Cricket Mind and Cricket Wales parent support series
Cricket Mind is delighted to be working with Cricket Wales to deliver a new parent support series for the 2026/27 pathway year.
The series has been created to help parents support young cricketers through some of the most important, emotional and challenging parts of the cricketing journey — including selection, winter training, confidence, pressure, setbacks and the highs and lows of the season.
This parent workshop series builds on our ongoing relationship with Cricket Wales and our shared commitment to supporting young cricketers, parents and pathway environments.
Parents play a huge role in how young players experience cricket. They are often the people helping children process selection decisions, respond to disappointment, manage comparison, deal with pressure and stay connected to why they play the game in the first place.
But parents do not always get much support themselves.
That is what this series is designed to provide.
Why parent support matters in cricket
Pathway cricket can be a brilliant experience for young players. It can expose them to better training, stronger competition, new friendships and exciting opportunities.
But it can also bring challenges.
Selection decisions can feel personal. Winter training can create comparison. Young players can worry about where they stand. Parents can feel unsure about what to say after disappointment, poor form or emotional performances.
Most parents are trying to help. But in a high-pressure environment, even well-intentioned support can sometimes add to the pressure a young player feels.
The aim of these workshops is not to tell parents they are doing things wrong. It is to give them practical ideas, language and perspective so they can support their child more effectively through the demands of the game.
Workshop 1: Supporting Your Child Through Selection and Winter Training
Date: Wednesday 3rd February 2027
Time: 8–9pm
The first workshop will focus on the period around selection, trial outcomes and winter training.
Topics will include:
- how young players can experience selection and non-selection
- supporting confidence after setbacks
- helping children deal with comparison
- understanding pressure in pathway environments
- navigating winter training expectations
- reducing unintended pressure at home
- supporting ambition while keeping long-term development in perspective
This session is designed to help parents better understand what their child may be experiencing and how to support them through a key part of the pathway year.
Workshop 2: Supporting Your Child Through the Highs and Lows of the Season
Date: Monday 24th May 2027
Time: 8–9pm
The second workshop will focus on the playing season and the emotional ups and downs that often come with it.
Topics will include:
- confidence during the season
- helping players respond to poor form
- post-match conversations
- matchday emotions
- role changes and selection decisions during the season
- supporting players through setbacks
- helping young cricketers enjoy the game while still pursuing performance
The aim is to help parents feel more confident in how they support their child before, during and after matches.
Cricket Wales Parent Support Hub
As part of the series, Cricket Mind has also created a dedicated Cricket Wales Parent Support Hub.
The hub includes:
- workshop information
- confirmed dates and times
- a pre-workshop questionnaire for parents
- relevant Cricket Mind resources
- a featured podcast episode on talent pathways and trials
- space for workshop recordings and follow-up videos once available
Cricket Wales parents can access the Parent Support Hub here.
Access details will be shared directly by Cricket Wales.
The hub will continue to develop across the year. Once the workshops and short support videos are completed, they will be added so parents can return to the same place to access the recordings, resources and follow-up content.
Useful parent resources
For parents who want to start thinking about this before the workshops, we have also shared practical ideas in our blog:
How to Support Young Cricketers
We also recently recorded a podcast episode with Ben Silver on talent pathways and trials, exploring selection, development and the realities of the pathway experience:
The Truth About Talent Pathways & Trials
Both of these resources connect closely with the themes we will explore through the Cricket Wales parent workshop series.
Parent workshops for cricket organisations
Cricket Mind also delivers parent workshops for clubs, schools, counties, academies and cricket organisations that want to better support players and families through the demands of the game.
Workshops can be tailored around topics such as:
- selection and non-selection
- confidence and pressure
- parent-child conversations
- winter training environments
- matchday behaviour
- communication with coaches
- supporting young players through setbacks
- helping players enjoy the game while pursuing performance
If your club, school, academy or organisation would like to explore a parent workshop, you can find out more here:
You can also contact Cricket Mind directly here:
Frequently asked questions
The workshops are designed to help parents support young cricketers through selection, winter training, confidence, pressure, setbacks and the highs and lows of the cricket season.
The workshops are for Cricket Wales parents whose children are involved in the pathway environment.
Yes. Cricket Wales parents can access the hub, but the access code will be shared directly by Cricket Wales.
Yes. Cricket Mind delivers parent workshops for clubs, schools, counties, academies and cricket organisations. Workshops can be tailored to the needs of each group.
Topics can include selection, confidence, pressure, comparison, motivation, parent-child conversations, winter training, match-day emotions and supporting young cricketers through setbacks.
