The Annual General Meeting will be upon us very soon (November 24th), and this will be the opportunity to appoint the Officers and Captains for the 2023 season. Many possible names have been voiced so far for next year but, before anyone embarks on the role of captain, they need to be aware of exactly what it entails.

This is not a comprehensive list, and every captain will have their own slant on what is required, but this gives prospective captains a flavour of what is involved. It is certainly a lot more than simply captaining the side on the field of play!

Close season

1. Attend winter nets as much as possible (preferably weekly), to assess new players and see where ongoing members are currently performing.
2. Assist with the management of winter nets (timing, nets sorted by abilities, etc.).
3. Download, read and UNDERSTAND the league rules, especially with regard to weather disruption (specifically D/L), fielding positions and player eligibility.
4. Download the iZettle app and understand its operation.
5. Familiarise yourself with the ECB Fast Bowling Directives and their impact on juniors in your team.
6. Familiarise yourself with all the current Safeguarding rules and directives.
7. Ensure your DBS check is up to date.
8. Attend a First-Aid course and defibrillator training, if possible.
9. Write the team report for end-of-season circular to members.

During the season

Monday

1. View all of the scorecards of ALL Ashford XIs to check who is performing and who is out of form at the moment.
2. Be aware of the league positions and needs of each team.
3. Discuss individual players of interest with their current captain.
4. Consider the team for Saturday in advance of selection.

Tuesday

1. Attend nets to assess players performance.
2. Attend selection meeting 8pm onwards.

Wednesday

1. Contact regular players who aren't in form at the moment to explain why they have not made the team this week.
2. Check and confirm the team sheet with the club captain.
3. Prepare to deal with the backlash from players who believe that they have been placed in the wrong team after the teams are published.

Thursday

1. Consider batting and bowling orders.
2. Contact opposition captain to confirm ground address and open a line of communication in case of any weather disruption on the day.
3. Contact every team member to provide ground address, start time, meet time and any specific information for this week. Ensure that players confirm attendance.
4. Check weather forecast and consider the effect on the game. Are covers needed now?

Friday (home only activities in italics)

1. Chase team members who still haven't replied to your message.
2. Re-check the weather. Do the covers need to go on for a home game? Liaise with the groundsman or get a couple of people to help you with them.
3. Invariably, there will have been a drop out. Work with the club captain and other skippers to rejig the teams.
4. Arrange gazebo for scorers/ spectators/players in wet or very hot weather
5. Attend Junior training to look at potential new players and help out.
6. Arrange match balls, scorebook and card reader for a home game.
7. Organise transport to away games with regard to permission for juniors to travel in adults’ cars
8. Ensure that ground and clubhouse will be open by communicating with a key-holder, if necessary.

Saturday (home only activities in italics)

1. Deal with the next round of dropouts.
2. Arrive at the ground punctually.
3. Open opposition and home dressing rooms. Remove benches from changing room.
4. Open scorebox, set up scoring area, remove covers, put stumps in, set out fielding circle.
5. Welcome opposition and show them the facilities.
6. Make sure you have spare balls and bails.
7. Sort out scorers and umpires - ensuring BOTH know what they are doing!
8. Organise a warmup for the players.
9. Toss with opposition captain. (You will need a coin for home games)
10. Agree drinks intervals.
11. Announce batting order and sort out officials.
12. Ensure drinks are organised, especially when batting.
13. Make sure your players conduct themselves on the field in a way that does not bring the club or sport into disrepute.
14. Give caterer plenty of notice of teatime, especially if the first innings is much shorter than anticipated. Teas can't just appear!
15. Deal with weather disruption and agree D/L recalculations of scores.
16. Pack up the ground equipment and secure the scorebox.
17. Collect match fees from players.
18. Request that players volunteer for tasks needed within the club.
19. Ensure that all benches are put away in the appropriate changing room.
20. Ensure that you have a copy of both innings with no “unsures” and accurate player names throughout.

Sunday

1. Ensure that the scorebook is an accurate record of the match.
2. Before 10 am, ensure that the summary scorecard has been uploaded to play-cricket and confirm the result.
3. Provide the treasurer with a report of moneys taken on Saturday and pass any cash on.
4. Where possible attend a Sunday game to watch potential players.
5. Upload the complete match result to play-cricket in line with League rules.