Pre Season Training

The North East Cricket Academy (NECA) is a state of the art indoor training facility that enables NECA to offer winter coaching programmes designed to develop young cricketers in a holistic and player focused manner.  Built within the grounds of South Northumberland Cricket Club in Gosforth, our courses are open to anyone who wishes to better their cricketing skills. 

NECA provides a wide variety of coaching courses, specifically designed to suit people of all ages and abilities. The January to April programme is a block of 10 pre-season training sessions designed to get players ready and prepared for the up and coming season, with a break in week beginning 16th February for half-term, that aims to;

  • Be net-based and player-centred, with sessions designed to suit the age and stage of each group. Sessions will always include a focus on fielding and will progress the development of cricketing skills over the 10-week programme
  • Intensify fielding drills
  • Build up fitness levels
  • Be fun and enjoyable, incorporating game-based practice that deepens each players love for the game and prepares players for the forthcoming season
  • Includes feedback to individual cricketers, should that be required, that further supports the next steps in their development

Coach to player ratios are maintained at a level that ensures we are able to get to know every Cricketer that trains with us and all our coaching staff are ECB qualified, and DBS checked to comply with our Safe Hands policy.

The success of the programme does depend on individual Cricketers training within a group that is broadly equivalent to the age and stage they are at. For this reason, we do reserve the right to review with you whether your child may benefit from changing groups on or around the 2nd week of the programme. 

  • U7   - Year 2 & below
  • U8   - Year 3
  • U9   - Year 4
  • U11 - Year 6
  • U12 - Year 7
  • U13 - Year 8
  • U14 - Year 9
  • U16 - Year 10 & 11

For individual queries please email the Coaching Team,

Nicky Phillips – nicky.phillips@southnorth.co.uk , Sol Bell sol.bell@southnorth.co.uk or Paddy Rathbone paddy.rathbone@southnorth.co.uk

Bookings for the course will be availabe from W/C 10th November

To book now please contact Nicky on the email address above as the online booking date has passed

2026 Pre Season Training:

U8's Yr's 1 - 3 & U9's Yr 4: 

Mixed U8's - Friday: 17:00 - 18:15 Starting on Friday 16th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last sessions will be Friday 27th March .  Book Here

Mixed U9's - Friday: 18:15 - 19:30 Starting on Friday 16th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last sessions will be Friday 27th March .  Book Here

Mixed U11's Yr's 5 & 6: - There are two sessions;

Monday: 16:30 - 18:00 Starting on Monday 12th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Monday 23rd March.   Book Here

Saturday: 09:30 - 11.00 Starting on Saturday 17th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Saturday 28th March.   Book Here

Mixed U13's Yr's 7 & 8: - There are two sessions;

Monday: 18:00 - 19:30 Starting on Monday 12th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Monday 23rd March.    Book Here

Saturday 11:00 - 12:30 Starting on Saturday 17th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Saturday 28th March.  Book Here

Boys U14's Yr 9: 

Thursday 18:00 - 19:30 Starting on Thursday 15th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Thursday 26th March.   Book Here

Mixed U16's Yr's 10 & 11:

Thursday 19:30 - 21:00 Starting on Thursday 15th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Thursday 26th March.   Book Here

Girls 11-15 Years: 

Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 Starting on Thursday 15th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Thursday 26th March.   Book Here

Womens Hardball: 

Saturday 12.30 - 14.00 Starting on Saturday 17th Jan for 10 weeks.  The last session will be Saturday 28th March.  Book Here