VICTORIAN JUNIOR CRICKET ACADEMY

- APPLICATIONS are now OPEN and click here to download the APPLICATION FORM

Cricket HQ is the home of the Victorian Junior Cricket Academy (VJCA).  

The academy is an intensive 8 week training programme that runs through June and July and specifically targets ambitious, passionate and very talented players who have played or aspire to play, representative cricket for their local cricket association such as SECA, ECA, ISEC, DDCA or Craig Shield etc.

The Victorian Junior Cricket Academy or VJCA provides a high performance environment for cricketers aged 8 to 14 and offers players both technical and tactical instruction. Our experienced coaching panel have all played high level cricket and they will expose players to the training standards and habits of semi-professional cricketers. They will mentor players to accelerate their learning and development in 3 key areas of the game:
1. TECHNIQUE - the technical aspects 
2. MENTAL - the way they think - psychology and
3. TACTICAL - the way they play the game.

The weekly 75 minute training sessions will cover all aspects of the game including batting, bowling and fielding. The coaches set extremely high training standards for members of our academies and expect the players to work hard in a very professional and disciplined learning environment. The VJCA has a proven record of producing representative players, Premier first XI cricketers and players who have gone on to represent Victoria and Australia in under-age teams. Your child will build confidence and muscle memory plus increase their power game.  

The joy of making a representative team or even a Victorian under-age state team or the heartbreak of missing out starts months, if not years, before the trials. Selection can often come down to one small aspect or technical issue and the Victorian Junior Cricket Academy will help players prepare to compete with the state’s best young cricketers. Being a high-performance training Academy, it's not suitable for every junior cricketer. It is specifically for very talented junior cricketers and as you'll see below in the table, numbers in the VJCA squads are strictly limited. Unlike our 2026 Winter Programme, acceptance into the Academy is not automatic. Players need to be of a high standard to be accepted into the Academy and our selection criteria is designed to ensure no player is a passenger or ‘weak link’ in their group. Every application is reviewed and in some cases, players will be invited to a trial session for assessment. To apply, simply complete the application form and email it to cricket@cricket-hq.com.au  

In 2026 there are 4 separate groups within the Victorian Junior Cricket Academy based on the player's age as at August 31, 2026:

- ROOKIE ROCKETS - 8 and 9 year olds 
- JUNIOR JETS - 10 and 11 year olds 
- PATHWAY PLAYERS - 12, 13 & 14 year olds 
- GIRLS ACADEMY - 11 to 15 Year Old Girls

The Victorian Junior Cricket Academy (Winter Version) includes weekly 75 minute training sessions through June and July with players training in groups of 8 players. Here are details of the groups.

The various Academies will help players prepare for representative cricket and compete with the state’s best young cricketers in their age group. Players will work on the technical, tactical and mental aspects of their game and build confidence. Participants will emerge as better players - guaranteed!  
Talent doesn't guarantee success, it’s earned through dedication, lots of sweat and persistence. Every training session and every extra ball you hit, bowl or catch prepares you for that key moment in a game under pressure. Cricket is the toughest game on earth that punishes mistakes. Stars are are not born or overnight sensations. they are made through hard work and dedication.  Our coaches will make sure every player works very hard!

TECHNICAL	Cricket is a very technical game and our experienced and accredited coaches will put your batting technique under the microscope in our ‘Batting Lab’. They will work through your batting set up that lay the foundations to success. They will help you generate more power and score runs to every part of the ground. You will work through the full array of shots (front foot and back foot) plus address how to play spin. Our coaches will also examine your bowling action with a focus on injury prevention. .
TACTICAL	In the weekly group training sessions we challenge players by creating game day scenarios to simulate pressure situations. The sessions are designed to get players 'match ready' which means working balls into gaps, turning the strike over and hitting boundaries. Batters will improve their running between wickets while bowlers will work on strategies including how to bowl at the ‘death’ and set their own fields. Fast bowlers will be taught how to create more variation in their deliveries and focus on executing their skills by bowling yorkers, slower balls etc. while spin bowlers will work on getting more revolutions on the ball to generate more spin and drift plus develop some variation with balls like the wrong-un, slider and arm ball.
MENTAL	Cricket is a tough game that punishes lapses in concentration and small errors. You need to be focused, have a positive attitude and be a team player. Players also need to build resilience and be mentally strong to deal with game day pressure plus the inevitable 'failures', set backs and disappointment. The game of cricket also teaches players valuable life lessons including, the harder you work, the luckier you get! Success builds confidence (on and off the ground) and cricket is more than a game, it’s a microcosm of life. The Academy helps players to overcome their fears, push themselves to achieve their goals and develop a healthy attitude to competition and failure. Players can expect their match day results to skyrocket and potentially become match winners and leaders with a success mindset.

Watch some Under 12 players at the academy - click here 

You can read TESTIMONIALS from players and parents here.

Please Note:- Unlike our Winter Programme, acceptance into the VJCA is not automatic. Applications for the VJCA close on May 29, 2026 and you need to download the Academy Application Form and email the completed form to:- cricket@cricket-hq.com.au    We will acknowledge receipt of your application and assess the suitability of the player for the Academy. We will the advise acceptance into the Victorian Junior Cricket Academy.