RBC hopes to bowl over students with its sponsorship of the Wicket Cricket program.
The program gives physical education teachers and community recreation leaders the means to introduce kids, grades two to six, to the basics of cricket. Those interested can register for the program at rbc.com/cricket to receive a free kit that includes youth-sized bats, balls, wickets and a resource guide on DVD, outlining the rules of the game and practice drills.
The effort builds upon RBC’s commitment to multicultural communities, said Mark Whitmell, director, cultural markets.
“When somebody is new to Canada they’re looking for things that are common, that are familiar, that even bring a sense of home,” he said. Many immigrants love cricket and appreciate companies that can help them play the game in Canada, he adds. “They’ve told us that they’re looking for an organization that respects culture.”
Though the program only launched officially this week, advance word of mouth has resulted in 400 schools from across the country signing up online for the program.
This April RBC will enhance the website so that Wicket Cricket members can download tutorials. The site will also include more coaching information and tips for establishing a house league and tournament play.
