All Eildon Park participation programs and teams are mixed gender. In competitive and skill-based sides, young girls have playing exemptions enabling them to play 1–2 years over the age limit.
Cricket Blast
Where it all begins!
Cricket Blast (officially Woolworths Cricket Blast) is Cricket Australia's official entry-level, fun-first program designed for boys and girls aged 4 to 10 of all abilities. It uses active, game-based activities and modified equipment to teach foundational skills like batting, bowling, and catching while building teamwork and confidence.
Registered participants receive an exclusive "Blast Pack" containing custom gear such as a shirt, hat, and ball.
Super 7s
Super 7s is an introductory, modified club cricket format for children aged 7 to 9. Played on Wednesday evenings and alternating between home games at Eildon Park and away games at other clubs in the local area, it serves as a stepping stone between Cricket Blast and competitive junior cricket, emphasizing maximum participation, skill-building, and fun in a non-competitive or lightly structured environment.
- Team Size: Seven players per team, ensuring everyone stays active and involved.
- Equal Involvement: Every child gets a turn to bat, bowl, and field during the match.
- Equipment: Played using a lightweight, soft synthetic or Kookaburra soft ball to ensure safety and build confidence.
- Pitch and Field: Utilizes a shortened pitch (around 16 meters) and a smaller modified boundary field.
- Match Duration: Fast-paced games lasting roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours maximum.
- Scoring and Rules: Focuses on learning the basics with relaxed rules, often featuring limited or unlimited soft dismissals where batters keep playing to maximize hitting practice.
Fast 9s
Fast 9s (also played on Wednesday evenings and alternating between Eildon Park and away clubs) is also an introductory junior cricket format (Stage 2) designed for kids aged roughly 9 to 12 who are in their second or third year of playing. It features 9 players per team and a fast-paced T20-style structure limited to a strict 2-hour time window.
- Participation: Active and continuous participation where every child gets an equal chance to bat, bowl, and field.
- Match Length: Played over 20 overs per side, tightly managed to finish within 120 minutes.
- Equipment: Uses a standard 142g hard/leather cricket ball.
- Dismissals: Standard modes of dismissal count, helping players transition toward full competitive club rules.
Junior Competitive Cricket
Eildon Park fields teams in the local Ferntree Gully & District Cricket Association (FTGDCA) in Under 12, 14 and 16, as well as Under 18s in the Box Hill District Reporter Cricket Association.
Under 12s is the progression from Fast 9s and is played on Wednesday evenings.
Under 16s and Under 18s are both played on Friday evenings, with Under 14s on Saturday mornings.
The FTGDCA fields junior representative sides at Under 12, 14 and 16 in the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union's January carnival. The club nominates players for trials for these sides early in the season.
For further details on any of our junior programs and teams please email epccjuniors@gmail.com.
