News

SARS Curtails Playground League

Because of SARS, all schools were suspended for a long period and all inter-school activities were also stopped. Consequently the 2002-03 Wellcome Primary Schools Playground League was also affected and had to be curtailed. It was only possible to finish up games up to the Divisional Round. Every winning school in each Division is awarded, unfortunately no overall champions can be decided.

Congratulations to the following winning teams:

• Division 1 - PKL Camoes Chan Siu Lin Primary School Team A
• Division 2 - PKL Camoes Chan Siu Lin Primary School Team B
• Division 3 - Li Cheng Uk Government Primary School (P.M) Team A
• Division 4 - Li Cheng Uk Government Primary School (P.M) Team B
• Division 5 - Little Flower’s Primary School Team A
• Division 6- Little Flower’s Primary School Team B
• Division 7 - Islamic Primary School Team A
• Division 8 - Emmanual Primary School Team B

About the Wellcome Primary Schools Playground League

Introduction

The Hong Kong Cricket Association believes that for the promotion of cricket in Hong Kong it is essential to introduce the sport beginning with local schools. There was no cricket culture among the local Chinese Schools and the HKCA insisted not to take any shortcut but to sew the seeds in the local primary schools no matter how difficult.

The League started off with only 3 international schools in 1999. After 3 years of hard cultivation there are 66 schools participating in the League and they are ALL local schools.

League Starting Year: 1999

Sponsorship: Starting from 2000 by Wellcome Supermarket

Divisions Setting: Starting from 2000 due to the increasing number of schools, we increase the number of Division from 3 to 4 namely Kowloon, Hong Kong, New Territories West, and New Territories East

League Format: Round Robin at divisional level and Knockout in the Final date.

School Numbers from 1999 to 2003

Competition Format: 1st Stage: Divisions Round Robin Tournaments

• All players will receive a certificate of recognition.
• The top 2 teams of each division will enter into the final knockout champion stage.
• One draw will be made to determine their place at the beginning stage in the knockout chart. After that, no draw will be made
• All teams in the final knockout champion stage will be awarded medals. The final 3 places will be awarded trophies.

Key Highlights

• over 90% are Chinese students
• modified version of cricket using plastic bat and stumps, softer cricket balls
• all matches played in school playground because ground is scarce in HK AND we intend to build cricket culture within schools
• first to run a demonstration for interested schools
• entitled to 12 hrs of free coaching to teacher-in-charge and students.
• the teacher in-charge of each participating school receives free coaching from HKCA and will be qualified as a Level O Coach so that he/she can continue to coach students in schools
• schools can apply for further coaching from HKCA for as long as they wish
• HKCA will assign one coach to each division to assist the schools and to arrange matches
• a programme that can attract commercial sponsorship to absorb running costs. Wellcome Supermarket, local supermarket chain store, began to sponsor the League in 2000.
• HK Junior National Team players not eligible to play
• already produced 3 players for U13 National Team

Check the following links for other information about the Wellcome Primary Schools Playground League:

• Download Entry Form
• 2002/03 Competition Rules
• School Contacts

Wellcome Playground League Fixtures

Kowloon Division | HK Island Division | NT East Division | NT West Division | Final Knockout Day