Cricket for Smiles
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CRICKET FOR SMILES Programme
The CRICKET FOR SMILES Programme (CFS) was established in 2011, with the aim to provide smiles, hope and courage through cricket, to the Tohoku region affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11.
Since 2011, CFS has brought smiles to school children in the Tohoku region through the donation of Cricket equipment and teacher resources, school visits, and teacher education courses.
CFS is supported by many people from around the world. In particular, it is supported by Mr. Shyam Bhatia of Cricket for Care and Kathryn Cropper of Stephen Cropper Tohoku Education Fund.
Sendai University Women’s National Team Challenge
In 2018, CFS started a new initiative, the Sendai University Women’s National Team Challenge. This initiative, in partnership with Sendai University, aims to provide playing and professional development opportunities to female students of the University.
The initiative will provide training and match opportunities to the students with the goal of representing Japan and pursuing a professional playing career.
It will also provide professional development opportunities in teaching, coaching, promotion and sports administration with the goal of developing careers in sport and education.
2019-05-03 Cricket For Smiles Produces National Player
The Cricket For Smiles program, set up in the aftermath of the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake to bring smiles back to the faces of the people of Tohoku, can now boast the production of a National Team Representative.
Akari Kano, who attends Sendai University, was introduced to cricket through the 2018 implementing of the project. After being selected in the National Training squad that year, she made it one better in 2019 by making the touring team in 2019.
Akari made her debut in the recent EAP Qualifier hosted in Vanuatu and her coach for the tournament, Dunca Harrison from Cricket Victoria said: “She was a pleasure to work with in every way and is someone who could develop into a high-quality player.”
Given how new Akari is to cricket her example should be a great motivation for other players to take up cricket and, with the right amount of hard work and talent, follow in her footsteps.
The next target for Akari will be to cement a place in the best XI, and her next chance will be the East Asia Cup which will be held in South Korea this September.
2018-03-21 National Trials
On the 21st of March, five students from Sendai University attended the Women’s National Squad Trials. The students, after only one training session, travelled 350 km from the University to Fussa City in Tokyo.
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All five of the students from Sendai University have played baseball and, although initially struggling to hit the ball after it bounced, their batting and fielding skills impressed the selectors. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy the day and learn from the other players as well as the coaches.
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The results of the trials will be announced by the end of March.
2018-03-12 First Training Session
On the 12th of March, the first training session was held at Sendai University with students who showed interest in the initiative. After a short introduction, the students had a go at batting, bowling, and fielding for the first time. The students, most having had played baseball or softball previously, showed exciting potential especially with strong arms and powerful hitting. They were all given a bat each and some equipment to train before the trials on the 21st of March.
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2017-12-21 Partnership with Sendai University
On the 21st of December, the JCA and Sendai University agreed to start the Sendai University Women’s National Team Challenge.
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