“I need a new….”

We all still remember, and some of us still get, that warm fuzzy feeling of opening a box with a shiny new pair of boots, or unwrapping the cover round a new tennis racket. With the days getting longer and the sun trying to burst through to dry up the rain we are…yes…we are…getting close to the summer!

Not only does the summer bring (hopefully!) sunshine, but it also signals the start of the warmer outdoor sporting season. With the new season comes the need for a new bat, ball, bag, or racket. All parents know what we mean when we hear the drawn out ‘a’ in “Daddy” or ‘u’ in “Mummy” which is closely followed by “I need a new….”

If you want to save then visit our fiends at www.owzat-cricket.co.uk and enter the code OZFLAC10 to receive an extra 10% off your order. All for just being an Activate Sport customer! Not only will you save but you will get great advice and also be able to choose from the best range of equipment and clothing.

Although it hits us parents in the wallet the irony is that we should be buying new gear for the cricket season. “Why?” I hear you scream, well let me explain.

At Activate Sport, and in cricket with our Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy, we are all about encouraging children to learn and develop new skills and helping them be inspired to have a passion for cricket. Part of this is being able to achieve some success, see improvement in themselves and willingly accept challenges without fear.

So why does this need the new pair of gloves or pads or bat? Quite simply because it will fit! Using last year’s kit was great for last year while it was the right size but now he/she has grown 6 inches they need a bigger size. Using last year’s bat might now look like a toothpick in their hands!

I hear the lightbulbs flashing already – the answer is to buy big this year so it lasts for 2 years! No – I am afraid that is equally debilitating too. Can you imagine wearing shoes that are too big and expecting to run the same 5k time in them than ones that fit? A bat or pads that are too big can be really damaging to a player’s technique and confidence so the real answer is ‘Buy to fit’.

There are plenty of reasons why your son or daughter wants the latest kit or equipment. Their best mate has got a new bat or they really want the same as their hero who is on the poster in the shop. Some kit can be brought out year after year and last longer (for example a bag which most parents end up carrying anyway!) but the message is, for the sake of your child’s cricketing future, buy for now and accept that last year’s bat is now this year’s favourite garden toy.

Of course, with the new expense comes the need to take care of the new kit. Our friends at Owzat Cricket not only offer great discounts but also great advice. Visit them at www.owzat-cricket.co.uk or give them a call on 0800 542 8711 and use the code OZFLAC10 to save 10%. Even better – visit them at their fantastic showroom just off the M1 junction 28 at DE55 2ER.