Fun first, skills that stick, and a clear path from your first hit in the backyard to the BLACKCAPS or WHITE FERNS. Training starts the first week of Term 4 at Kaimanawa Reserve.
Grades follow NZ Cricket's junior formats, matched to school year. Tap a year to see where they'd play.
Week at a glance
Train midweek, play Friday
Training is at the Kaimanawa Reserve nets. Friday club night games are at Owen Delany Park. Draws and scores are on PlayHQ.
Thursdays
Wondering what happens on Thursdays?
That's our girls-only practice for Years 3 to 8, 3:30–4:15pm. Thursday is also LTCC Academy training for our college-aged players. See the Lake Taupō Cricket Club website for Academy details.
Highlight of the summer
Hawke's Bay Cricket Camps
Every January, junior teams from across New Zealand head to Napier for four days of cricket, billets and friendships. Kane Williamson, Trent Boult and Sophie Devine all played here as kids. Taupō will send teams again in 2027.
Junior cricket is the first step. Here is where it can lead.
Club news
News
September 2026 · Owen Delany Park
New sports hub opens at Owen Delany Park
Our Friday night home has a new $5.3 million community sports hub, officially opened on 7 September 2026. It has eight change rooms, showers, unisex toilets, a lounge and kitchen, and sheltered viewing over the lower fields. Car parking has been upgraded, and new field lighting went in during 2025.
The project was fully funded by Central Government, the NZ Lottery Grants Board and NZ Community Gaming Trust. Next up is seismic strengthening of the main stand.
Grades, fees, the season calendar, camps and tournaments, all in one place. Share taupojuniorcricket.co.nz with families who might want to give cricket a go.
Four grades for 2026/27, plus a Girls grade pending numbers, built on NZ Cricket's ANZ Junior Game formats. Each grade uses a shorter pitch, smaller boundaries and modified rules so every child gets more hits, more catches and more fun.
Pitch bars are drawn to scale against a full 20.12 m senior pitch. Team placement is confirmed by the committee once registrations close and new players have been to a few trainings. Grade definitions are being finalised for the season.
Moving up a grade
One season, two school years
The cricket season runs across Term 4 and Term 1, so every player moves up a school year over the summer holidays. Here's how we handle grades when that happens.
Oct – Dec 2026Term 4Grades set by your child's 2026 school yeare.g. Year 6 → Junior A
Summer holidaysNew school yearEveryone moves up a year→
Feb – Apr 2027Term 1Ready to step up, or happy to stay. Your choicee.g. now Year 7 → Colts or stay in Junior A
Together
Moving with friends
When players step up after Christmas, we'll try to move them with their friends and teammates so nobody starts Term 1 on their own.
No pressure
Staying is fine
We want kids to step up when they're ready, not because they feel they have to. If your child would rather stay in their grade for the whole season, that's totally fine.
Year 9 welcome
Colts for Year 9s
There are no college cricket teams in Taupō yet, so Colts is open to Year 9s. That includes current Year 9 students this season and Year 8s moving into Year 9 in Term 1, if they're not ready for senior or weekend cricket.
Not sure what's best for your child? Talk to your grade lead before the end of Term 4, or email gerard.troy@gmail.com.
More ways to play
Festivals and rep cricket
Girls · 7–11 yrs
Girls Festival
A one-day Girls Smash festival: six-a-side, six overs, plastic bats and a batting tee. A relaxed first taste of cricket with friends. Girls can also join our Girls grade.
NZ Cricket guidelines move players from foundation formats into competitive cricket. Our job is to make each step clear.
Home / Development
Skills & pathways
Player development
What players learn at each grade, how new players step into hardball cricket, and where to find great coaching, from NZ Cricket resources to Bay of Plenty programmes and clinics.
What we focus on
Skills at each grade
Each grade builds on the last. Players don't need to master everything before moving up. These are the skills coaches work on so everyone knows what to expect.
Years 1–2
SmashPlay
Batting
Holding the bat with two hands
Hitting a ball off a tee and a gentle throw
Bowling
Underarm then overarm throwing
Bowling with a straight arm
Fielding
Catching with "soft hands"
Stopping a rolling ball
Game sense
Running between wickets
Taking turns and having fun
Ready to move up when… they can catch a gentle throw and hit a moving ball most of the time.
Years 3–4
Junior B
Batting
Grip, stance and watching the ball
Straight-bat drive in front of the wicket
Bowling
Side-on action with a straight arm
Hitting a target on a short pitch
Fielding
Long barrier to stop the ball
Overarm throw to the keeper
Game sense
Calling "yes", "no", "wait"
Batting and backing up in pairs
Ready to move up when… they can bowl overarm with a straight arm and play a straight drive with a soft ball.
Years 5–6
Junior A
Batting
Front-foot and back-foot defence
Drives and leaving the ball
Batting in full gear with a hard ball
Bowling
Run-up and a repeatable action
Bowling line and length on 16 m
Fielding
Catching a hard ball safely
Wicketkeeping basics in pads and gloves
Game sense
Building a partnership over 5 overs
Basic field placings
Ready to move up when… they're comfortable facing a 142 g hard ball in a helmet and can bowl a consistent line.
Years 7–9
Colts
Batting
Shot selection and building an innings
Pull, cut and sweep
Rotating the strike
Bowling
Pace or spin with a legal action
Variations, field-setting and workload care
Fielding
Diving, sliding and direct-hit throws
Fielding in the ring and on the boundary
Game sense
All dismissals and match situations
Captaincy and reading the game
Ready to move up when… they're ready for Lakelands, Hawke's Bay Camps, LTCC Academy and college cricket.
Girls-only practice (Years 3–8, Thursdays) covers the same skills at each player's level. See how moving up works.
Joining at 10 to 12?
New to cricket and the hard ball
Lots of kids start cricket in Years 5–8. They usually join Junior A or Colts, where games use a 142 g hard ball. Here's how we help them get there safely and with confidence.
Start with a softer ball. New players begin with soft or modified balls at training while they learn to watch the ball and move their feet.
Gear on, every time. A helmet is mandatory with the hard ball. Pads, gloves and a box for boys too. The club has shared gear to borrow.
Hard ball in the nets first. Coaches introduce the hard ball with gentle throwdowns before players face bowlers.
Fielding and catching. We teach how to catch and stop a hard ball safely, with hands and body behind the ball.
Games when ready. Players start matches once they're comfortable. Colts doesn't allow dismissals until each batter has faced 6 balls, which takes the pressure off.
A term in an easier grade is fine. If your child would like to build confidence first, talk to the grade lead about starting a grade lower.
Hardball gear checklist
Item
Need to buy?
Helmet (mandatory)
Club has shared ones
Batting pads & gloves
Club has shared ones
Bat (right size)
Club has shared ones
Protective box (boys)
Yes, personal item
White trousers
Yes
Cricket or sports shoes
Yes
Not sure what to buy? Ask your grade coordinator or coach first. Rebel Sport Taupō usually stocks junior gear.
Learn at home
Coaching resources
Free drills, games and courses for players, parents and volunteer coaches.
We're keen to bring specialist coaching to Taupō this season. These are some of the options.
BLACKCAPS · 64 Tests
Neil Wagner
The former BLACKCAPS and Northern Districts fast bowler coaches through Coach Squad. He's based in Tauranga, offers individual and small-group sessions, and can travel to a club's training.
Friday games run 2 to 3 hours depending on the grade, so finish times are a guide. Games can finish earlier or run a little later. Please arrive by 3:45pm so games start on time.
PlayHQ
Fixtures, results & player stats
Teams, draws, scorecards and each player's season stats live on PlayHQ, NZ Cricket's official system. Junior A and Colts games are scored live on match days.
Taupō is a long drive from the nearest Saturday junior competitions, so we don't play in a regular weekend club competition. Instead, we organise one-off games against clubs in nearby regions through the season, on top of our Friday club nights.
To be confirmed
Term 4 & Term 1
Bay of Plenty clubs
One-off games against clubs such as Rotorua, Te Puke and Whakatāne, home and away.
Since 1979 the camps have brought junior teams from all over New Zealand to Napier for a week of cricket every January. Ray Mettrick started them and ran them for 22 years. Hawke's Bay Cricket Association has organised them since 2001.
Everything you need to know about four days at camp, from packing and the hostel to match-day rules. Based on the 2026 camp briefing. We'll confirm any changes when the 2027 details arrive.
4days of cricket
3pmhostel check-in, first day
10amcheck-out, last day
142gred leather ball, Year 4/5
01Packing checklist
Tick things off as you pack. Your ticks are saved on this device only.
On-field cricket kit
Camp & personal gear
02Staying at the hostel
Our teams stay at Napier Boys' High School (Scinde House). Your team manager will share the hostel's arrival details.
Details
Check-in
From 3:00pm on the first day
Check-out
By 10:00am on the last day
Breakfast
7:30am (7:00am on departure day)
Lunch
Not provided for Year 4/5 and Year 6. The team organises lunches and snacks
Dinner
7:30pm each night
First-night briefing
7:30pm in the dining hall on site rules and evacuation. Everyone seated by 7:25pm
Dietary needs
Complete the camp's allergy form by late December. Players with allergies get a base lunch, so pack extra snacks
Laundry
No laundry on site. The nearest laundromat is on Kennedy Road
Pool
Open after dinner. Team managers supervise and sign the pool agreement
House rules are set by the team: bedtimes, no phones at night, and expect at least one player to feel homesick. Managers will talk to families about this before camp.
03Game day: what the team brings
Teams are largely self-sufficient on match days, and also umpire and score their own games.
Cones or markers for the boundary
A set of stand-up stumps
Match balls for the grade
A scoreboard
A gazebo or other shade
Bowling markers (no scratching run-ups)
A scoring device and battery pack
Rubber-soled shoes for artificial wickets
Scoring on PlayHQ
Make sure every player is on the club and team roster before camp
Set up each match in the app at least 10 minutes before the start
Bring a battery pack: a phone won't last the full day on days 2 and 3. Turn screen brightness down
Live scoring uses about 10 MB of data per match
04Year 4/5 playing rules
Rule
Detail
Overs
30 per innings, about 15 overs an hour
Drinks
One break of up to 5 minutes halfway through each innings
Pitch / boundary
16 m pitch, 35 m boundaries
Ball
Two-piece, 142 g red leather (Kookaburra Crown or Red King). Teams bring their own
Players
12 can bat, 11 field at a time
Dismissals
If you're out, you're out. No LBW
Retirement
Retire at the end of the over on reaching 25, and bat again once everyone else has. Retiring before 25 counts as out
Fielding
No fielders within 10 m of the stumps, except behind the wicket
Overs per bowler
Maximum 3. Everyone (except a full-match keeper) bowls at least 2 before anyone bowls a third
Balls per over
Maximum 6 including wides and no balls, except the last over of each innings (6 legal balls)
Wides
Down leg at half the distance from the stumps, or wide of off at three-quarters
No balls
Double bounce, bouncer above the shoulder, or full toss above the waist
Honours board25+ runs2+ wickets2 dismissals in the field
"Out is out" is a big adjustment from club cricket. Coaches will talk players through it before the first game.
05Ground rules
No vehicles on the grounds
Use the toilets provided
No practice bowling on the pitch or the cricket block
06Tips from past camps
Mindset
Camp is about learning and development, not just winning. Expect day 1 to be rusty and day 4 to be tiring for kids and parents.
Food & drink
Kids often need two lunches or one lunch plus plenty of snacks. Plan water, ice and coffee. Pre-ordered supermarket lunch packs work well.
Washing
Plan for washing and pack enough socks and cricket underwear for four days.
On the field
Mix the batting order, change wicketkeepers at drinks, and practise swapping ends between overs. An in-out field with close midwicket and cover works well.
Spirit of cricket
Support teammates and opponents, shake hands after every game, take a photo with the other team and pick a player of the day.
Other teams
Expect a range of behaviour from other teams and supporters. Lead by example.
07Photos, raffle & updates
Team photos: professional photos can be ordered through the camp website at least 5 days before camp starts
Raffle: $5 tickets sold around the grounds. Prizes include a Kookaburra bat and sports vouchers. Drawn on the final night
Updates and photos: follow the camp on Facebook and Instagram, and the camp website
Questions: email our camp coordinator at gerard.troy@gmail.com. Team managers have the camp organisers' direct contacts
Playing new opposition is where young cricketers grow. This season we're adding more games against other clubs, starting with Bay of Plenty, and bringing teams to Taupō for our T20 Festival.
Taupō at the Central Hawke's Bay Tournament, Waipukurau
Annual away tournament
Central Hawke's Bay Tournament, Waipukurau
Every year Taupō takes junior teams to Waipukurau for the Central Hawke's Bay tournament. It's a full day of cricket against local clubs, finishing with medals and a team photo with the opposition.
An annual fixture on the Taupō junior calendar
Games against Central Hawke's Bay junior teams
Medals for players of the day
Parents help with travel and car-pooling
Where
Waipukurau, Central Hawke's Bay
When
Annually 2027 date TBC
Travel
About 2 hours' drive from Taupō
Contact
Fiona Miller, tournaments & interclub
Our home tournament · February/March
Taupō T20 Festival
We kicked off the inaugural Taupō T20 in March 2026 at Owen Delany Park, with teams from Cambridge, Central Hawke's Bay and Havelock North taking on our Junior A and Colts teams. It's back for 2027.
Junior A and Colts grades, NZC junior formats
Visiting teams from around the central North Island
Every player bats, bowls and fields
Spectators welcome and free
When
February/March 2027 Date TBC
Where
Owen Delany Park, Taupō
Grades
Junior A (Years 5–6) · Colts (Years 7–9)
2026 teams
Taupō, Cambridge, Central Hawke's Bay, Havelock North
Everything you need for your first season, whether your child has never held a bat or is coming back for more.
Your first season
Come and try in October. Bring your child to any October training for their year group. No registration needed to try.
Register on PlayHQ. Season fees are $45 to $95 depending on grade, with payment plans available. See fees. Register on the registration page.
Join your grade's group chat. Your grade lead adds you after registering. It's where training changes and game info go.
Team placement. The committee places teams once registrations close and coaches have seen new players.
Fridays at Owen Delany Park. Games start at 4pm and finish around 6pm (Junior B), 6:30pm (Junior A) or 7pm (Colts). Arrive 15 minutes early to help set up.
What to bring
Water bottle and a snack
Sunhat and sunscreen (SunSmart, every session)
Sneakers or trainers
White trousers for Junior A and Colts games
Protective box for boys in Junior A and Colts
Your own bat, helmet and pads if you have them. Shared club gear is available.
Unsure what to buy? Ask your grade coordinator or coach first. Rebel Sport Taupō usually stocks junior gear
Fees 2026/27
Season fees
One fee covers the whole season, Term 4 and Term 1. Payment plans are available, so cost shouldn't stop anyone playing.
Ask about a payment plan: contact our administrator, Luke Beecham, at lukebeecham@hotmail.co.uk.
ColtsYears 7–9$95
Junior AYears 5–6$95
Junior BYears 3–4$70
SmashPlayYears 1–2$45
GirlsSame fee as their grade. Girls-only training includedRelevant grade
Covers Term 4 and Term 1 · Payment plans available
Gear by grade
What each grade needs
Grade
Ball
Clothing
Protective gear
Club provides
SmashPlay
Soft modified ball
Trainers, sun hat
None
All equipment
GirlsPending
Soft modified ball
Trainers, sun hat
None
All equipment, incl. plastic bats and batting tee
Junior B
Soft modified ball
Trainers, sun hat
None
Shared helmets and bats
Junior A
142 g two-piece ball
White trousers
Helmet (mandatory), boys' box
Shared helmet, gloves, pads and bat
Colts
142 g two-piece ball
White trousers
Helmet (mandatory), boys' box
Shared helmet, gloves, pads and bat
Playing tops are handed out to registered players during Term 4.
Buying gear
Not sure what to buy?
Before you spend anything, talk to your grade coordinator or coach. They can tell you what your child actually needs for their grade and what the club can lend. When you do buy, Rebel Sport Taupō generally has a selection of junior cricket gear in stock.
Help out
Many hands, great Fridays
Junior cricket runs on parents. You don't need to know cricket. Pick something that suits you and we'll show you how.
Fridays · 30 min
Set-up crew
Put out boundary flags and stumps before games, pack down after. Two or three parents per grade.
Training provided
Scorer
Score Junior A and Colts games on Cricket Central. We'll train you and run a roster so nobody scores every week.
Tue or Wed
Training helper
Support our coaches with drills and small groups. Great if you've played before.
Per team
Team manager
Keep your team's group chat running and help on game day and at tournaments.
Committee
Funding lead
Find grants and sponsors so we can buy new kit and run clinics.
Committee
Comms lead
Keep this website, our socials and school newsletters up to date.
Keen? Tell your grade lead, or email gerard.troy@gmail.com.
PlayHQ
Your player's profile & stats
Every registered player has a PlayHQ profile with their games and stats. Profiles are private to your family account, so you'll need to log in to see them.
Log in to PlayHQ at playhq.com or in the PlayHQ app, using the email you registered with.
Open your profile and pick your child under your linked participants.
See their stats: games played, runs, wickets and catches for each season.
Follow their team in the app to get fixtures and live scores on your phone.
Can't see your child? Their registration may be linked to another parent's email. Contact our administrator.
gerard.troy@gmail.com
To protect our players, this website doesn't publish children's profiles or stats. Families share their own via PlayHQ.
FAQ
Common questions
Can my child try cricket before we register?
Yes. Throughout October, new players can come to any training for their year group to try the basics and see who else is playing.
My child moves up a school year in Term 1. Do they have to change grade?
No. The season runs across Term 4 and Term 1, so everyone moves up a school year over summer. Players can step up a grade after Christmas, and we'll try to move them with friends and teammates. If they'd rather stay in their grade for the whole season, that's fine. Year 9s are welcome in Colts all season, including Year 8s moving into Year 9. How moving up works.
How are teams chosen?
The committee places teams once registrations close and new players have been assessed at training. We balance age, ability and friendships, and aim for manageable numbers at each training.
My child is new and their friend has played for years. Can they be together?
Let us know on registration and we'll try. Sometimes a different grade will be a better fit for one of them, so they get the most out of the season.
Do we need to buy gear?
No. The club has shared helmets, gloves, pads and bats. Junior A and Colts players need white trousers, and boys need a protective box. If you're unsure what to buy or where, speak to your grade coordinator or coach. Rebel Sport Taupō generally has a selection of junior cricket gear.
What happens if it rains?
Your grade lead posts in your group chat by 2pm on the day if training or games are called off.
Where are training and games?
Training is at the Kaimanawa Reserve nets. Friday club night games are at Owen Delany Park, Taupō.
Is there a girls' programme?
Yes. Girls can play in the mixed teams in every grade, and many do. On top of that there's a girls-only practice on Thursdays, 3:30–4:15pm, for Years 3 to 8, and girls-only games if there are enough numbers. Fees are the same as the girl's grade. There's also a Girls Festival day in Term 4.
How much are fees, and what do they cover?
Colts and Junior A are $95, Junior B is $70 and SmashPlay is $45. The fee covers the whole season, Term 4 and Term 1, including coaching, ground hire, balls, shared gear and playing tops. Payment plans are available: contact our administrator, Luke Beecham. See fees.
Home / Gallery
Photos
Gallery
Moments from Friday nights, camps and tournaments. New photos are added through the season.
Photos for this album are coming soon. Got some? Email gerard.troy@gmail.com.
Photo consent
We only share photos of children whose families have given consent on PlayHQ. We never publish surnames alongside photos. Read our privacy statement. To have a photo removed, email gerard.troy@gmail.com.
Home / Sponsors
Partner with us
Back the next generation of Taupō cricketers
Your support goes straight into kids' hands: gear, coaching and the chance to play away. We're a volunteer-run programme and every dollar counts.
Training kitBats, pads, helmets and balls to replace worn gear
Bowling machineMore reps for batters at every training
Speed radarFun, measurable progress for young bowlers
Scoring tabletsLive Cricket Central scoring on Friday nights
Coaching clinicsSpecialist batting, bowling and keeping sessions
Shade gazebosKeeping players and spectators SunSmart at games and tournaments
Tournament travelGetting teams to Hawke's Bay and away events
Packages
Ways to partner
Three levels of club sponsorship, or a donation of any size. Talk to us and we'll make it work for your business.
Lead sponsor
Lead
$3,000 / year
Premium brand on the TJCC website and playing tops
Signage at the Kaimanawa Reserve cricket nets*
Acknowledgement on TJCC social media
Acknowledged at interclub games, tournaments and end-of-year prizegiving
Naming rights and the chance to present prizes at the TJCC T20 interclub tournament
The chance to present player MVP awards at end-of-year prizegiving
Gold
Gold
$1,000 / year
Prime brand on the TJCC website and playing tops
Signage at the Kaimanawa Reserve cricket nets*
Acknowledgement on TJCC social media
Acknowledged at interclub games, tournaments and end-of-year prizegiving
Silver
Silver
$500 / year
Brand on the TJCC website and playing tops
Signage at the Kaimanawa Reserve cricket nets*
Acknowledgement on TJCC social media
Acknowledged at interclub games, tournaments and end-of-year prizegiving
Any amount
Donation
Your choice
Every dollar goes to gear, coaching and tournaments
Thanked on our social media (if you'd like)
*Nets signage subject to confirmation with Taupō District Council.
Talk to us about sponsorship
Email our chairperson, Fiona Miller.
fmillernz@gmail.com
Home / About
About us
Junior cricket, run by parents, for Taupō kids
Taupō Junior Cricket runs cricket for Years 1–9. Our goal is simple: more kids playing, enjoying it, getting better and staying in the game through high school and beyond.
Fun
Every session has more hits, more catches and more action. Kids come back when they enjoy it.
Respect
For teammates, opponents, umpires, volunteers and the spirit of cricket.
Teamwork
Players, coaches and whānau working together to build a cricket community.
How we fit
Part of the Northern Districts family
We're a sub-committee of the Taupō Cricket Association, which sits within Bay of Plenty Cricket, part of Northern Districts Cricket. We work closely with Lake Taupō Cricket Club, the district's senior club, and sit alongside the Business House competition on Wednesday nights.
That structure is what connects a Friday night at Owen Delany Park to Bay of Plenty rep teams, Northern Districts and the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS.
Friday club night games from 4pm, plus home tournaments like the Taupō Junior T20.
Junior BFri 4:00–6:00pm
Junior AFri 4:00–6:30pm
ColtsFri 4:00–7:00pm
Did you know? Owen Delany Park hosted three BLACKCAPS one-day internationals between 1999 and 2001. Rahul Dravid scored 123 not out here against New Zealand in the first one.
How Taupō Junior Cricket handles personal information, in line with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.
What this website collects
Nothing. This website has no forms, no logins, no advertising and no tracking cookies. We may use privacy-friendly visitor counts that don't identify you.
Registration information
Player registration happens on PlayHQ, NZ Cricket's registration system. PlayHQ's privacy policy covers what you enter there. Our committee uses registration details only to run junior cricket: placing teams, contacting families, managing playing kit and meeting NZ Cricket and Bay of Plenty Cricket requirements.
Photos of children
We only publish photos of players whose families have given consent.
We use first names only, and never with a school name or other identifying details.
We remove location data from photos before publishing.
Ask us and we'll remove any photo within 48 hours.
Group chats and email
Grade group chats are for registered families only. Contact details are not shared outside the committee and grade leads without your permission.
Access and correction
You can ask to see or correct the information we hold about you or your child. Email us and our privacy officer will respond within 20 working days.
gerard.troy@gmail.com
Complaints
If you're not happy with how we've handled your information, contact us first. You can also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
