Cricket and USA

USA - The land of opportunity! This has proved right for many of those who have taken to training youth and providing them platforms to perform and practice. If I start listing the names of those individuals, it will be a long one for sure. However, it is not my intention to glorify a select few leaving behind many more. Honestly, by failing to name every single one here, I might do the injustice for they have been working selflessly and tirelessly.

In the last 7-8 years, I have seen many talented kids coming to the fore and disappearing soon after. It always disappointed me to lose those kids to other nationally recognized sports - Sports that are on the official curriculam of the schools.

The time has come for the National governing body, USACA, to put the Youth Agenda on the top of National Cricket Agenda and develop a National Youth Cricket Development Plan and market it prpoerly. Forming dedicated groups on the following lines would do good to start with.

1. Marketing group
2. School-College promotion group
3. Operations group
4. Public Relations group
5. Finance Group

USACA should not hesitate to throw all its resources behind this effort as this could unlock the future course for USA Cricket.

Needless to say all the groups have to work together on a common agenda - which also needs to be worked out taking into account each region's abilities, history, geography, weather conditions and regional goals.

I would say, maximum thrust should be to the following objectives:

1) Seek ICC full member's support and guidance to develop a marketing plan tailored for USA.
This would jump start the process of bringing Naional sponsors to the game.
2) Get Local schools, colleges and universities involved
3) Work with Operations group in designing youth events for the consumption of world and local media.
4) Deliver these events in all the regions to promote participation and visibility. The events should include, exhibitions, national debates, tournaments, training camps and such many more.

Well, I think this is only a start...