In today’s day and age, social media and other forms of technology is now the main way local sporting clubs communicate with their volunteers, players and parents.
Metro Club Walk Away National Winners
One local club who have gone above and beyond when it comes to showcasing their cricket club online is Warwick Greenwood Cricket Club (WGCC).
Recognised at the recent National Community Cricket Awards for their efforts and walking away winners in the Technology and Media Initiative of the Year category, WGCC have proven the new age of technology is one that keeps their cricketing community engaged.
“It is a really good celebration for the club, signifying all the work we’ve done off the field to advance ourselves,” WGCC President Ben Fowler said.
Mr Fowler said the club’s use of their website, Frog Box and other social media platforms have gone a long way in building a stronger connection between the club, it’s players and supporters.
“There is the communication you can derive through the club, that players may have been out of touch with the club for a couple of years can still very much feel in touch with how the club is doing through social media and online and see how the grades are going,” he said.
“It means come March when grand finals arrive, there is a greater sense of who is actually playing in these games and lot more people coming to the club, getting to Penistone Park and celebrating the achievements.”
A round which the club looks to celebrate every year is its mental health round, encouraging the use of conversation through sport in person, but also online.
“We’ve had our mental health round for the last eight years and we’ve been able to bring in quality experts that are able to help a lot of the young men at our club,” he said.
“Being able to reach out to a larger audience and help young men and women is a really important thing.”
Mr Fower said it is important to celebrate local cricket club’s wins through the use of social media as it helps the local community feel a sense of connection.
“It’s something that community sports really develops and brings out, if you can display and herald these stories in a grander context, give people a lore more importance outside of what happens in their working life,” he said.
A story that really captured the hearts and minds of Mr Fower and the surrounding community that the club published via their online platform was a story of perseverance.
“Everything we are doing as a club really highlights these stories and goes above and beyond just a single player,” Mr Fower said.