What are ECB All Stars Cricket (ages 5-8) and Dynamos Cricket (ages 8-11), and which one suits my child? Ages, what's included, cost, session format, equipment, safety checks and how parents can help.
| Programme | Ages |
|---|---|
| All Stars Cricket | 5 to 8 |
| Dynamos Cricket | 8 to 11 |
Both are ECB programmes run by clubs and centres across England and Wales.
A child outside these age ranges can only join if the centre agrees. For All Stars, the ECB also asks a parent or guardian of an out-of-range child to get involved as a parent helper.
Both programmes take 8-year-olds:
All Stars Cricket
Dynamos Cricket
The ECB's recommended retail price is £50 for each programme:
The final price for each centre is shown on that centre's page when you book.
| Programme | Sessions |
|---|---|
| All Stars Cricket | Eight 60-minute sessions, usually held over eight weeks |
| Dynamos Cricket | At least six sessions of 60 to 90 minutes, or at least eight hours of delivery in total |
All Stars holiday camps are different: session times and length vary by venue.
All Stars sessions are fun, game-based activities that build the fundamental movement skills children need, using soft balls and plastic bats. Over the programme, children work on:
Each Dynamos session follows the same pattern:
Children use soft balls and light wooden bats, and learn the basics of game play, scoring and teamwork.
Cricket equipment is provided. Children taking part in All Stars for the first time receive their own bat and ball in their pack, and Dynamos activators bring a pack of equipment for catching, bowling and batting.
No helmet is required. Both programmes use soft balls. The ECB Recreational Cricket Safety Regulations make helmets compulsory for under-18s only in hard ball cricket (batting, keeping wicket up to the stumps, and 16 and 17-year-olds fielding close in). Protective equipment is not mandatory in soft ball cricket, but a child may wear it if you prefer.
Yes. Both programmes are run to ECB requirements:
Yes, and the ECB encourages it. Parents and guardians are invited to take part in sessions with their children.
Yes. The ECB describes both All Stars Cricket and Dynamos Cricket as fully inclusive, designed to support a wide range of abilities, disabilities and different learning needs.
Yes. The ECB designed Dynamos to complement junior club cricket, so children can do both if they want to.
There are over 5,000 cricket clubs in England and Wales, and many run junior teams in different age groups through the summer.
Registration is online:
When registrations open (the ECB says Dynamos registrations open in late February), use the session finder to find centres near you, then follow the registration link for the centre you choose and pay online. You can also register your interest on the ECB website to be emailed when courses open.
All Stars also runs holiday camps. They appear in the same postcode finder when courses are open for booking.