North Ballarat Cricket Club has launched a new cricket program for disabled players.
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The club announced on Thursday that it will enter a team in the Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association. Playing under the North Ballarat banner, the team will represent the city in the upcoming 2020-21 MAACA season.
North Ballarat director of cricket Adam Eddy said it was an exciting time for the club.
"People have been asking for something like this for a while and we are delivering it," he said.
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The Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association is a competition for players with intellectual disabilities. The club's entry to the competition means that Ballarat players who fall under this category will now have somewhere to play.
"It came about after a couple of our players brought it to our attention after realising there was no cricket outlet in Ballarat for that type of community," Eddy said.
The initiative, which Eddy said has been in the works for the last six months, will offer two different programs. The first will be a competitive program for those looking to participate in a traditional home and away style season.
Players within this format will compete in the MAACA competition and will play games in Melbourne and Ballarat.
The second is called the All Abilities Program, which will be for players who aren't interested in playing competitively.
"It is for people that aren't competitive but still want to play cricket and have an outlet through sport," Eddy said.
North Ballarat plans to host try outs for its inaugural MAACA side and is encouraging everyone who meets the criteria to come along and have a go. Dates for the tryouts will be confirmed once COVID-19 restrictions are updated.
In order to be eligible for the criteria, players must have an intellectual disability. They must have an IQ of 75 or less and possess a disability/pension card.
"Every club would have people that can play in this side," Eddy said.
"It's a Sunday fixture so it wouldn't effect any BCA Saturday fixtures. Anyone that wants to play and get involved can contact the club and we will try and accommodate them."
While sport is currently on hold due to lockdown restrictions in Melbourne and regional Victoria, Eddy said the latest advice from the MAACA competition is that the 2020-21 season is still going ahead.
