Wharton lead review of girls' and women's Cricket competitions

written on October 3, 2022, 12:50 pm

Neil has extended his work in women’s and girls’ cricket this summer, leading a review of county competitions at age-grade level on behalf of the ECB. This has involved extensive consultation which has featured focus groups in each of the eight women’s and girls’ regions, an online survey to gather input from County Age Grade coaches and officials, and a player feedback exercise which has attracted over 400 responses. Its outputs are due to be presented to an ECB Steering Group in November, which will begin the task of formulating recommendations for further consultation with the wider game.

Neil was also commissioned by the ECB to support a review of the senior and player pathway programmes in place across the eight regions, with a particular focus on governance, management and Academy structures. The review has also been supported by former GB Hockey Performance Director David Faulkner, until recently the FA’s Director of Women’s Professional Football, who has focused on the culture and climate within each senior programme. The outcomes from this review are intended not only to inform the ongoing development of each region, but also to assist the ECB in furthering its strategy and investment in women’s cricket at this level.”

Neil has also been working on behalf of the Students RFU to identify and critique the role of Higher Education in the Rugby Football Union’s player pathways for men and women, with particular consideration given to the roles played by the BUCS Super Rugby and Women’s National League competitions, and the England Students XV. Following widespread consultation within the RFU, Premiership Rugby, SRFU, BUCS and the student rugby community, findings and recommendations are due for presentation in mid-October.”

Sarah has once again been combining systemic and development work over the last six months.  She has continued her work supporting a number of National Governing Bodies of Sport, particularly around development of their athlete pathways and acting as independent  Selection Committee Chair for a number of international teams. She again conducted the annual Franchise audit process for the Vitality Netball Super League.  Reviewing the Franchises across performance, talent commercial, community and business it was exciting to see Franchises making significant progress as they grew out of the Covid restrictions and prepared for the forthcoming season. 

As well as continuing to provide Executive Coaching/mentoring to a number of senior figures within the industry, Sarah was part of the UK Sport Commonwealth Games Leadership Development Programme learning support team, responsible for the design, delivery and support to over 60 identified Home Nations Commonwealth Games Leaders in the nine months run in to the Manchester 2022 Commonwealth Games.  More recently she was commissioned to develop a People Plan for British Skateboarding, building on previous work carried out supporting their development.

Outside Wharton, Sarah continues to work with World Athletics and European Athletics to develop off road running and the respective international championships.