Choosing a cricket academy is a multi-year, multi-lakh decision that most parents make on word of mouth alone. The PlayerWalk evaluation scorecard gives you an objective framework — ten criteria that separate a professionally run academy from an expensive babysitting service.
How to use the scorecard?
Visit the academy, ideally unannounced, and watch a session. Then rate it from 1 to 5 on each of ten criteria. The total, out of 50, places the academy in a band from ‘excellent’ to ‘red flags’ but the real value is in the low scores, each of which is a specific question to ask before you enrol.
The ten criteria
- Structured curriculum: a written, age-wise season plan, not just open nets.
- Coach qualifications and ratio: certified coaches and a sensible student-to-coach ratio.
- Feedback and records: regular written progress and recorded attendance and performance.
- Safety and first aid: helmets enforced, first-aid provision, head-knock protocols.
- Workload management: age-appropriate sessions, rest days, bowling-load limits.
- Facilities and equipment: nets, pitch, lighting, water, toilets.
- Match exposure: regular competitive cricket, not just practice.
- Parent communication: clear schedules and someone who answers questions.
- Fee transparency: written structure, receipts, no surprise charges.
- Culture and values: how coaches treat children and whether every child gets attention.
