future seasons, GMCL Juniors is considering changing the oldest junior age group from Under 18s to Under 17s. This is not a proposal for 2027, but something we are looking at longer term.

We have noticed that U18 cricket has become increasingly challenging, with fewer teams and more cancellations than any other junior age group, as well as a significant variation in the strength of teams.

There is a reason we introduced the self-grading system this season. We recognise that clubs have teams at very different levels, and we want to give clubs the opportunity to play at a level that is appropriate for their players. That same principle is particularly relevant when looking at the oldest age group.

We recognise that there is a place for both strong, competitive cricket and a more developmental environment. Some clubs have players who are ready to take on stronger opposition and progress towards senior cricket, while others have concerns about younger players being exposed to significantly older and stronger first-team cricketers too early.

Another consideration is the gap between age groups. Currently, the jump from U15 to U18 is three years. Moving the oldest age group to U17 would reduce this to two years, creating a more natural progression through the junior age groups and towards senior cricket.

We also understand that clubs may already have development plans and player pathways in place, and any change to the oldest age group could have an impact on how those plans are structured. This is one of the reasons we are consulting clubs now rather than looking to introduce any change in the immediate future.

We'd like to understand whether clubs feel moving from U18 to U17 would create a more sustainable junior structure and provide the right balance between competitive cricket, player development and progression into senior cricket.

GMCL Juniors is also considering changing the timing of the oldest junior competition so that the cup is played first, followed by the league:

May to early June — U18 Cup
Mid-June to mid-August — U18 League

The proposed change is primarily in response to the exam season. By scheduling the U18 Cup as an optional competition during May and early June, clubs that are able to field an U18 team during this period will still have the opportunity to participate, while clubs affected by exams will not be committed to a league programme.

We feel this approach will provide greater flexibility for clubs and players during a particularly challenging time of year, while also helping to minimise cancellations and rearranged fixtures. Once the main exam period has passed, the U18 League would then take place from mid-June through to mid-August, providing a more consistent and reliable league programme.

At the start of the season, the GMCL Junior Board introduced a team grading system across the junior age groups. The aim was to make sure teams were playing against opponents of a similar standard and, as a result, provide more competitive and enjoyable cricket for everyone.

The grading was intended to help create a better balance across the leagues, avoiding situations where teams were regularly winning or losing by large margins. We recognise that clubs have teams at different levels and that player ability can change from season to season, so the grading system was introduced to help us get the right balance when putting competitions together.

For the 2026 Summer Cup, we introduced The Hundred format to help increase engagement with cricket by reflecting the format that is currently most recognisable and popular amongst young players and their families. The competition was scheduled during August, when the main junior league programmes were drawing to a close, to provide an additional opportunity for participation and a different cricketing experience.

Alongside its appeal to younger audiences, the format was also selected because its shorter playing time increased the likelihood of matches being completed before fading light became a factor during the latter part of the season. The intention was not to replace traditional junior cricket, but to offer an alternative format that could maintain player interest, encourage continued participation throughout the summer, and provide clubs with the opportunity to experience a different style of competition.

In 2026 we made the double move of switching match days and moving from two 8-over matches to a single 12-over match each week. This helped to accommodate Under 13 cricketers who had senior cricket matches in the afternoon by allowing the youngest age group to play in the Sunday morning slot and finish in plenty of time for clubs to set up and travel to their afternoon fixtures.

The Sunday morning slot was also shared with the GMCL Women's Softball Competition, which created challenges for some clubs in balancing Under 9 and women's cricket commitments.

Under 9 cricket continues to be played as a friendly league, with a preference for regional fixtures.

We recognise that clubs may have different priorities and objectives for Under 9 cricket, whether that be participation, development, enjoyment, competitive opportunities, or preparation for hardball cricket. Through this consultation, we want to gain a clear understanding of what clubs want from the competition so that its format and structure can best support the needs of players, clubs, and volunteers.

The GMCL Board introduced a rule requiring a minimum of six bowlers to be used in all age group cricket matches. The aim was to encourage wider participation, provide more players with meaningful bowling opportunities, and support the development of young cricketers across all teams.

As communicated during the 2026 season, the GMCL Board is considering the introduction of a mandatory league ball supplier from the 2027 season onwards. A key objective would be to provide greater consistency in playing conditions across the competition, simplify administration for clubs, and potentially secure cost savings through a league-wide arrangement. During 2026, a number of clubs used the Lords Pink Ball, and we would welcome feedback on its performance, durability, visibility, and overall suitability for junior cricket. Before any decision is made on a preferred supplier, the Board would like to understand clubs' experiences and views to ensure any future arrangement best meets the needs of players and clubs.

Any Other Comments or Feedback

All feedback is welcomed and will be taken into consideration as part of the Board’s planning for future seasons.