The Tasmanian Cricket Association today announced a significant sponsorship agreement with Metro, for the naming rights to Youth Cricket Programs in Tasmania for season 2002/2003 at the Youth Program Launch held in the Century Room at Bellerive Oval.

Tasmanian Cricket Association, Chief Executive, David Johnston said; "We are proud to be associated with Metro and this substantial sponsorship strengthens the relationship between the TCA and Metro and will ensure the continued growth of Youth Cricket Programs in Tasmania."

Laurie Hansen, Chief Executive of Metro expressed his delight at being associated with Youth Cricket Programs in Tasmania. He said; "Metro was a long time sponsor of junior sport in Tasmania."

"In the past, Metro has sponsored the State's under 18 and under 16 football sides, the Tassie Mariners and junior netball," he said.

"But our first junior sport sponsorship was with the TCA and cricket."

Mr.Hansen said Metro had been the naming rights sponsor for boys and girls high school cricket in Hobart and Launceston since 1997/98.

"We also sponsor the Metro Cup, the annual junior intrastate competition played at Ulverstone," he said.

"It is there that many of the State's current senior squad members got their start in representative cricket."

Mr. Hansen said Metro was delighted to be again associated with the TCA's highly successful youth development program.

The TCA Youth Programs are an integral part of the Tigers Pathway and the Metro sponsorship includes:

• The Metro Youth League is a newly expanded Hobart based competition incorporating Southern Junior Cricket Association rosters and TCA High Schools cricket. The League has approximately 1000 children participating plus coaches and parents. The rosters include under 9 to under 16 cricketers who play mid-week and weekends in 15 separate rosters.

• The Metro Emerging Tigers Program is a key Statewide talent identification program conducted during March and April each year. This program involves approximately 800 nominated club and school cricketers from under 12 to under 15 years of age. The program forms the basis of the selection process for regional Metro Cup teams.

• The Metro Intra-State Series or the Metro Cup has become identifiable with Intra-State Representative Youth Cricket. Participation in this series is seen as a major progression in the Tigers Pathway and forms an integral part of the selection process for the State under 15 team that participates in the National Championships annually.

• The Metro Under 13 Tigers Program is a new initiative, which has allowed Game Development to commence its State representative cricket two years earlier than previously. In 2002, Tasmania competed in the National Primary Schools Exchange Series for the first time.

• The Metro Under 15 Tigers Program is played annually and is conducted by School Sports Australia. Final selection of this team occurs during the Metro Intra-State Series in February of each year.

• The Metro Capture the Tiger Program is created out of the David Boon Cricket Development Trust and targets talented players under the age of 13. The program involves camps, one on one coaching, video assessment and an introduction to mental skills and fitness. The program forms part of the selection process for the Tasmanian under 13 team.

• The Metro Country Areas Development Program is taken to regional and country areas of Tasmania with an emphasis on participation, development and retention of cricketers, both girls and boys. The program also acts as a feeder to the Statewide Emerging Tigers Program.

• The Metro Country Challenge Series is a carnival run over two days for young cricketers. The carnival includes boys and girls of Grade 6 age.

• Metro Women's Cricket Tasmania provides an opportunity for girls of all ages to participate in cricket and to compete for Tasmania in the National Championships.

Metro is also a support sponsor of the Under 17 and Under 19 Tigers teams who compete annually in the National Championships.

Included in the announcement was that Qantas are to be a support sponsor of Youth Programs and The Qantas Youth Cricketer of the Year will receive travel on Qantas Airlines to the value of $1000.00.

© 2002 Tasmanian Cricket Association

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.