EVERYONE should have the chance to experience the thrill of playing sport.

And Sydney’s Blowfly Cricket Club have provided this opportunity for a group of Coffs Coast children, with the club traveling to host an all-abilities coaching clinic at Bray Street Oval.

A group of seven children aged between six and thirteen took part in the clinic, with the three girls and four boys from the organisation Coffs Kids in Motion.

Having never played cricket before, by the end of the afternoon they simply could not get enough of the sport.

Blowfly Cricket Club founder Mark Rushton said it was a special moment for the kids to take part in the clinic.

“It was an amazing experience for them,” he said.

“Through this clinic, we not only helped the children play and love cricket, but also helped them be more independent and responsible and created social interaction opportunities for them.”

The all-abilities programs at the Sydney club were started by Rushton a few years ago to prove a point.

He was told once that people with disabilities were ‘uncoachable’ to play sport and coach sport, and he set out to prove them wrong with his ‘Coach the Uncoachables’ program.

The program is an officially recognised Level 1 coaching course for people living with a disability so that they can be accredited and therefore earn money through coaching.

Cricket NSW’s North Coast Cricket Manager, Kate Jackson arranged for equipment kits and giveaway Woolworths Cricket Blast showbags that the children were thrilled to receive.

The children were also given engraved ‘Blowies’ medals from the club, which were a hit too, and nicely topped off the afternoon’s activities.

Cricket NSW is looking to create more all abilities programs across the state and will use the expertise from existing programs like Blowfly Cricket.

Julie Stafford, Female Engagement and D&I Manager, Cricket NSW, praised Blowfly Cricket Club’s commitment to providing all-abilities coaching clinics.

“Cricket is a sport for all, and we love the expertise and guidance the Blowfly Cricket Club coaches bring to our all-abilities programs,” she said,

“We are looking to roll out new Cricket NSW all-abilities programs this season in new locations.”

By Aiden BURGESS