The Tokio Millennium Re Pee Wee Cricket Camp will start on Saturday at Berkeley Institute, with only a few spots available for the five-year-olds.

The programme is the foundation of the BCB’s youth development programme, which introduces the sport to youngsters in a fun, structured and safe environment.

Tokio Millennium Re have been sponsoring the camp for six years and in that time a large number of players have progressed through to the Tokio Millennium Re under-8 programme. Two graduates are Nirobi Mills, who plays for Bermuda Under-18, and top junior women’s player Leilanni Nesbeth.

“The aims of our youth programmes are to provide a clear pathway for players to progress from the age of five through to the senior level and diverting Bermuda’s at-risk youth from crime and antisocial behaviour through cricket,” said Lloyd Fray, the president of the BCB.

“I am particularly pleased to note we will have a number of newly qualified Level 1 and Level 2 coaches coaching this year alongside many of the National Academy players who started out at this level.

“I would like to thank Tokio Millennium Re who share our strong focus of bettering the lives of Bermuda’s youth through sports. The emphasis of ‘Have a Go’ cricket is on participation and enjoyment and this is a great programme for Bermuda’s little ones to come out and try the sport of cricket.”

Zoe Kempe, of Tokio Millennium, said: “Tokio is so excited to be supporting this for the sixth year, I look forward to coming down and watching the kids play. For us it is important to make it a free programme so that it is available to everybody.”

The four-week programme will run every Saturday for four weeks, finishing on March 18. The children will learn the basic skills of catching, bowling and batting. Sessions for the five-year-olds will be from 1pm to 2pm, and 2.15pm to 3.30pm for the six to seven-year-olds.

On March 4, the BCB is offering an additional session for the parents to learn fun skills and drills.

On the final day of the camp parents will participate in a parent/child game followed by the prize presentation. Five scholarships will be awarded for children to attend the BCB Easter Camp in the last week of March.

A few spots are still available for five-year-olds in the Pee Wee Camp. To register for the free camp visit www.cricket.bm or contact the BCB on 292-8958 or e-mail info@cricket.bm.