Dallas Youth Cricet League (DYCL) 2021 was organized by the Dallas, TX
Cricket enthusiasts between 7/2/2021 and 7/5/2021. Hill Country Cricket
Association's (HCCA) youth wing particited in this mega cricket event in
central Texas for the first time and gained some invaluable tournament
experience. HCCA Youth sported two teams, one under 11 (U11) and second team
under 13 (U13). There were few more players from HCCA/Austin area that were
part of U15 teams as well.
The youth teams under the able guidance of HCCA, youth committee and
various enthuisastic parents practised for this mega event during weeks of
summer leading to the tournament. U11 were ably coached by Mr Gautam and Mr
Srinivas. U13 were coached by Mr Abhi, Mr Mahender and Mr Sundeep. HCCA Youth
team has been coached by Mr Raghav and his team from Sports Movement as well.
Almost every weekend, HCCA made the ground available to youth teams and the
atmosphere was getting energetic during every session.
Majority of the kids and their parents set off for Plano/Dallas,TX area
on the day before the start date of tournament, 7/1/2021, Thursday. Most of the
kids were housed in the same hotel on the previous day itself and the ethusiasm
was visible amongst the kids and parents alike. Nexy day morning, 7/2/2021,
Friday both U11 and U13 teams showed up on time to the designated ground for
the grand opening ceremony. First day of tournament was cancelled due to the
rain and it dampened some spirits. But the over joyed energy of the kids and
parents propelled kids to go and have some warmup and fun at the indoor cricket
facility called Lords in the north Dallas area. That also gave the kids a sense
of camaradarie as well to begin the tournament.
The DYCL organizers had to reschedule the games that were cancelled on
Friday and squeezed 2 games on Sunday with shortened innings for each game.
All the U11 and U13 teams played 1 game on Saturday (7/3) with 30 overs each
side, 2 games on Sunday (7/4) with 20 overs each side and one final game on
Monday morning (7/5) with 30 overs again. Because of the rain ,the temperature
cooled down quite a bit on Saturday and Sunday AM matches. But humidity went up
and it soon became like pressure cooker. Both U11 and U13 teams played and
coped with the challenging playing conditions very well and showed extra
ordinary courage and resilience. Although all the matches were lost by both U11
and U13 teams, this gave the kids some very important cricketing lessons and
has been an humbling experience.
As an endnote, all the parents, HCCA members of kids and youth are
extremely thankful for HCCA board and youth board for the fantasic planning,
infrastructure availability, coaching and allowing the teams to represent HCCA
flag. This experience has been taken very positively by all the parents and
players as stepping stone to move in the right direction. With new matches,
tournaments coming in future, the HCCA youth wing have continued their efforts
with more rigor and focus. We hope to fly the HCCA Youth flag high in times to
come. We also thank the "DYCL tournament organizers" for well conducted
tournament despite rain interruptions.
Note: The pictures and videos uploaded under "HCCA Youth 2021 in DYCL" are from
this event.
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