New to cricket? Start here

What is cricket?

Cricket is a bat-and-ball team game: one team bats and scores runs while the other bowls and fields to get the batters out, then the teams swap.

Kids play short versions of the game, so everyone bats, bowls and fields in every session. Beginners start with a soft ball. Junior matches finish on the same day, not the five-day matches you may have heard about.

Is cricket good for kids?

Yes. Cricket builds hand-eye coordination, patience and teamwork, and it is a non-contact sport where every child gets a turn at everything.

• CoordinationCatching, throwing and hitting a moving ball.
• FocusBatting rewards patience and concentration.
• TeamworkEvery player has a role in every game.

What age can my child start?

From age 6. Beginners join the group for their age and level. Adults can ask a coach about beginners' sessions.

What does it cost?

Programs start from $250 / month, and the first session is free.

Siblings get 10% off. Every price is on Schedule & fees, and camps are on the Camps page.

What does my child need?

For the first session: running shoes, comfortable clothes and a water bottle.

• Running shoes with good grip
• Comfortable clothes they can run in
• A water bottle, and a hat and sunscreen in summer

Please ask a coach before buying a bat. The right size depends on your child's height.

Team kit is paid for separately. Ask a coach.

Is it safe?

Yes. Cricket is a non-contact sport.

Young beginners start with soft or tennis balls and wear helmets when batting against a hard ball.

Ontario's Rowan's Law is the province's concussion safety law for amateur sport. The Ontario government publishes concussion awareness resources for parents and athletes: read Ontario's Rowan's Law resources (opens in a new tab).

Government of Ontario: Rowan's Law (opens in a new tab)

How do kids progress?

Players move from a beginner group to an intermediate group, then to competitive squads, and the strongest can be picked for Ontario and Canada teams.

1. 1Little ChampionsAges 6–10. Fun games that teach the basics. Complete beginners welcome.
2. 2Rising StarsAges 10 and under. The next step after the basics: real technique and first matches.
3. 3Elite PerformanceU11 and U13, ages 13 and under · Senior Division. Competitive squads for serious players, built around league matches. Our club teams play in the MYCL and TDCA leagues, and a senior team plays in the Markham Premier Cricket League.
4. 4Ontario and CanadaMarkham Cricket Academy players have been selected for Ontario and national U16 and U18 teams.

See more of our players and team results on the results page.

What do the cricket words mean?

Here are the words you will hear most at the academy, in plain English.

• Run: one point on the scoreboard. Batters score runs by running between the two ends of the pitch, or by hitting the ball to the boundary.
• Wicket: the three stumps with two small bails on top that the bowler aims at. Getting a batter out is also called taking a wicket.
• Batter: the player with the bat, who tries to score runs and keep the ball from hitting the wicket.
• Bowler: the player who delivers the ball to the batter, trying to hit the wicket or get the batter out.
• Soft ball: a softer, lighter ball (often a tennis ball) that beginners learn with.
• Hard ball: the leather cricket ball used in matches. Players wear a helmet to bat against it.
• Nets: a practice lane with netting around it, so a batter can face bowlers safely indoors or out.
• Over: six balls in a row from one bowler. Then another bowler takes over from the other end.
• TDCA: the Toronto and District Cricket Association, one of the leagues our club teams play in.
• Senior Division: our most advanced squad, part of Elite Performance.

How do we start?

Book a free session. Your child joins a normal group for their age, and the coach suggests where they fit best.

Prefer to talk first? Call a coach on +1 (416) 939-6202.