How fathers are bonding with their daughters over cricket.
As a Men’s Health Nurse I am always on the lookout for new programs for men that are simple, engaging and straightforward (for example, The Men’s Table). When I first read about an Australian cricket program for dads and daughters- I was hooked (pardon the pun).
As we will read below, the beauty of this program is its links to a favourite sporting pastime, whilst developing closer bonds between a father and his daughter.
Australian Women’s Cricket
Australian women’s cricket has a storied history from the first Ashes game in 1934 to multiple world cup victories from 1978 onwards. Within modern times, our women’s cricketers have become household names- Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry are as recognisable as any of their male counterparts.
As per cricket bible Wisden, ‘Since 2020, Cricket Australia have ensured that their women’s team gets the same reward for international success as the men, having pledged to make up any difference in winnings’. This purposeful intervention by Cricket Australia led cricket’s governing body the International Cricket Council, to also follow suit recently and ensure equal prizemoney between men and women elite cricketers.
Women and Girls Cricket Participation
According to the Australian Cricket Census of 2022-23, female participation rate has increased by 26% to 50,377 national registrations. Success on the cricketing field has been a catalyst for a significant increase in female participation and enrolment.
Daughters and Dads Cricket Research
Researchers from the University of Newcastle in New South Wales explored the feasibility of a ‘Daughters and Dads Cricket’ programme.
The design of the Daughters and Dads cricket programme was over 9-weeks with 34 father-daughter pairs participating.
The Daughters & Dads Cricket Participants
The average age of the fathers in the study was 43.1 years of age, with most in fulltime employment. 50% of fathers lived in lower to middle socio-economic regions.
Two fathers (6%) were Aboriginal, and 15% were actively playing competitive cricket in an organised club.
The average age of daughters in the study was 9.4 years of age. 88% had not played organised or competitive cricket (12% had never played before).
Daughters & Dads Cricket Programme
The Daughters and Dads Cricket Programme consisted of a number of set activities.
An initial 120-minute dads-only session focussing on parenting skills to improve their daughters cricket proficiency, cricket enjoyment, participation and social-emotional wellbeing.
This was then followed by eight 90-minute weekly sessions for daughters and dads focussing on-
‘A 25 min education component focusing on teaching girls the game of cricket, providing girls with the skills to navigate through traditional gender norms, exposing girls to female cricket role models, and key social and emotional skills.
‘A 65 min practical component focusing on rough and tumble fielding activities, batting and bowling skill development, and modified cricket games.’
A home activity programme containing a handbook outlining a range of father-daughter engagement activities was completed during the 9-weeks.
Daughters & Dads Cricket Results
Programme satisfaction- on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), dads scored the programme at 4.6, whilst daughters rated it 4.8.
Considerable improvements in daughters cricket skills were noted. These included- batting and bowling technique, batting and bowling accuracy and over-hand throwing technique.
Overall, most daughters and dads reported they intended to keep playing cricket after the programme completion (fathers 90% and daughters 97%).
Daughters & Dads Cricket Conclusion
The researchers concluded the research by noting; ‘Daughters and Dads Cricket’ is the first programme internationally to target fathers as agents of change to enhance girls’ cricket skill proficiency and cricket participation.
Expert Opinion: Bec Newton (Paediatric Occupational Therapist).
The ‘Daughters and Dads Cricket’ program presents an innovative approach to enhancing family dynamics and promoting girls’ participation in sports. This initiative is noteworthy not only for its focus on skill development but also for its broader implications on social and emotional well-being.
The program’s structure, including a dedicated session on parenting skills and subsequent weekly father-daughter activities, emphasises the importance of relationships in nurturing social-emotional skills. For young girls, engaging in shared meaningful occupations with their fathers can strengthen emotional bonds and foster positive self-esteem.
This program highlights the influential role that fathers can play in encouraging and sustaining their daughters’ involvement in sports. This focus on fathers as active participants and supporters represents a fresh approach to addressing gender disparities in sports.
