Getting Involved

Role summaries

At the Auckland University Cricket Club there are three management levels:

Board of Management
Management Sub-committees
Other positions to assist the Board

Team Roles

The Club requires the help of parents to fulfil various roles throughout the season.
On the enrolment application each season the Club seeks an indication from parents of the roles they would be prepared to undertake for their child’s team.
Typically each team needs a Coach, a practice assistant, scorers, umpires and a Manager.
The duties of each position are outlined below so that volunteers have an understanding what is involved before signing up to the role. The roles are not set in concrete or exhaustive, but rather are indicative of what roles have been needed in the past and how these have best worked. Note also the duties of each position vary between grades and that the comments below are targeted at years 2 and 3 where the majority of new enrolments take place.
If you are new to the Club and are signing up your child to a higher grade, please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate Grade Convenor for further information on the roles and responsibilities before (or even after) completing your application.

Coach

Responsibilities and Duties

Has overall responsibility for coaching and managing the players at practice and during the game on Saturday.

Knowledge of the game or cricket experience is useful but not a prerequisite for the job (as we provide you with what you need to know), but rather enthusiasm to learn, coach and manage the players through the season.

The coach often umpires in the younger grades but this is not necessary where other parents are available.

Time Commitment

Ideally you attend and run one mid-week coaching session (between 45mins and 1.5 hours, depending on the grade) each week at a time that suits you and most kids.

Most are run sometime between when school gets out (say 3.15pm) and 6.30pm, but again this is depending on ages of children and your availability.

Your attendance at the game on Saturday is necessary. Games for the years 2 and 3 for example take place at 8.30am and finish at about 10.30am. You may not be able to make all games but should be able to commit to making most. Other parents should be able to cover for you from time to time throughout the season when you cannot attend.

You will select the team Player-of-the-Day after every game.

The Club provides a number of instructional sessions at the beginning of the season on such things as coaching, scoring and umpiring, so your attendance at those relevant sessions is desirable.

Our Commitment

The coach will be provided with a gear bag, which includes all the necessary gear to run practice and play on Saturday.

We provide coaching support, including:

Hosting a coaches orientation evening at the Club,
Putting you on suitable New Zealand cricket accredited coaching courses e.g. the Milo Have A Go Cricket coaching course for the beginner coach (2 hours non examinable)
Providing Club Coach visits to your practices or holding specialist coaching sessions for you and/or the players to attend
Providing ideas and references on how to run cricket practices
Providing various locations for practice

The Club appreciates the commitment you make as a coach and is committed to supporting you in the role. If you have any concerns or require any assistance you need only to ask your Grade Convenor, the Club Manager or the Junior Club (or Senior Club) Captain. The Club Manager and Grade arbiters are contactable by phone on Saturdays if you have any questions during a game.

Practice Assistant

Responsibilities and Duties

To help the coach at the mid week practice session and help out on Saturdays where available (e.g. helping prepare the players to bat or field).

Teams typically comprise 8 to 10 kids so the more assistance managing the kids at practice the better and easier it is.

You do not need to have previous cricket experience to volunteer for this role. If you want coaching we will provide it. If you have past experience, great! Otherwise the coach is there to lead the coaching and you are there to assist directing the kids as you can.

Time Commitment

Attendance at the mid week practice (for between 45mins - 1.5 hours depending on the coach and grade).

Attendance at the game on Saturday where possible. Games for the years 2 and 3 for example take place at 8.30am and finish at about 10.30am.

Our Commitment

At the beginning of the season the Club provides coaching courses, umpiring and scoring instruction courses should you wish to attend these.

Scorer

Responsibilities and Duties

The role involves scoring the Saturday games and ensuring that the opposition coach or scorer completes the Bill Hart Trophy forms each Saturday. We need as many scorers as possible so that turns are ideally taken week to week.

A scorer (manager or coach or someone within the team) who has access to a computer with email and Microsoft EXCEL needs to be responsible for entering the score sheet into a Club provided spreadsheet and sending this to the Club by Tuesday the following week. The Club maintains the team’s score sheet and statistics on our website so players, parents, grandparents and relatives can view them wherever they are located.

Time Commitment

You will be required to attend the Saturday game when it’s your turn to score. Games for the years 2 and 3 for example take place at 8.30am and finish at about 10.30am.

Our Commitment

As a scorer you need to understand both the rules of the grade and the umpire’s signals and how to record them. We have a scorers’ instruction night at the beginning of each season to explain how to score and understand the umpires’ signals. We also provide you with written references to help you. If you have an understanding of the game of cricket, fantastic, if you haven’t then it’s a great way to learn the game!

The Club provides score sheets for the scorers each week - you will need to bring a pencil and rubber.

Umpire

Responsibilities and Duties

The umpires and scorers make up the third team in the game. The umpires are responsible for the accuracy of the score.

The role involves umpiring during the Saturday game. Again, the more parents who are prepared to umpire the better. Often the coach umpires - however, some wish just to coach (either from the sideline or on the field which is permitted in grades 2 to 5).

Time Commitment

You will be required to attend the Saturday game when you are umpiring. Games for years 2 and 3 for example start at 8.30am and finish at about 10.30am.

Our Commitment

As with scoring, we hold umpire instruction courses. Note that Years 2 to 5 play amended rules which ensure full participation by all players in the team so even if you know the Laws of Cricket you will need to read the Playing Conditions relating to your grade before umpiring.

The Club provides you with a list of the rules and shows you the various umpiring signals at the umpires’ instructional evening. Usually some knowledge of the game is necessary to ensure games flow smoothly for the enjoyment of the players - however, in years 2 and 3 it is more useful rather than necessary where the kids are learning the game.

Manager

Responsibilities and Duties

The role involves supporting the coach by attending to administration matters concerning the team.

Often it involves sending email messages to members of the team communicating anything that needs doing or attending to. Access to a computer and email is desirable.

The Club will send a lot of email direct to parents notifying them of various happenings so the role is more to remind your team members from time to time and to ensure that rosters are maintained (if used) and that there is a scorer for the game each Saturday.

Someone within the team (usually the scorer, coach or manager) who has access to a computer with email and Microsoft EXCEL needs to be responsible for entering the completed score sheet into a Club provided spreadsheet and sending this to the Club Manager by the Tuesday following each game. We maintain the team’s score sheet and statistics on our website so players, parents, grandparents and relatives can view them wherever they are located. You may wish to do this for the team.

This role is very important and permits a coach to “coach” rather than “administer”. It provides a great opportunity for those persons looking to help out but feel uncomfortable in other roles due to little or no exposure to cricket in the past.

Time Commitment

The role may involve a couple of hours each week for the first few weeks at the beginning of the season but shouldn’t be more than one hour a week thereafter, including sending the updated spreadsheet to the Club each week.

Our Commitment

If you have any general questions or you do offer to enter the score sheet into the Club provided spreadsheet, you are welcome to call the Club Manager who will be happy to assist.

Board of Management

The Board of Management is elected at the Annual General Meeting and the members have full voting rights at meetings. The Board is responsible for the Club’s Objectives, major policies, long range planning and strategies. The Board comprises:

Chairman (elected by Board members post AGM)

The Chairman of the Board is responsible for the management, the development and the effective performance of the Board, and provides leadership to the Board for all aspects of the Board's work.

Key responsiblities:

Plans and organizes all of the activities of the Board
Attends and actively participate in Board meetings and discussions e.g. policy/ stategic development
The preparation for, and the conduct of, Board meetings
The quality, quantity and timeliness of the information that goes to Board members
The formation of Board committees and the integration of their activity with the work of the Board
The evaluation of the Board's effectiveness and implementation of improvements
The development of the Board
Leads in the development of the Club's vision, strategic agenda, and business plan
Acts as Club delegate to the Auckland Cricket Association
Manages the Club Manager and ensures operations conform with the Club's strategic agenda and policies
Chairs the Annual General Meeting

President

Key responsibilities:

Acts as the figurehead for the Club
Attends and actively participates in Board meetings and other discussions eg policy/strategic development
Represents the Club at official functions and events
Provides knowledge, experience, networks, advice, leadership and guidance to the Club
Acts as a sounding board to the Chairman, Board and all sub-committees
Advises on Club strategy, operations and activities as needed
Attends and actively participates in Board meetings
Prepares and presents the Annual Report to the Annual General Meeting of the Club;

Senior Club Captain

Key Responsibilities:

Attends and actively participates in Board meetings and other discussions e.g. policy/strategic development;
Ensures the Club provides quality, accessible and enjoyable cricket for senior players of all levels throughout the season;
Has overall responsibility for the Club's strategic progress in the senior area;
Prepares an Annual Action Plan for the senior club (pre-season and during the season);
Provides management oversight of all team selections and selection protocols;
Ensures the marketing and communication strategy for attracting new senior members to the Club is developed/reviewed annually;
Provides assistance to the Club Manager in the collection of player subscriptions as and when required;
Ensures access to quality coaching for all players in the Club;
Manages the Club's senior coaching team;
In conjunction with ACA, provides Club oversight for all matters relating to matches and competitions by the Club;
Ensures cricket gear meets demand throughout the year;
Provides oversight and ensures trophies/honours board, team photos are updated in an accurate and timely manner;
Provides oversight of the annual senior prizegiving event;
Prepares and presents an Annual Report to the Annual General meeting of the Club

Junior Club Captain

Key responsibilities:

Attends and actively participates in Board meetings and other discussions e.g. policy/strategic development;
Ensures the Club provides quality, accessible and enjoyable cricket for junior players of all levels throughout the season;
Has overall responsibility for the Club's strategic progress in the junior area;
Prepares an Annual Action Plan for the junior club (pre-season and during the season);
Provides management oversight of all junior coaching/team selections;
Ensures the marketing and communication strategy for attracting new junior members to the Club is developed/reviewed annually;
Ensures there is a programme of cricket at junior level that offers value for money;
Provides assistance to the Club Manager in the collection of player subscriptions as and when required;
Ensures access to quality coaching for all players in the Club;
Manages the Club's junior coaching team;
In conjunction with ACA/EDCA, provides Club oversight for all matters relating to matches and competitions by the Club;
Ensures cricket gear meets demand throughout the year;
Provides oversight and ensures trophies/honours board, team photos are updated in an accurate and timely manner;
Provides oversight of the junior prizegiving event;
Prepares and presents an Annual Report to the Annual General Meeting of the Club

Secretary

Key responsibilities:

To have overall responsibility for the Club's progress in the "Communications Key Strategic Area"
Attends and actively participates in Board meetings and other discussions e.g. policy/strategic development;
Ensures minutes are taken of all Club meetings and distributed to relevant people prior to next meeting;
Ensures that all enrolment forms are processed and accurately recorded;
Ensures a regular programme of communicating with all members is developed;
Ensures the club website is an up to date, well known and effective key source of Club information;
Ensures a Club information management system is developed that allows simple efficient communication, record keeping and information management, and that it is up to date;

Treasurer

Key responsibilities:

To have overall responsibility for the Club's progress in "Finance and Membership" Key Strategic Area;
Attends and actively participates in Board meetings and other discussions e.g. policy/strategic development;
Ensures the Club has long term financial stability and sustainability;
Ensures that the subscription structure balances financial needs of the Club with members' needs;
Ensures alternative revenue streams are developed in order to decrease the reliance on subscription funding from members;
Prepares the annual budget for approval by the Board and AGM;
Prepares monthly accounts for presentation to the Board;
Monitor Club accounts and recommend any adjustments and improvements as necessary;
Provide management oversight for all bar activities, including purchases;
Receive and bank money from various activities;
Ensure payment of approved invoices and accounts;
Recommend ways to increase revenue or decrease expenses;
Ensure that appropriate insurance policies are in place for the club and that these are regularly reviewed;
Prepare and present the Financial Report for the Annual General Meeting;
Arrange for the Annual Accounts to be audited.

General Board Member (4)

Key responsibilities:

To assist Officers of the Club in their progress towards the Club's strategic goals;
Assist as a member of various subcommittees;
Assist with the day-to-day running of the Club;
Act as an additional link between the Committee and the wider Club Membership;
Attends and actively participates in Board meetings and other discussions e.g. policy/strategic development;

(NOTE: At least one of these 4 General Board Members shall be a Senior playing member of the Club)

One person from the University of Auckland

Appointed annually by the Vice-Chancellor or his nominee
Must be a current enrolled student or a member of the staff of the University of Auckland

Up to two co-opted members, at the Board’s discretion

Where special skills are required
For succession planning

Management Sub-Committees

The Board may at any time delegate any of its powers to sub-committees consisting of such members of the Board as it thinks fit. Details of all current sub-committees can be found on our Contact Us page.

Other Positions and Roles

Senior Grades Convenor

Responsible for ensuring that all Senior teams are adequately resourced
Responsible for ensuring that all teams have adequate gear and coaching resource
Represents the BOM on all senior team selection panels

Senior 1-Day Grades Convenor

Acts as a conduit between the Board and all Senior 1-Day members
Ensures that the views from all Senior 1-Day members are represented at Board level
Responsible for ensuring all Senior 1-Day subs are collected

Youth Cricket Coordinator

Acts as a conduit between the Board and all Youth Grades (U14-U18) teams
Liaises with EDCA delegates and grade convenors over the appointment of the Club’s EDCA selectors and coaches and the nomination of players for trial
Liaises with the Senior Grades Convenor, the Junior Coach and the Premier coach to ensure the maximum number of youth players’ transition to the Senior club
Oversees the Club’s Secondary School Support plan

Junior Grade Convenors (10)

Responsible for ensuring that all junior teams are adequately resourced
Responsible for ensuring that all junior teams have adequate gear
Represents the Board on all junior team selection panels for their respective grade
Assists the Junior Club Captain with the collection of subs where required
Co-ordinates the identification of recipients for Club end of year awards

Auckland Cricket Association Delegates

The Chairman of the Board represents the Club at all ACA Council of Club Chairs meetings
The Junior Club Captain represents the Club at all ACA Council of Junior Chairs meetings

Eastern Districts Cricket Association (EDCA) Delegates (2)

Represent the Club on the EDCA Committee and attend all EDCA meetings

Honorary Auditor

Audits financial accounts at year end
Presents a financial report at the AGM

Honorary Solicitor

Legal advisor to the BOM