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Daughters & Dads Cricket Research

Background

Daughters and Dads Cricket is an innovative program that draws on father support to improve girls’ cricket enjoyment, participation and retention in the sport. This is achieved through addressing gender-based barriers to participation in the sport.

Study Methods

A group of 34 daughters (aged 7-12 years) and their fathers/father figures from the Newcastle region of NSW, participated in the Daughters and Dads Cricket program during Term 1, 2021. The study measured improvements in cricket skill proficiency, daughters’ enjoyment, intention to keep playing, and long-term retention in cricket.

 

Utilising fathers to support their daughters and enhance their cricket skills may be an innovative approach to addressing traditional socio-cultural views of cricket relating to gender, by improving girls’ enjoyment, participation and long-term retention in in the sport.

Researchers from the University of Newcastle evaluated the impact of Daughters & Dads Cricket and published the results in the International Journal of Sport Science & Coaching.

What were the outcomes?

Significant improvements were found for Daughters':

  • Batting accuracy, distance and technique

  • Accuracy improved by 133%

  • Technique improved by 59%

  • Bowling accuracy, length and distance

  • Accuracy improved by 138%

  • Technique improved by 135%

  • Throwing distance and technique using an over-hand throw

  • Catching technique

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Importantly the program led to a boost in girls 

  • Cricket enjoyment and engagement and understanding

  • Intention to play cricket more frequently and ongoing

  • Retention in sport more broadly

  • Daughters demonstrated greatly improved resilience and social-emotional skills such as self-awareness, social awareness, self-regulation, goal-directed behaviour and optimistic thinking

  • Dads improved their parenting practices and became more involved and engaged with their daughters

  • Both fathers and daughters reported an improved closeness and warmth in their relationship

The research paper won the prestigious, Best Oral Presentation at the 2024 International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference. Check out the paper here: https://tinyurl.com/tvunf2xc

What do the Daughters and Dads think?

Daughters

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Enjoyment with the program: rated 4.9 out of 5​

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Overall program rating: 4.8 out of 5

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9.3 out of 10 girls selected Agree or Strongly Agree to recommend the program to their friends

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97% Agreed or Strongly Agreed to continue playing cricket with dad

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60% Agreed or Strongly Agreed to play in a Junior Cricket team at a local club

Dads

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Enjoyment with the program: rated 4.4 out of 5​

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Overall program rating: 4.6 out of 5

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9.3 out of 10 dads selected Agree or Strongly Agree to

recommend the program to their friends

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89% Agreed or Strongly Agreed to continue playing cricket with their daughter

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53% Agreed or Strongly Agreed to enrol their daughter Cricket

Blast program.

What did they say?
Daughters feedback - 'I enjoyed...
Dads feedback - 'I enjoyed...

Daughters & Dads Cricket is based on the multiple award-winning Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered program.  In rigorous randomised controlled trials, this program has achieved impressive results across a range of domains for families including:

  • Dads and daughters became more physically active

  • Daughters greatly improved their sport skill proficiency, including improvements in kicking, throwing, catching, striking and bouncing

  • Daughters demonstrated greatly improved resilience and social-emotional skills such as self-awareness, social awareness, self-regulation, goal-directed behaviour and optimistic thinking

  • Dads improved their parenting practices and became more involved and engaged with their daughters

  • Both fathers and daughters reported an improved closeness and warmth in their relationship

Results have been published in leading peer reviewed, international academic journals.

Summary

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