Lindfield Cricket
Age Eligibility for Junior Cricket
The age group a participant plays in is determined by their age as of 31 August in the year of registration.
For example: If your child is 12 yrs on 31 August, they will play in U13.
(Note: Girls’ formats differ, as selection is based on ability rather than strictly on age.)
The NSJCA Blue Book has further details regarding Age Eligibility. Click here for further information.
Below is a guide linking your child’s age to the recommended competition age group.
Playing down
Players who are new to cricket or still developing their skills may be eligible to “play down” an age group. This requires approval (dispensation) from NSJCA before the competition begins. Dispensation is generally granted if the player is close to the cutoff date or new to cricket.
Girls automatically receive dispensation to play down a year if participating in mixed competitions.
For approval requests, please contact the Juniors Registrar at juniors@ldcc.com.au.
Playing Up
Playing in an older age group than your child’s age or school year is not recommended. Each age group is carefully designed by Cricket Australia with appropriate game formats, duration, pitch length, field size, ball weight & dismissal rules. These adjustments maximise player involvement, enjoyment, and skill development.
At Lindfield, we are committed to giving every player the best chance to enjoy and succeed at cricket. Our duty of care means we prioritise players’ long-term enjoyment and retention in the sport.
While some parents believe their child will benefit from tougher competition by playing up, club data and experience show this is rarely the case. An analysis of our playing group statistics from the 2015/6 season indicated that nearly one third of the players playing in competitions above their age group struggle badly to score runs, and or, take wickets. 73% of those played up in the younger age groups - U10 and U11.
In recent years, the club and NSJCA have adopted a policy that players should compete within their correct age group unless they are representative-level players.
We also know from experience that players who struggle early often lose interest and leave cricket prematurely. It is vital parents consider carefully whether playing up is truly in their child’s best interest. Longer game durations (2–2.5 hours) in U9 and above can be especially challenging, particularly during summer.
We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a positive and nurturing cricket environment for all players.
If you have any questions about age eligibility or playing up/down, please contact juniors@ldcc.com.au.