As the final overs of the summer fade and twe move towards winter nets, the off-season offers cricket clubs more than just a pause from play — it’s an opportunity to strengthen the very foundations of the game. Central to that is safeguarding in cricket: ensuring that every player, volunteer, coach, and official operates within an environment that is safe, transparent, and accountable.
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has made clear that safeguarding in cricket is not an administrative task but an enduring responsibility. As the ECB stated in a recent Cricexec interview:
“Keeping people safe is fundamental to our role as the governing body for cricket. Everyone involved in the game has the right to expect that our environments are safe. … We expect this to be business as usual and are now focused on moving from a compliance-led approach to one of embedding culture.”
That shift — from compliance to culture — reflects a wider change across sport. Safeguarding is not just about meeting minimum requirements; it’s about embedding values of trust, openness, and accountability into every level of the club.
Learning From the Past, Building for the Future
The importance of that cultural shift has been highlighted by recent independent safeguarding reviews in cricket. The case of former Durham coach Michael Strange, whose historical offences were revisited in a comprehensive ECB case review, underlined the need for vigilance, education, and early intervention.
As the ECB noted following publication of the review on safeguarding in cricket:
“It is more than 20 years since Strange was suspended from cricket … the review highlights the importance of everyone being able to recognise concerning behaviour, and to act upon it.”
Durham Cricket also responded by reaffirming its commitment to ongoing learning:
“Whilst many of the offences have previously been reported in the press … this report provides deeper insight into his behaviours and recommendations for further preventative measures.” (Durham Cricket)
While the case itself dates back decades, its lessons remain pressing today. Safeguarding in cricket isn’t something that can be assumed to be “done” — it requires constant renewal, training, and reinforcement. The off-season is the best time for clubs to do exactly that.
Why the Off-Season Matters for Safeguarding in Cricket
The off-season isn’t just downtime; it’s the moment when strong foundations are built. Clubs can use this period to ensure that safeguarding in cricket is embedded across every level of their organisation.
1. Time to Reflect and Review
With fixtures complete, club committees can review their safeguarding policies and compare them with ECB guidance. This includes ensuring every club has a trained Safeguarding Officer and a clear reporting structure in place.
2. Updating Training and Vetting
New volunteers, coaches, and junior helpers often join ahead of a new season. The off-season allows time to complete DBS checks, refresh training, and verify that everyone understands their safeguarding responsibilities
3. Embedding the Right Culture:
The ECB’s move from “compliance to culture” should begin at club level. Holding workshops or briefings on safeguarding in cricket during the off-season helps create shared understanding — not just of policies, but of behaviours and attitudes that define a safe cricket environment
4. Communicating Clearly
Parents, players, and volunteers should all know how safeguarding works at your club. The quieter winter months are ideal for updating handbooks, refreshing communication channels, and reminding members of how to report a concern.
5. Preparing for the Unexpected
From new technology to travel logistics, risk evolves. Reviewing social media policies, supervision ratios, and transport plans now avoids last-minute stress when the new season starts.
How Spond Helps Clubs Embed Safeguarding
Technology alone can’t create a safeguarding culture, but the right tools make it much easier to manage effectively. That’s where Spond comes in.
Clear Communication
Spond allows clubs to share safeguarding updates, policy changes, and reminders with players, parents, and volunteers — ensuring everyone gets consistent information.
Role-Based Access
Clubs can assign coaches, parents, and players to specific groups, controlling who has visibility over what — an essential part of digital safeguarding and compliance.
Event Permissions and Attendance Logs
Every training session, match, or social event can be managed through Spond, with built-in permissions, parent approvals, and attendance tracking for accountability.
Central Record-Keeping
Spond provides a transparent record of communication and participation, helping clubs demonstrate compliance with safeguarding requirements and respond quickly if concerns arise.
Parental Engagement
Parents and guardians remain in control, receiving updates, approvals, and direct communication through Spond, reducing risk and increasing trust.
By integrating these tools into everyday operations, clubs and teams can make safeguarding in cricket a visible, routine part of how they function — not just a document stored in a folder.
A Safer, Stronger 2026 Season
The ECB’s ongoing safeguarding reforms, reinforced by lessons from past cases, have set a clear direction for safeguarding in cricket: safety and trust must underpin everything in cricket. The off-season gives every club — from village sides to county academies — the space to embed that principle before the first ball is bowled.
By reviewing procedures, training volunteers, and communicating clearly with parents and players, clubs can move from compliance to culture — just as the ECB intends. And with tools like Spond helping to manage communication, permissions, and oversight, cricket can take another confident step toward a safer, more transparent game for everyone.
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