Smash Play is here!

Northern Districts Cricket (ND) is excited to be aligning with New Zealand Cricket’s national programme, Smash Play. This initiative is very similar to our previous Super Smash Awareness, Ski ls, Hub, and Festival programmes — but with refreshed branding to reflect the national direction. The same trusted team will continue delivering the programme with the high quality that is expected from ND Cricket.

The shift to the Smash Play programme aligns with ND’s refreshed Community Cricket Delivery Model, one that is built on the guiding principles that reflect our commitment to impact, sustainability, and meaningful engagement.

New Zealand Curriculum - Key Competencies

Smash Play isn’t just about cricket — it’s about supporting learning that connects with the national school curriculum and values: Cooperation - mahi tahi, honesty - pono, and support - tautoko. These values sit at the heart of Smash Play, aligning strongly with the New Zealand Curriculum key competencies of relating to others, participating and contributing, and managing self.

Thinking

Through engaging activities, Tamariki practices working together, showing fairness, and demonstrating positive behaviour — reinforcing the values that schools foster every day. Children wi l learn through playing, and using creative, critical, and cognitive processes to make sense of information, experiences and ideas. Children can apply
these creative, critical and cognitive processes to:

• Develop an understanding of Smash Play games and the key skills focus for each game

• Help with decision making and shaping actions when playing the games

• To build knowledge of their movement during their involvement which can be used in the future

What is Smash Play Junior-Tamariki?

Smash Play junior-tamariki is designed for Tamariki aged 5–12, focusing on delivering quality experiences through gameplay, values, and enjoyment. Every session is packed with more hits, more catches, more action… and most importantly, more fun! It’s a non linear programme, where teachers and Kaiako can select from a wide range of games to build a session which caters to al abilities, various group sizes, or can be played at home.

What is Smash Play Youth-Rangatahi?

Smash Play youth-rangatahi is cricket for secondary school aged players (13 – 18-year-olds). It provides options to play as a team, with a couple of friends or simply challenge yourself. Cricket is no longer just 11 vs 11. It’s a l about the challenge, self improvement and having fun with your friends.

Why a game-based approach?

We know there is not just one way to bat or bowl. Cricket has evolved to include various styles, exciting techniques and many different ways to play. A game-based approach gets everyone involved and enables them to explore, learn and develop. Technique is developed individually, through the design of the games and the challenges faced. Not simply being rigidly taught by a coach.