Armagh Cricket Club

Armagh Cricket Club: Your Instagram Privacy & Security Guide

Armagh Cricket Club — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:54:52 GMT

Armagh Cricket Club: Your Instagram Privacy & Security Guide

A practical guide for all club members, junior parents, and the wider ACC community

Instagram is one of the most widely used social media platforms among our club community - sharing photos and personal moments there every day.

However Instagram’s default privacy settings leave most accounts far more exposed than their owners realise. And this week (July 2026), that exposure became significantly more serious with the launch of Meta’s new Muse Image AI tool - which we cover in detail below.

Working through this guide takes less than fifteen minutes but could make a significant difference to your privacy and security online.

Published: July 2026 - Updated as new information becomes available.

📋 Armagh CC Instagram Security & Privacy Checklist

🔵 Setting 1 - Turn On Two-Factor Authentication

The single most important Instagram security step - identical in principle to our WhatsApp and Facebook guides.

Two-factor authentication means that even if someone obtains your password, they cannot log into your Instagram account without a second verification step - usually a code sent to your phone. Without it, a stolen password is all someone needs to take over your account completely.

📱 Settings → Accounts Centre → Password and Security → Two-factor authentication → select your account → choose your preferred method

Choose text message verification for the simplest option, or an authenticator app for stronger protection.

⚠️ Once enabled, keep your phone accessible when logging in from a new device - you will need it to verify your identity.

🔵 Setting 2 - ⚠️ Opt Out of Meta’s Muse Image AI Tool - Do This First

This is the most urgent setting in this guide. Act on it today.

On 7th July 2026, Meta launched a new AI image generation tool called Muse Image. By default, if your Instagram account is public, anyone in the world can type your username into the Meta AI app and generate entirely new AI images using your photos - without asking your permission and without notifying you.

This means a complete stranger can create realistic AI-generated images of you and share them anywhere online. You will not be told it has happened. Meta has buried the opt-out setting deep in the app rather than making it clearly visible.

How to opt out:

📱 Profile → three lines menu (top right) → Sharing and reuse → toggle off both Posts and Reels under “Allow people to use your content on Instagram and with AI features at Meta”

⚠️ Critical limitations to understand:

Opting out only stops future AI image generation - any images already created using your photos before you change this setting cannot be removed
The setting is still rolling out and may not be visible on all accounts yet - keep checking if you cannot find it
The only way to guarantee complete protection is to switch your account to private
Accounts belonging to under-18s are automatically excluded from this feature - but parents should still check their own accounts

🔵 Setting 3 - Review Your Account Privacy

Public or private - understand what each means for your security.

A public Instagram account means anyone - whether they follow you or not - can see every photo, video, and story you post. A private account means only people you approve can see your content.

Switching to private is the single most effective privacy step available on Instagram. It also automatically excludes your account from the Muse Image AI tool described above.

📱 Settings → Privacy → Account Privacy → toggle on Private Account

⚠️ Switching to private means your existing followers can still see your content, but new followers must be approved by you first.

🔵 Setting 4 - Control Who Can Find You

Limits strangers from discovering your profile.

By default Instagram allows people to find your account using your phone number or email address, and allows search engines to display your profile in results.

📱 Settings → Privacy

Phone number discoverability: Settings → Accounts Centre → Personal details → Contact info → review who can find you by phone number
Email discoverability: Same path as above for email address
Search engine visibility is reduced automatically when you switch to a private account

🔵 Setting 5 - Manage Your Story and Post Sharing

Controls who can share your content beyond your followers.

By default, other Instagram users can share your posts and stories to their own accounts or to direct messages. This can spread your images and content well beyond your intended audience.

📱 Settings → Privacy → Story → toggle off “Allow Resharing to Stories”

📱 Settings → Privacy → Posts → toggle off “Allow others to share your posts to their Stories”

⭐ These settings work alongside the Muse Image opt-out in Setting 2 - use both together for maximum content protection.

🔵 Setting 6 - Review Your Close Friends and Followers Lists

A quick but worthwhile regular check.

Over time most Instagram accounts accumulate followers they have forgotten about or no longer know personally. A regular review of your followers list - particularly for public accounts - is worth doing every few months.

📱 Profile → Followers → review and remove anyone you do not recognise or no longer wish to follow you

You can remove a follower without blocking them by tapping the three dots next to their name and selecting “Remove.”

⚠️ Removed followers are not notified - but they can send a new follow request if your account is public.

🔵 Setting 7 - Control Direct Message Requests

Limits who can send you unsolicited messages.

By default, people who do not follow you can send you message requests on Instagram. Restricting this reduces unwanted contact.

📱 Settings → Privacy → Messages → under “Message requests” select “People you follow” or “No one” depending on your preference

⚠️ This does not affect messages from people you already follow - only new incoming requests from strangers.

🔵 Setting 8 - Review Tagged Photos and Mentions

Controls what appears on your profile without your approval.

By default, anyone can tag you in their photos and posts, and those tags appear on your profile automatically. Switching to manual approval means you review each tag before it appears publicly on your profile.

📱 Settings → Privacy → Tags → toggle on “Manually Approve Tags”

📱 Settings → Privacy → Mentions → select “People you follow” to limit who can mention your username in posts and stories

🔵 Setting 9 - Check Which Third-Party Apps Have Access

Remove apps that no longer need access to your Instagram account.

Many apps request Instagram access during setup and retain it indefinitely - even if you stopped using them years ago. Reviewing and removing unnecessary app access is a simple but worthwhile security step.

📱 Settings → Accounts Centre → Your information and permissions → Apps and websites → review and remove any app you no longer use or do not recognise

⚠️ Removing an app’s Instagram access does not delete your account with that app - it only disconnects it from Instagram.

🔵 Setting 10 - Lock Instagram With Face ID or Fingerprint

Essential if you ever hand your phone to someone else.

Instagram can be locked behind your phone’s biometric security so that even if someone picks up your unlocked phone, they cannot open the app without your face or fingerprint.

📱 Settings → Privacy → Use Face ID / Use Touch ID → toggle on

⭐ Particularly worth enabling if you have private messages or personal content you would not want others to access.

A Special Note for Parents of Junior Players

Instagram’s minimum age is 13. Accounts belonging to users under 18 are automatically excluded from the Muse Image AI tool - but this relies on the birth date entered when the account was created being accurate.

If your child uses Instagram, it is worth:

Checking their account is set to private
Reviewing their followers list together
Discussing what is and is not appropriate to post publicly
Ensuring their birth date on the account is accurate so Meta’s under-18 protections apply correctly

A Final Word

Instagram can be a brilliant way to share cricket memories, follow the club, and stay connected with teammates. But the default settings - particularly following this week’s Muse Image launch - leave most accounts more exposed than their owners realise.

Working through this checklist takes less than fifteen minutes. Please do it today - and share this guide with anyone in the club community who uses Instagram.

Stay safe online - and we’ll see you at The Mall! 🏏

Disclaimer

Please note that Instagram settings, menu locations, and available features may vary depending on your device, operating system, and the version of the Instagram app you have installed. The steps outlined in this guide are accurate at the time of publication but may change as Instagram and Meta update their apps. Armagh Cricket Club accepts no responsibility for any changes to Instagram’s settings or features that occur after publication.

This guide is provided for informational purposes only. For the most up to date security advice, visit Instagram’s official Help Centre at help.instagram.com

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Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

The training playbooks, guidance, and physical conditioning drills published within the Armagh Cricket Club Digital Academy are provided strictly for educational and informational purposes only. While all technical advice and training methodologies are compiled by qualified club coaches to support safe athletic development, participation in cricket involves inherent physical risks.

Armagh Cricket Club, its coaches, and its volunteers accept no liability for any injury, loss, or damage sustained by individuals practising these drills away from structured, official club-supervised sessions.

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.

ARMAGH CRICKET CLUB ACADEMY - The Junior Skills Passport

Armagh Cricket Club — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:34:44 GMT

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Armagh CC Academy: The Junior Skills Passport

Track Your Progress, Celebrate Your Growth

Every great cricketer starts with the basics.

Our Junior Skills Passport helps you track your progress across the four core skills of cricket - catching, throwing, batting, and bowling - and celebrate every step forward on your journey at Armagh CC.

Work through the levels at your own pace. Ask your coach to help you assess where you are - and where you are heading next.

🏅 How the Passport Works

🥉 Bronze Level

I am learning this skill and beginning to understand the basics.

🥈 Silver Level

I can do this skill consistently in practice with good technique.

🥇 Gold Level

I can do this skill confidently under match pressure and help others learn it too.

The Skills

🧤 Skill 1 - Catching

🥉 Bronze

I can catch a gently thrown tennis ball with two hands from 5 metres
I know to watch the ball all the way into my hands
I understand the difference between catching a high ball and a low ball

🥈 Silver

I can catch a thrown cricket ball consistently with soft hands from 10 metres
I can position my body correctly under a high catch before the ball arrives
I rarely drop straightforward catches in practice

🥇 Gold

I can take catches reliably under match pressure - including high balls and sharp chances
I stay calm and focused when a difficult catch comes to me
I can help a younger player understand the basics of catching technique

🎯 Skill 2 - Throwing

🥉 Bronze

I can throw a tennis ball overarm using the Bow and Arrow technique
I know to point my non-throwing shoulder at the target
I follow through across my body after releasing the ball

🥈 Silver

I can throw a cricket ball accurately at a set of stumps from 15 metres
My throws reach the target with pace and control consistently
I am building the strength to throw longer distances accurately

🥇 Gold

I can execute a flat, accurate return throw from the boundary under match pressure
I back myself to attempt a direct hit run out from the inner ring
I can demonstrate the Bow and Arrow technique clearly to a younger player

🏏 Skill 3 - Batting

🥉 Bronze

I hold the bat correctly with both V shapes lined up down the back of the handle
I stand in a balanced, comfortable stance with my head still
I can make contact with a gently thrown tennis ball consistently

🥈 Silver

I can play a straight drive and a pull shot with correct technique in practice
I watch the ball from the bowler’s hand all the way onto the bat
I understand when to play forward and when to play back

🥇 Gold

I can build a small innings in a junior match - rotating strike and protecting my wicket
I make good decisions about which balls to attack and which to leave or defend
I can explain the basics of grip, stance, and footwork to a teammate

⚾ Skill 4 - Bowling

🥉 Bronze

I can bowl a tennis ball overarm with a smooth, repeatable action
I stand side-on and point my non-bowling arm toward the target
I follow through completely after releasing the ball

🥈 Silver

I can bowl six consecutive deliveries hitting a target good-length area in practice
My action is consistent and my coach is happy with my basic technique
I understand the difference between a full delivery and a short delivery

🥇 Gold

I can maintain accurate line and length under match pressure across a full spell
I vary my pace or angle deliberately to challenge the batter
I can explain the four stages of the bowling action to a younger player

📋 My Skills Passport Progress

Ask your coach to initial each level as you achieve it:

⭐ And Remember!

Every level you achieve is a genuine step forward. Celebrate your Bronze as much as your Gold - every great player started exactly where you are now.
Keep working, keep smiling, and keep coming back to The Mall.

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

New to some of the cricket terms above? Visit our Cricket Glossary for clear explanations of every term used across the Academy.

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.

ONE Sunday Afternoon, TWO Back-To-Back Wins for the 3rd XI and TWO Career Bests for Noah Archer

Armagh Cricket Club — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:31:57 GMT

A Fantastic Sunday on The Mall as our 3rd XI Recorded TWO Back-to-Back Wins over Dundrum 2nd XI.

Our victorious 3rd XI after TWO back-to-back wins against Dundrum on Sunday Afternoon

In the first match…

Armagh restricted the visitors to 93-7 with the Wilson trio of Keith, Matthew and Josh claiming two wickets each and Josh Stoops taking one, as runs were hard to accumulate.

In reply, Armagh rattled the runs off in only 9.2 overs as Adam Wilson struck 24 and Noah Archer a career-best 49 not out. The first of two emphatic wins.

First Match Scorecard

The second match…

Match two of the afternoon’s double header saw Dundrum bat in a more fluent fashion as they posted 163-5 as Armagh rotated their line up. Josh Wilson again impressed with the ball taking 4 for 33 with Josh Stoops being the other wicket taker.

Armagh were batting second again - and continued to do so with great gusto.

Second Match Scorecard

Well done and congratulations to Noah Archer

Having narrowly missed a half century in the first match Noah Archer set the record straight in emphatic style - plundering 85 not out from only 43 balls against the Dundrum attack. His innings included 10 boundaries and 4 towering Sixes.

Two career best scores in the one day. A rare occasion indeed.

Well batted Noah!

Noah Archer - ONE Sunday afternoon - TWO matches, TWO career-best scores with the bat… Some days are just yours! A day to remember at The Mall.

for more club news click below…

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ARMAGH CRICKET CLUB ACADEMY - Parent & Spectator Code of Conduct

Armagh Cricket Club — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:08:12 GMT

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Armagh CC Academy: Parent & Spectator Code of Conduct

How Great Cricket Parents Make a Difference

Junior cricket at Armagh CC is built on enjoyment, development, and positive experience. The players on the field are learning - and the environment you create from the boundary has a profound effect on how much they enjoy the game and how quickly they develop.

This is not a list of rules. It is a set of principles that the best cricket parents and spectators at every club in the world naturally live by. We are proud of the culture at The Mall and with your help we will make it even better.

📋 The Armagh CC Boundary Principles

🟢 Cheer every player - not just your own child

The young player at cover point who dives to save a boundary deserves exactly the same cheer as the batter who hits a six.
When the whole boundary applauds the whole team, every child feels valued - not just the ones who scored runs or took wickets.

🟢 Celebrate effort as loudly as achievement

A child who sprints hard for a ball they cannot quite reach deserves a cheer.
A bowler who runs in with full commitment despite being hit for a boundary deserves encouragement.
Effort is entirely within every player’s control - results often are not. Celebrate what they can control.

🟢 Let the coaches coach

Our coaches have the match.
Calling instructions from the boundary - even well-meaning ones - can confuse young players who are already receiving guidance from their coach.
Trust the coaching team and let the players make their own decisions on the field.
That decision-making is exactly what we are developing.

🟢 Stay positive after mistakes

Dropped catches, missed run outs, and loose deliveries happen at every level of cricket - including international.
When a child makes a mistake, the most powerful thing you can do from the boundary is smile, clap, and move on.
A child who looks to the boundary after a mistake and sees a calm, encouraging face will reset far faster than one who sees disappointment.

🟢 Respect the umpires and opposition

Junior umpires and volunteer officials are doing their best in a demanding role.
Disagreements with decisions happen - but they are never worth voicing from the boundary.
Model the respect you want your child to show, and they will show it naturally.

🟢 Respect the result - both results

Winning with grace and losing with dignity are two of the most important life lessons cricket teaches.
Celebrate your team’s victories warmly and acknowledge the opposition’s good play genuinely.
The handshake at the end of a junior match is one of sport’s finest traditions - honour it from the boundary too.

A Final Word

The most powerful thing any cricket parent can say to their child after a match - win or lose, whatever happened out in the middle - is simply:

“I loved watching you play today.”

Nothing else comes close. It tells your child that your love and pride are not conditional on their performance - and that is the foundation from which confident, happy cricketers grow.

Thank you for being part of the Armagh CC family. We are delighted to have you on the boundary. 🏏

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

New to some of the cricket terms above? Visit our Cricket Glossary for clear explanations of every term used across the Academy.

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.

ARMAGH CRICKET CLUB ACADEMY - Junior Match Day Guide

Armagh Cricket Club — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:52:30 GMT

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Armagh CC Academy: Junior Match Day Guide

Everything You Need for a Great Day at The Mall

Your first junior match day at Armagh CC is an exciting moment. This guide tells you exactly what to bring, what to expect, and how junior cricket works - so you can focus on enjoying the game.

Parents and guardians - this guide is for you too. A quick read before the first match makes everything much clearer from the boundary!

📋 Match Day Kit Checklist

✅ Cricket kit - clean and ready
✅ Cricket bat - if you have one (the club has spare bats available)
✅ Batting pads - if you have your own (club spares available)
✅ Batting gloves - if you have your own (club spares available)
✅ Helmet - the club provides helmets for all junior players
✅ Trainers or cricket shoes with rubber soles - no metal spikes for junior cricket
✅ Water bottle - labelled with your name, filled before you arrive
✅ Snacks - a banana, oat bar, or fruit for between innings
✅ Sun cream - already applied before arriving at the ground
✅ A warm layer - Armagh weather is always unpredictable!

⏰ When to Arrive

Arrive at least 20 minutes before the match starts. This gives you time to:

Register with your coach
Complete the warm-up with your teammates
Get your kit sorted without rushing
Feel calm and ready before the first ball is bowled

🏏 How Junior Matches Work

Junior cricket at Armagh CC uses a Pairs Cricket format. Here is what that means in simple terms:

🟢 Every player bats

Players bat in pairs for a set number of overs - typically 2 to 4 overs per pair.
When your pair’s overs are up, the next pair comes in. Nobody gets left out.

🟢 Getting out does not end your pair’s innings

If you are dismissed, your pair continues batting.
The fielding team earns bonus runs instead - so wickets still matter, but nobody has to walk off and sit out.

🟢 Every player bowls

All players bowl an equal share of overs across the match.
Your coach will tell you when your over is coming so you can prepare.

🟢 Every player fields

Fielders rotate positions clockwise after every over - so nobody is stuck on the boundary for the whole match.

🟢 The result matters less than the experience

Junior cricket is designed for learning, participation, and enjoyment.
Coaches focus on effort, attitude, and improvement — not just the scoreboard.

📊 Understanding the Scoreboard

Junior scoreboards can look a little different from adult cricket. Here is what the key numbers mean:

Runs - the total number of runs your team has scored
Wickets - the number of times a batter has been dismissed
Overs - how many groups of six balls have been bowled
Par Score - in some formats, the score both teams need to be level at any point

⭐ If you are unsure about anything on the scoreboard during the match, just ask your coach between overs.

🤝 After the Match

Win or lose, the match ends the same way at Armagh CC:

Both teams line up and shake hands — players and umpires
The junior captain leads three cheers for the opposition
Players gather for a brief team chat with the coach
Everyone helps tidy up kit and equipment before leaving

This is one of cricket’s greatest traditions and one of the things that makes our sport special.

⭐ And Remember!

The most important thing about match day is simple - enjoy it!
Play hard, support your teammates, and remember that every match is a chance to learn something new.

See you at The Mall! 🏏

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

New to some of the cricket terms above? Visit our Cricket Glossary for clear explanations of every term used across the Academy.

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.

Armagh U13s Take Centre Stage With Their Thursday Night Win Over Lurgan

Armagh Cricket Club — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:19:39 GMT

It was our U13s turn to take centre stage as they took on a strong Lurgan side on The Mall yesterday evening…

In glorious sunshine, the U13s were hopeful in continuing their unbeaten season.

Winning the toss, Armagh elected to bat first and produced a composed batting display, posting an impressive 172-4 from their 20 overs against a decent bowling attack.

Oscar Steenson (51 retired out) and Dylan Coppard (27no) led the way with valuable contributions from Will Steenson (18) and Tom Kindred (14).

A solid performance in the field was required to ensure Lurgan had an uphill battle to overcome the first innings score…..and the team certainly delivered on that front.

With ball in hand, Tom Kindred (3 for 9) and Dylan Coppard (1 for 8 ) set the tone in the opening overs by reducing Lurgan to 17 for 4; with the damage done to the opposition’s batting line-up, the rest of the bowlers were able to maintain similar pressure with Will Steenson (2 for 6), Larkin Polack (2 for 11) and Jack Eakin (1 for 0) picking up wickets; adding to the impressive bowling performance was some sharp fielding (including a fantastic catch taken by Harry Halligan along with Harry McMahon and Will Steenson combining for a superb runout), all of which culminated in a comprehensive victory as Lurgan were bowled out for 57.

Scorecard

An excellent all-round team performance and the team should be very pleased with the efforts - definitely up there as one of the best junior performances I’ve seen in recent years.

Well done to both teams for a competitive game played in great spirit, and thank you to Lurgan for making the trip to The Mall.

Next up for the U13s are Lisburn (Away) this evening - all support welcome

Armagh U13s on The Mall after their win over Lurgan

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Armagh U15s Pull Off A Fantastic Win Over Lurgan On The Mall

Armagh Cricket Club — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:40:41 GMT

Congratulations to our U15 team who had a fantastic victory over Lurgan on Tuesday night.

Batting first, Armagh made a competitive 124-4 in their 20 overs. It did not start well as the hosts were 5 for 2 after 2 overs. However Daniel Beggs (28) and Skipper Charlie Abbott had other ideas, both lads batted in a very mature fashion and scored in a robust manner against a good Lurgan bowling attack.

Charlie went on to score his first half century and retired at 52 not out as per the competition rules. A proud moment for any cricketer as the photo highlights.

In reply Armagh restricted Lurgan to 93-7 in their allotted 20 overs. Daniel Beggs and Oscar Steenson took 2 wickets each, Dylan Coppard and Charlie Abbott claimed one as did Harry Halligan who impressed on his under 15 debut.

A great win for the young lads.

Armagh U15: 124-4 ( C Abbott 52 retired not out, D Beggs 28)

Lurgan U15: 93-7 (O Steenson 2-0, D Beggs 2-16, C Abbott 1-3, H Halligan 1-5, D Coppard 1-18)

Scorecard

Next up for our U15 stars is the Graham Cup and an away encounter with Waringstown, date to be confirmed…

Armagh U15s on The Mall after their victory ov er Lurgan!

Skipper Charlie Abbott went on to score his first half century and retired at 52 not out as per the competition rules. A proud moment for any cricketer!

for more club news click below…

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Armagh Cricket Club: Your Facebook Privacy and Security Guide

Armagh Cricket Club — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:53:22 GMT

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Armagh Cricket Club: Your Facebook Privacy and Security Guide

A practical guide for all club members, junior parents, and the wider ACC community

Facebook is one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, and for many Armagh Cricket Club members it is the primary way they follow club news, share match photos, and stay connected with the wider cricket community.

However, Facebook’s default privacy settings are historically among the most open of any major platform.

Most accounts were set up years ago - often in a hurry - and the default settings at the time shared far more information publicly than most people realised.

The platform has changed significantly since then, but those original settings often remain unchanged on older accounts.

The good news is that a ten-minute review of your Facebook privacy settings can significantly reduce your exposure. Here is everything worth checking - in plain language, with the exact steps to follow.

📋 Armagh CC Facebook Security & Privacy Checklist

🔵 Setting 1 - Turn On Two-Factor Authentication

The single most important Facebook security step - identical in principle to WhatsApp’s two-step verification.

Two-factor authentication means that even if someone gets hold of your password, they cannot log into your Facebook account without a second verification step - usually a code sent to your phone. Without it, a stolen or guessed password is all someone needs to take over your account completely.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Security and Login → Two-Factor Authentication → Edit → Get Started

Choose text message verification as your method if you want the simplest option, or use an authenticator app for stronger protection.

⚠️ Once enabled, keep your phone accessible when logging in from a new device - you will need it to verify your identity.

🔵 Setting 2 - Review Who Can See Your Posts

One of the most commonly overlooked Facebook settings - and one of the most important.

Facebook’s default audience for posts is often set to Friends, but many older accounts may still have posts set to Public - meaning anyone on the internet can read them, whether they are your friend or not. It is worth checking both your default setting for future posts and reviewing your past posts.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Privacy → Your Activity

Who can see your future posts - set this to Friends unless you have a specific reason for a wider audience
Limit the audience for old posts - this option changes all previous Public posts to Friends in one click. Worth doing if you have years of posts you have never reviewed.

⚠️ This cannot be undone individually once applied - it changes all past public posts to Friends at once.

🔵 Setting 3 - Control Who Can Find You on Facebook

Limits strangers from discovering your profile through search engines or phone number lookups.

By default, Facebook allows search engines like Google to link directly to your profile, and allows anyone who has your phone number or email address to find your account. Both of these are worth restricting.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Privacy → How People Find and Contact You

Who can send you friend requests - change to Friends of Friends
Who can look you up using your email address - change to Friends
Who can look you up using your phone number - change to Friends
Do you want search engines to link to your profile - select No

⚠️ Changing these settings will not affect existing friends or connections - only new searches.

🔵 Setting 4 - Review Your Profile Information Visibility

Check what personal information is publicly visible on your profile.

Your Facebook profile may contain your phone number, email address, date of birth, hometown, workplace, and relationship status - all of which may be visible to people outside your friends list without you realising. Each piece of information has its own audience setting.

📱 Your Profile → Edit Profile → scroll through each section and check the audience setting next to each item

For each item, consider whether it genuinely needs to be visible beyond your friends. Phone numbers and email addresses in particular are worth setting to Only Me or Friends at most.

⭐ Your date of birth is a commonly used piece of information for identity verification - worth restricting to Friends or Only Me.

🔵 Setting 5 - Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity

One of Facebook’s least-known but most significant privacy settings.

Even when you are not using Facebook, the platform tracks your activity across other websites and apps through embedded tracking tools. This information is used to build a detailed profile of your interests and behaviour for advertising purposes. The Off-Facebook Activity tool allows you to see this data and disconnect it from your account.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Your Facebook Information → Off-Facebook Activity → Manage Future Activity → Disconnect Future Activity

This does not delete the data Facebook has already collected, but it stops future off-platform activity from being linked to your account going forward.

⚠️ Disconnecting off-Facebook activity may make some ads less relevant but will not affect your ability to use Facebook normally.

🔵 Setting 6 - Review App and Website Permissions

Many apps and websites you connected to Facebook years ago may still have access to your account.

When you log into a third-party app or website using Facebook - “Log in with Facebook” - you grant that app access to certain parts of your profile. These permissions often remain active indefinitely even if you stopped using the app years ago. It is worth reviewing and removing any apps you no longer use or recognise.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Apps and Websites

Remove any app or website you do not recognise or no longer use. Pay particular attention to apps that have access to your friends list, posts, or personal information.

⚠️ Removing an app’s Facebook access does not delete your account with that app - it only disconnects it from Facebook.

🔵 Setting 7 - Turn Off Facial Recognition

A setting many people are unaware exists.

Facebook’s facial recognition feature automatically identifies you in photos uploaded by other people and suggests that you be tagged. While this can be convenient, it also means Facebook is building a detailed map of your face and its appearance across thousands of photographs. Turning it off prevents this.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Face Recognition → Do you want Facebook to be able to recognise you in photos and videos → No

⚠️ Note that this setting is being phased out in some regions as Facebook updates its systems - check whether it is still available on your account.

🔵 Setting 8 - Review Your Location Settings

Controls whether Facebook can access and store your location data.

Facebook requests access to your device’s location for features like checking in to places and finding local events. However, background location tracking goes beyond this - it can track your movements even when you are not actively using the app. This is worth restricting at both the Facebook settings level and your phone’s system settings.

📱 Within Facebook:
Settings & Privacy → Settings → Location → Location Access → set to While Using or Never

📱 On your phone:

iPhone: Settings → Facebook → Location → While Using the App
Android: Settings → Apps → Facebook → Permissions → Location → Allow only while using

⭐ Disabling background location access does not affect your ability to use Facebook normally - it simply stops the app tracking your movements when you are not actively using it.

🔵 Setting 9 - Check Your Active Sessions

See every device that is currently logged into your Facebook account.

Facebook keeps a record of every device and browser that is logged into your account. If you have ever logged in on a friend’s computer, a work device, or an old phone you no longer own, those sessions may still be active. Reviewing and ending unfamiliar sessions is a quick and important security step.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Security and Login → Where You’re Logged In

Review the list carefully. If you see any device or location you do not recognise, select it and choose Log Out. You can also select Log Out Of All Sessions to start fresh across all devices.

⚠️ This will log you out on all devices simultaneously - make sure you have your password and two-factor authentication set up before doing this.

🔵 Setting 10 - Set Up a Trusted Contact for Account Recovery

A safety net in case you ever lose access to your account.

Facebook allows you to nominate trusted contacts - friends who can help you recover your account if you are ever locked out. This is worth setting up now rather than trying to arrange it in a panic after a problem occurs.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Settings → Security and Login → Choose 3 to 5 Friends to Contact if You Get Locked Out → Edit

Choose people you trust completely and who are themselves active Facebook users.

⭐ Your trusted contacts do not have access to your account - they simply receive a recovery code on your behalf if you ever need one.

A Note on Facebook’s Privacy Checkup Tool

Facebook has its own built-in Privacy Checkup tool that walks you through several of the settings above in a simplified format. It is a useful starting point but does not cover everything in this guide - use it as a complement to the steps above rather than a replacement.

📱 Settings & Privacy → Privacy Checkup

A Final Word

Facebook can be a genuinely useful tool for staying connected with your club community - but only if your account is set up to protect you properly. Working through this checklist takes less than fifteen minutes and significantly reduces your exposure to the most common privacy and security risks on the platform.

If you have any questions about any of these settings, feel free to ask at training or get in touch through the club’s usual channels.

Stay safe online - and we’ll see you at The Mall! 🏏

Disclaimer

Please note that Facebook settings, menu locations, and available features may vary depending on your device, operating system, and the version of the Facebook app you have installed. The steps outlined in this guide are accurate at the time of publication but may change as Facebook updates its app. Armagh Cricket Club accepts no responsibility for any changes to Facebook’s settings or features that occur after publication.

This guide is provided for informational purposes only. For the most up to date security advice, visit Facebook’s official Help Centre at facebook.com/help

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.

Armagh Cricket Club: Your WhatsApp Privacy and Security Guide

Armagh Cricket Club — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:19:48 GMT

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

Armagh Cricket Club: Your WhatsApp Privacy and Security Guide

A practical guide for all club members, junior parents, and the wider ACC community

In 2026, WhatsApp is at the heart of how Armagh Cricket Club communicates.

From senior squad updates and training reminders to junior parents’ groups and committee discussions, almost everything runs through it.

BUT, most of us set up WhatsApp years ago and have never looked at the privacy settings since.

Over time, your phone number has likely been shared across multiple group chats with people you barely know, your profile picture may be visible to complete strangers, and a number of quiet security gaps may have opened up without you realising.

The good news is that fixing all of this takes less than ten minutes. Here is everything you need to check - explained in plain language with the exact steps to follow on your phone.

📋 Armagh CC WhatsApp Security Checklist

🔵 Setting 1 - Turn On Two-Step Verification

The single most important WhatsApp security setting - and the one most people haven’t enabled.

Two-step verification adds a personal PIN to your WhatsApp account. Without it, anyone who gets access to your SIM card or phone number can register your WhatsApp account on a new device and lock you out completely. With it enabled, they cannot - even with your SIM in their hand.

How to enable it:
📱 Settings → Account → Two-step verification → Turn On

Choose a six-digit PIN you will remember and add a backup email address. WhatsApp will occasionally ask you to enter your PIN to keep it fresh in your memory.

⚠️ Do not forget your PIN. If you lose access to your account and cannot remember it, recovery is very difficult without the backup email.

🔵 Setting 2 - Control Who Can Add You to Groups

Particularly relevant for club members whose numbers have been shared across multiple WhatsApp groups.

By default, anyone on WhatsApp who has your number can add you to a group without asking your permission first. Changing this to contacts only means only people you have saved in your phone can add you directly - everyone else must send you a private invite first, which you can accept or decline.

How to change it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → Groups → My Contacts

This is especially worth setting if your number has been shared widely through club groups over the years.

🔵 Setting 3 - Limit Who Sees Your Profile Picture

By default, your profile picture is visible to anyone who has your number - even complete strangers.

If your number has ever appeared in a group chat alongside people you don’t know personally, those people can see your profile picture. Limiting this to your contacts only is a simple but effective layer of privacy.

How to change it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → Profile Photo → My Contacts

You can also exclude specific contacts from seeing your picture within this setting, which is useful if you want extra control.

⭐ WhatsApp also has a feature that prevents others from taking a screenshot of your profile picture - this is enabled automatically and cannot be turned off by other users.

🔵 Setting 4 - Hide Your Phone Number With a Username

A relatively new WhatsApp feature that is being gradually rolled out to all users.

WhatsApp was originally built around phone numbers, which is why your number gets shared every time you appear in a group. A new username feature now allows people who are not in your contacts to see a username instead of your phone number - giving you an extra layer of anonymity in larger group chats.

How to enable it:
📱 Settings → Profile → Username

Note that your phone number will still be visible to people you have saved as contacts - the username only applies to people outside your contacts list.

⚠️ This feature is still being rolled out and may not be available on all devices yet.

🔵 Setting 5 - Protect Your IP Address in Calls

Relevant if you regularly make or receive WhatsApp calls.

When you make a WhatsApp call, it connects directly between your device and the other person’s device - what is known as a peer-to-peer connection. This means your IP address, which can be used to approximate your location, could potentially be visible to the person you are calling if they are using network analysis tools.

Enabling this setting routes your calls through WhatsApp’s own servers instead, masking your IP address completely.

How to enable it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → Advanced → Protect IP address in calls

⚠️ This may slightly reduce call audio quality and increase data usage as a trade-off.

🔵 Setting 6 - Disable Link Previews

A small but worthwhile privacy adjustment.

When someone sends you a link on WhatsApp, your phone automatically generates a preview of that website - the title, image, and description that appears below the link. Generating that preview requires your device to make a request to the website behind the link, which can expose your IP address in the process.

Turning off link previews stops this from happening. Links will still be clickable - they will just appear as plain text without the preview image.

How to disable it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → Advanced → Disable link previews

⚠️ Links become slightly less informative without previews, but the privacy benefit is worth it for most users.

🔵 Setting 7 - Control Your Last Seen and Online Status

One of the most commonly adjusted WhatsApp settings - and for good reason.

By default, anyone can see when you were last active on WhatsApp and whether you are currently online. Turning this off gives you the freedom to use the app on your own terms without feeling pressure to respond immediately - particularly useful during match days, training sessions, or family time.

How to change it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → Last Seen and Online

You can set this separately for everyone, your contacts only, or specific contacts. You can also hide your current online status entirely.

⚠️ If you hide your own last seen and online status, you will no longer be able to see other people’s either.

🔵 Setting 8 - Review Your Read Receipts

The blue tick - and whether others can see when you have read their messages.

Read receipts are the two blue ticks that appear when you have read a message. Turning them off means your ticks will remain grey even after you have read a message, giving you more privacy around when and whether you have seen something.

How to change it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → Read Receipts → toggle off

⚠️ Turning off read receipts also means you will not be able to see when others have read your messages. Note that read receipts cannot be disabled for group chats - they will always show in groups regardless of this setting.

🔵 Setting 9 - Lock WhatsApp With Face ID or Fingerprint

An essential setting if you ever hand your phone to someone else.

WhatsApp can be locked behind your phone’s biometric security - Face ID or fingerprint - so that even if someone picks up your unlocked phone, they cannot open WhatsApp without your face or fingerprint. You can set a timer for how quickly the lock activates after you leave the app.

How to enable it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → App Lock → toggle on

This is particularly worth enabling if you have sensitive club information, committee discussions, or personal conversations in your WhatsApp.

🔵 Setting 10 - Check Which Apps Have Access to Your WhatsApp Data

A broader phone-level check worth doing while you are at it.

While you are reviewing your WhatsApp settings, it is worth taking two minutes to check which apps on your phone have access to your contacts, microphone, and camera. Many apps request these permissions during installation and never need them again.

On iPhone:
📱 Settings → Privacy & Security → then check Contacts, Microphone, and Camera individually

On Android:
📱 Settings → Apps → then select individual apps and check Permissions

Remove access from any app that does not genuinely need it.

A Note on WhatsApp’s Strict Account Settings

For anyone who wants the maximum possible level of protection - or if you are a club official who handles sensitive member information - WhatsApp now offers a Strict Account Settings mode.

Enabling this automatically applies the most secure version of every setting: it blocks media and attachments from unknown contacts, disables link previews, silences calls from strangers, and hides your last seen and online status.

How to enable it:
📱 Settings → Privacy → Advanced → Strict Account Settings

⚠️ This mode is feature-limited and is primarily designed for public figures or anyone who feels at particular risk. For most club members, applying the individual settings above will be more than sufficient.

A Final Word

None of these changes are complicated and most take less than thirty seconds each. Working through the full list should take you no more than ten minutes - but the privacy and security benefit lasts indefinitely.

WhatsApp is an outstanding communication tool for a club like ours, and we want every member, parent, and supporter to feel safe and confident using it.

If you have any questions about any of these settings, feel free to ask at training or get in touch through the club’s usual channels.

Stay safe online - and we’ll see you at The Mall! 🏏

Disclaimer

Please note that WhatsApp settings, menu locations, and available features may vary depending on your device, operating system, and the version of WhatsApp you have installed. The steps outlined in this guide are accurate at the time of publication but may change as WhatsApp updates its app. Armagh Cricket Club accepts no responsibility for any changes to WhatsApp’s settings or features that occur after publication.

This guide is provided for informational purposes only. For the most up to date security advice, visit WhatsApp’s official Help Centre at faq.whatsapp.com

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.

Armagh Cricket Club - 2026 Fixtures

Armagh Cricket Club — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:45:00 GMT

LIVE SCORES

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AWAY

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UPCOMING…

HOME FIXTURES

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All Support Welcome!

Friday 17th July 2026

6.00pm - Armagh 5th XI vs Lurgan 4th XI

Saturday 18th July 2026

12.00pm - Armagh 2nd XI vs Bangor 3rd XI
1.00pm - Armagh 4th XI vs Muckamore 5th XI

Monday 20th July 2026

6.00pm - Armagh U13 vs Instonians U13B

Friday 24th July 2026

6.00pm - Armagh 5th XI vs Victoria 5th XI

Saturday 25th July 2026

12.00pm - Armagh 1st XI vs Cregagh 1st XI
1.00pm - Armagh 4th XI vs Laurelvale 3rd XI

Saturday 1st August 2026

1.00pm - Armagh 2nd XI vs Cooke Collegians 2nd XI
1.00pm - Armagh 3rd XI vs Dunmurry 2nd XI

Saturday 8th August 2026

12.00pm - Armagh 1st XI vs Carrickfergus 1st XI

Saturday 15th August 2026

1.00pm - Armagh 2nd XI vs Instonians 3rd XI

Saturday 22nd August 2026

12.00pm - Armagh 1st XI vs Saintfield 1st XI

Saturday 5th September 2026

12.00pm - Armagh 1st XI vs Derriaghy 1st XI

AWAY FIXTURES

Back to Home Fixtures

Saturday 18th July 2026

12.00pm - Lurgan 1st XI vs Armagh 1st XI (Pollack Park)

Saturday 25th July 2026

1.00pm - Ballymena 2nd XI vs Armagh 2nd XI (Ballymena Cricket Club Ground)

Sunday 26th July 2026

1.00pm - Downpatrick 2nd XI vs Armagh 3rd XI (The Meadow)

Saturday 1st August 2026

12.00pm - Cooke Collegians 1st XI vs Armagh 1st XI (Pirrie Park)

Saturday 8th August 2026

1.00pm - Carrickfergus 2nd XI vs Armagh 2nd XI (Middle Road)

Saturday 15th August 2026

12.00pm - Donacloney Mill 1st XI vs Armagh 1st XI (The Factory Ground)
1.00pm - Eniskillen vs Armagh 5th XI (Lower Celtic Park)

Saturday 22nd August 2026

1.00pm - Templepatrick 3rd XI vs Armagh 3rd XI (The Cloughan)

Sunday 23rd August 2026

1.00pm - BISC 4th XI vs Armagh 4th XI (Billy Neill’s Playing Fields, Dundonald)

Saturday 29th August 2026

12.00pm - Templepatrick 1st XI vs Armagh 1st XI (The Cloughan)
1.00pm - Instonians 4th XI vs Armagh 2nd XI (Shaw’s Bridge Lower Ground)

Sunday 6th August 2026

1.00pm - Derriaghy 3rd XI vs Armagh 3rd XI (Queensway)

⭐️ Details are subject to change and of course, weather conditions - we will keep you as up to date as we can!

Thanks To Our Main Sponsors…

and to our Player Sponsors…

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

How To Add Us To The Home Screen Of Your Mobile

Armagh Cricket Club — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:40:00 GMT

Stay up to date with Armagh Cricket Club

The best way to keep up with everything at the club is to save our website directly to your phone or computer - giving you one-tap access to fixtures, match reports, club news and more…

How to save Armagh Cricket Club to your home screen

For the best experience, we highly recommend adding our website to your phone’s home screen. It gives you one-tap access whenever you need it - just like an app but without needing to download or install anything.

📱 On your phone

Open our website in your browser, tap the Share button (Safari) or the three dots ⋮ (Chrome), then select “Add to Home Screen”
iPhone users: when prompted, toggle OFF “Open as Web App” - this step
keeps your normal browser navigation working as expected.

Doing this places our website on your home screen just like an app - no downloading or anything else required.

Armagh C.C. - looking good on a home screen near you!

📌 A quick note on the Substack app

When visiting our site you may occasionally see a prompt to download the Substack app. You can ignore this - in fact, viewing in your browser gives you a much better experience of the website, with no app clutter or tracking, no notifications, no ads, and no account required.

💻 On your computer

Open the website, press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac) to bookmark us for quick access, or simply click the ⭐ in your address bar.

Simply bookmark us or save us to your home screen and we are always just one tap away!

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Armagh Cricket Club - Noticeboard

Armagh Cricket Club — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:45:00 GMT

click on a poster for more info

Click Here For Summer Scheme Info

Click Here For Power Cricket Infor

and to our Player Sponsors…

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Winning Ways Continue For The U11s

Armagh Cricket Club — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:13:23 GMT

Monday evening saw the U11s take on Waringstown at The Lawn in the hope of extending their cup run and in a tightly contested affair, Armagh came out on top with a 7 run victory.

Batting first, Armagh posted 283 for 4 with Waringstown scoring 276 for 7.

Scorecard

With the victory pendulum swinging both ways, the last few overs proved to be the turning point as Armagh snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

A solid batting performance (with Tom McMahon and Charlie Russell followed by Harry Beggs and Zach Dally leading the way with partnerships of 22 and 24 respectively) was underpinned by some decent bowling and fielding.

From a bowling perspective, Isaac Villiers (2 overs, 1 wicket for 5 runs) and Charlie Russell (2 overs, 2 wickets for 7 runs) were the pick of bowling attacked and Charlie Russell (taking a fine caught and bowled), Matthew Villiers (taking a tremendous catch at mid-off) and the ever reliable Zach Dally (nabbing a stumping too) setting the example in the field.

Despite a minor blip where 25 runs were scored in 3 overs, putting Waringstown ahead at the end of the 17th over, tight bowling from Liam Bassi (1 wicket for 6 runs), James Atkinson (1 wicket for 6 runs) and Tom McMahon (1 wicker for no runs) saw Armagh turn it around to ensure victory.

Thank you to Waringstown for hosting us and a thoroughly entertaining game……we look forward to a rematch in next week’s league match.

A huge well done to the team - they worked hard for the result and should be incredibly pleased with their efforts.....all superbly captured by Mark Dally.

Next match sees our U11s away to Victoria tomorrow, Wednesday 24th June - where hopefully, we can continue with our winning ways

for more club news click below…

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© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Girls Cricket! - An Introduction - Give It A Try At Our Fun Evenings On The Mall

Armagh Cricket Club — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Introduction to Girls Cricket

23rd, 24th, 25th, 29th, 30th June & 1st July

5.00pm - 6.00pm | The Mall

Open to ALL Girls aged 12-15 - Cricket, Music, Good Vibes - COME AND JOIN US!

With Summer almost upon us, we’re excited to share that our club will be running a fun, girls-only introduction to cricket that focuses on enjoyment, confidence, and trying something new - rather than serious competition.

Armagh Cricket Club is proud to be running a Cricket Ireland initiative “It’s Wicket” where the programme is all about getting girls involved in cricket in a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment - perfect for beginners or anyone looking to give the sport a try!

For more details and registration CLICK HERE or see the poster below.

If you know any girls between ages 12–15 who might be interested, please spread the word!

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Rare Three Match Day On The Mall This Saturday 20th June

Armagh Cricket Club — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:03:19 GMT

Saturday 20th June sees a rare occasion when we have three senior home fixtures on The Mall.

Due to the cup draws the 2nd XI and 3rd XI will join the 1st XI in playing on The Mall on Saturday 20th June.

All, of course, is very weather dependent - but… in order of play…

~~The~~ ~~1st XI vs Templepatrick 1st XI~~ ~~will start at~~ ~~12.00pm~~
The 2nd XI vs Instonians 3rd XI will start at 2.00pm
The 3rd XI vs Ardent Blues 3rd XI will start proceedings at 3.15pm

From 1.00pm there will be a Barbecue operating with all proceeds going to our chosen charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. The BBQ maestro Stan Allardyce will be on duty with the cooking tongs - so what more could anyone ask for?

Big thanks to all those who have helped out behind the scenes this week. If you are around the mall tomorrow call in for some refreshments, watch some cricket and support a great cause.

Click Here For Upcoming Fixtures

for more club news click below…

© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Third Time A Treat for Armagh U15s

Armagh Cricket Club — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:19:32 GMT

An excellent win for the Armagh U15 side last night at Cregagh in the Graham Cup first round.

This was the third attempt to play the game after the previous two fell foul of the weather!

Batting first, the hosts scored 123 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. Armagh stuck to the task well with a tidy bowling and fielding display. Jack Eakin led the way taking 2 wickets whilst Daniel Beggs, Oscar Steenson and Larkin Polack took one each.

The chase was always very much a strong possibility and the top order must take great credit for the way they set about obtaining the necessary runs. Oscar Steenson, provided a batting master class, retiring on 50 not out (as per the competition rules), his innings included 10 sublime boundaries in 31 balls faced, and Daniel Beggs who made an impressive 22 not out.

Skipper Matthew Kerr, must have been in a rush up the M1 as he plundered a colossal 41 not out in only 20 balls that included 5 towering “6’s” to seal victory. All in all a great display by a team who bounced back so well after defeat at the hands of Waringstown only 7 days earlier.

Special thanks to Cregagh Cricket Club for hosting the game and their patience after two previous failed attempts. The under 15’s will progress to the next round and a home tie with Holywood on a date yet to be confirmed.

Cregagh:
123-5 ( L Duckett 34, O McMillan 23, J Eakin 2-7, L Polack 1-10, D Beggs 1-12, O Steenson 1-23)

Armagh:
129-1 (O Steenson 50 retired not out, M Kerr 41no, D Beggs 22no)

Result: Armagh won by 9 wickets.

A victorious U15 squad at Gregagh…

for more club news click below…

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© City Of Armagh Cricket Club | © Armagh Today

Armagh U11s - A Week Of Two Halves

Armagh Cricket Club — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:09:36 GMT

Armagh Under 11s notch up a convincing 99 run victory over Doncloney Mill

Following on from the disappointment of Monday evening’s match, our U11s had another opportunity to register their first league win of the season... and they certainly took it, completing a thoroughly entertaining 99 run victory.

Having won the toss, Armagh Cricket Club opted to bowl restricting, Donacloney Mill Cricket Club to 207 for 16; in reply, the U11s scored 306 for 5.

Whilst it was a fantastic, all round performance with excellent bowling (11 bowled wickets), sharp wicketkeeping & fielding (1 x stumping and 4 x run outs) and solid batting (partnerships of 15, 16, 19, 46 and 10), it was the camaraderie which really caught the eye - celebrating each other’s successes as though their own... the U11s really are a “team”.

Special mention to:

Harry Beggs and Zach Dally for their 46 run partnership.
Harry Beggs, Isaac Villiers, Joshua Frazer, Jack Mandrekar and Zach Dally for each taking 2 wickets.
Zach Dally for his impeccable glove work behind the stumps (especially impressive when deliveries were seaming on an artificial wicket!!)

Full Scorecard

Thank you to Donacloney Mill Cricket Club for hosting us and good luck for the rest of the season.

Great to get back to winning ways and we look forward to our next match against Victoria.

Armagh U11s celebrate after their victory against Donacloney Mill at The Factory Ground

Monday 8th June 2026 on The Mall U11s vs Lurgan U11s

Armagh Cricket Club U11s continued their season with a home league match again Lurgan on Monday evening - with the sun unexpectedly making an appearance, our hopes were equally bright in continuing our winning start to the season......however, against an impressive opposition, the team ended up on the wrong side of the result.

With Lurgan posting 328 for 6, Armagh finished on 204 for 12

Full Scorecard

Despite the result, it was a good day for the majority of our players, with 5 of the team playing their first cricket match.....and it’s safe to say the result didn’t dampen the experience.

There were plenty of positives – great effort with the ball and in the field.....brave batting, and most importantly, the whole game was played with an abundance of enthusiasm.

Special mentions must go to:

Charlie Russell for taking 2 wickets in his 2 overs.
James Nicholson for taking his 1st wicket for the team.

Hard luck to our U11s - wasn’t our day and that was mainly down to how well the opposition played - well done to Lurgan and look forward to our next encounter.

Next match sees our U11s away to Donaghcloney on Thursday 11th June - hopefully, we can get back to winning ways…

Armagh U11s on The Mall

for more club news click below…

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Armagh CC Golf Day A Huge Success

Armagh Cricket Club — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:01:00 GMT

Golf Day Thanks…

Our recent Armagh Cricket Club golf day at Loughgall Golf and Country Club proved to be a great success.

Despite some rain threatening before the “Shotgun” event commenced at 2.00pm, the skies stayed clear for the duration - much to the delight of the club members, their guests and the golfers.

Special thanks is extended to Loughgall Golf and Country Club for hosting us and for all their organisation behind the scenes - hopefully we will return again soon to host similar events.

In fact planning has already started for the next one!

Also a very special thank you to our sponsors. There are way too many to mention and you will have seen by the names on the tee boxes and greens how fortunate we were to have such wonderful support. Thank you all so much!

A huge thank you too goes to our volunteers on the day for keeping everything running in a smooth fashion.

After the golf finished the competitors returned to The Pavilion on The Mall for the distribution of prizes and also where “On the Hoof” served an excellent meal after a gruelling day on the course. The food was simply amazing so a big thank you to Geoff Chapman and his team.

An event like this takes a lot of preparation and organisation and we did have a sub committee set up, however Harry Boyd was the kingpin behind everything to make sure all was tip top on the day.

Below are a few photos courtesy of Katie Taggart, The Ulster Gazette and our club snapper...

Thank you again to everyone for their hard work in preparation and planning over the course of the many weeks to make the event the great success it was!

for more club news click below…

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ARMAGH CRICKET CLUB ACADEMY - Junior Cricket At Armagh CC

Armagh Cricket Club — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:08:00 GMT

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

Armagh CC Digital Academy: Junior Cricket At Armagh CC

Nurturing the Next Generation: Fun, Fundamentals, and Lifelong Skills

Starting a journey in cricket is one of the most exciting milestones for a young player and their family.

At Armagh Cricket Club, our Junior Academy is here to help players enjoy the game, build confidence and learn the basics in a safe and positive environment - transforming that initial curiosity into a lifelong passion for the game.

This guide is written for junior players first, helping them to develop fundamental athletic skills, forge deep friendships, and learn the core values of teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship at our historic grounds on The Mall.

Parents and guardians will find it equally useful for understanding what their child will experience at our academy sessions - and how they can support their development at home.

Quick Navigation Index

Click on a section below to jump straight to your training focus:

Part 1: Welcome to The Mall
Getting Started - New Junior Players & Parents
Part 2: Moving, Catching, and Throwing
Essential Athletic Foundations - All Junior Ages
Part 3: An Introduction to Batting and Bowling
First Skills - Beginner Juniors
Part 4: How Junior Matches Work
Match Formats - All Junior Ages
Part 5: Fun Cricket Games and Home Skill Challenges
Home Practice - All Junior Ages
Part 6: Captaincy and Team Spirit
Junior Leadership - All Junior Ages

Part 1:
Welcome To The Mall

Junior cricket at Armagh Cricket Club is about learning, trying, improving, and having fun.

We do not just look at match results. We also value effort, teamwork, confidence, and the way players support each other.

📋 A Typical Armagh CC Junior Session

🟢 Warm-Up (10-15 minutes)

Fun movement games, tag, and simple drills to get the body ready and the mind switched on.
This is one of the most important parts of the session - never skip it!

🟡 Skill Stations (30 minutes)

Small groups rotating through catching, throwing, batting, and bowling drills.
Every player works on every skill - nobody specialises too early.

🟡 Match Play or Games (35 minutes)

Modified games where players put what they have learned into action.
This is where cricket becomes real and exciting - mistakes are part of the fun!

🔴 Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

The whole group comes together to talk about effort, teamwork, and the key lessons from the session.
Every voice matters - coaches want to hear from players, not just talk at them.

⭐ Every session is designed to be active, positive, and fun. If you are enjoying yourself, you are doing it right.

✅ Junior Session Checklist

Have I brought my water bottle and any kit I need for the session?
Am I ready to try my best - even at the things I find difficult?
Am I ready to encourage my teammates as well as myself?
Am I going to listen carefully during the wrap-up and share what I learned today?

Part 2:
Mastering The Basics - Moving, Catching and Throwing

Before using a bat and ball, players need to learn how to move safely and efficiently. This section builds coordination, balance, and confidence.

1. The Ready Position (Agility & Balance)

Before anything else, every junior fielder needs to learn the ready position. It is the starting point for every movement in cricket.

Knees slightly bent.
Weight on the balls of your feet.
Hands out in front.
Eyes on the ball.

This helps you react quickly if you need to catch, stop, or throw.

2. The Two-Handed Intercept (Safe Catching)

The main rule is simple: use two cupped hands and watch the ball all the way in.

For low balls, turn your hands down.
For higher balls, turn your hands up.
Keep your eyes on the ball until it is safely in your hands absorbing the impact cleanly.

⭐ A Good Tip:

Pretend your hands are a small window the ball must go through.

3. The Overarm Throw

A good throw is strong, accurate, and safe. We use the “Bow and Arrow” technique:

Point the non-throwing shoulder and non-throwing hand directly at the target.
Bring the cricket ball back past the ear.
Step forward with the front foot and
Follow through completely across the body.

This helps you throw with power and control.

✅ Moving, Catching & Throwing Checklist

Am I starting every movement from a balanced ready position - knees bent, weight forward, eyes on the ball?
Am I using two hands to catch wherever possible and watching the ball all the way into my hands?
Am I pointing my non-throwing shoulder at the target before releasing the ball?
Am I following through completely after every throw rather than stopping my arm short?

Part 3:
An Introduction to Batting and Bowling

1. Batting grip

Your grip is your link to the bat.

Hold the bat with both hands close together.
Let the “V” shapes formed by your thumbs and fingers line up down the back of the bat.
Keep your hands relaxed but not too loose.

A good grip gives you control, timing, and confidence.

2. Batting stance

Your stance should feel comfortable and balanced.

Feet about shoulder-width apart.
Knees softly bent.
Head still and eyes level.
Bat grounded comfortably behind your back foot.
Weight on the balls of your feet.

A balanced stance helps you move forward or back when the ball comes.

3. Watch the ball and step to it

Good batting is about seeing the ball early and moving with purpose.

Step towards the ball when it is full.
Stay balanced.
Keep your head still.
Swing in a straight path and finish in control.

A simple reminder for juniors is: head to the ball.

4. Bowling basics

Bowling takes practice, but the action can be remembered in a few simple steps:

Stand side-on to the target.
Point towards the stumps with your non-bowling arm.
Keep the bowling arm straight.
Bring the arm over and release the ball high.

The main goal is to bowl with control and repeat the action smoothly.

⚠️ A Safety Note for Junior Bowlers: Bowling should never hurt. If you feel any pain or discomfort in your back, shoulder, or arm while bowling - stop immediately and tell your coach or parent. It is always better to rest for one session than to miss the whole season.

✅ Batting & Bowling Checklist

Are my hands relaxed on the bat handle with the V shapes lined up correctly?
Is my head still and are my eyes level when I am in my batting stance?
Am I stepping toward the ball and keeping my head over it when I drive?
Am I bowling with a smooth, repeatable action - standing side-on and following through completely?

Part 4:
How Junior Matches Work

Transitioning from drills to real matches can be confusing. This section explains the junior cricket rules your child will play under and is designed to keep everyone involved and make sure nobody is left standing around.

1. Continuous Pairs Cricket

Unlike adult cricket where a batter leaves the field when they are out, junior cricket uses a pairs format designed to keep everyone involved and active. Players bat in pairs for a set number of overs (typically 2 to 4 overs per pair).

Every player bats, fields, and bowls an equal amount.
If a batter is dismissed in pairs cricket, it does not end the batting pair’s innings.
- The pair continue and the scoring rules for dismissals depend on the match format being used - the fielding team may be awarded bonus runs, or the batting team may lose a set amount of runs from their total.
The game is shaped to help players learn, not just to win.

2. The Ultimate Goal: Continuous Rotation

To keep everyone actively moving, fielders rotate positions clockwise after every single over. This ensures no player is left isolated on the distant boundary line, keeping everyone engaged in the heart of the action.

A Note for Parents & Guardians

If you are watching your child’s first junior match, the format may look quite different from the adult cricket you are used to seeing. This is completely intentional - every rule in junior cricket is designed to keep all players active, build confidence, and ensure the game is enjoyable for everyone involved.

The result on the day matters far less than the experience. A child who touches the ball often, runs between the wickets, and feels part of the team will develop their love of cricket far faster than one who stands in the outfield for forty minutes waiting for the ball to come to them.

⭐ The best thing you can do from the boundary is cheer every player - not just your own child - and celebrate effort as loudly as you celebrate runs and wickets.

✅ Junior Match Checklist

Do I understand that every player bats, bowls, and fields an equal amount in pairs cricket?
Am I rotating fielding positions after every over and staying alert wherever I am placed?
Am I playing to enjoy the game and learn - not just to win?
Am I supporting my batting partner or bowling partner with clear, positive communication?

Part 5:
Fun Cricket Games and Home Skill Challenges

Junior players develop fastest when practice feels like play. These specific games are utilised during our academy sessions and can easily be recreated in the backyard, garage, or local park using standard tennis balls.

Game 1: Rapid Fire Cricket

The Setup:

A batter stands at a set of stumps with three balls placed on batting tees or cones directly in front of them.
Three fielders stand a safe distance away.

The Rules:

The batter hits all three balls into the field in rapid succession and must run between two markers as many times as possible.
The fielders must gather all three balls and return them to the cones to stop the runs.

Game 2: The Target Wall Challenge

The Setup:

Using a tennis ball and a safe brick wall at home or the club nets.

The Rules:

Throw the ball overarm against the wall and attempt to catch it cleanly.

🏆 Home Drill Level Up

Bronze Level: Catch the ball after it bounces once on the ground (Focuses on tracking).

Silver Level: Catch the ball directly cleanly out of the air using two hands (Focuses on hand-eye coordination).

Gold Level: Catch the ball using only your non-dominant hand (Focuses on advanced motor control).

Game 3: Cone Knockout (Bowling Accuracy)

The Setup:

Set up a single stump or a standard wheelbarrow/box at home.
Place three bright field cones or plastic cups directly in front of it as targets.

The Rules:

From a shortened bowling distance, players bowl 6 deliveries attempting to smash the cones.

The Twist:

Overturning a cone wins 5 points; hitting the stump directly wins 10 points.
This turns repetitive bowling practice into an engaging arcade-style challenge.

⭐ General home practice tips

Use a tennis ball at home to protect walls and windows.
Always warm up before practice.
Keep sessions short and fun.
Stop if you feel pain or discomfort.

✅ Home Skills Challenge Checklist

Am I using a tennis ball at home to keep practice safe for walls and windows?
Am I warming up before every home practice session - even a short one?
Have I tried all three levels of the Target Wall Challenge - Bronze, Silver, and Gold?
Am I keeping home sessions short, fun, and stopping immediately if anything hurts?

Part 6:
Captaincy and Team Spirit

Leadership development does not wait until senior cricket. We believe junior players should learn how to guide, support, and communicate with their teammates right from day one.

At Armagh CC, we rotate the captaincy role every single junior match so every player experiences the responsibility of leading.

Junior cricket is also about learning how to help and encourage teammates.

✅ A Good Junior Captain:

Stays positive.
Helps the team reset after mistakes.
Encourages others.
Leads by example.

1. The 3-Second Rule

After a big moment (a dropped catch, a wide, a boundary), the captain or an older player should be the first to:

Run towards their teammate.
Offer a high-five or tap on the shoulder.
Say something positive like: “Great chase, focus on the next ball.”

This helps the team stay confident and calm.

What To Do After a Mistake

Every junior player - no matter how good they are - drops catches, bowls wides, and misses the ball sometimes. This is completely normal and is part of learning cricket.

What matters is not the mistake itself - it is what you do next.

📋 The Junior Reset - Three Simple Steps

🟢 Step 1 - Shake It Off

Take a breath and physically shake your hands or arms loose.
This is your body’s way of leaving the mistake behind.
Every professional cricketer does this - watch them next time you see cricket on television.

🟡 Step 2 - Say Something Positive

Tell yourself one simple thing - “Next ball” or “I’ve got the next one”.
Short, simple, and positive.
You are not lying to yourself - you are getting ready.

🔴 Step 3 - Get Ready Again

Get back into your ready position.
Bend your knees, get your hands out in front, and focus your eyes on the batter or bowler.
The next ball is a fresh start - take it.

⭐ The best cricketers are not the ones who never make mistakes. They are the ones who get ready for the next ball the fastest. Be that player.

2. On-Field Group Problem Solving

When a batting partnership is building against our team, junior captains learn not to panic. We teach them to call a quick “huddle” between overs to discuss tactics. This shifts the mindset from individual frustration to collaborative team strategy.

3. The “Spirit of Cricket”

True leadership shines brightest after a defeat. The junior captain is responsible for:

Gathering the entire squad at the conclusion of the match
Leading cheers and applause for the opposition
Leading the post-match handshake line with the umpires and opponents
Thanking the umpires

This showcases the character of Armagh CC.

✅ Captaincy & Team Spirit Checklist

Before the first ball Captain’s Check:

Are all fielders spread out safely so they won’t collide?
Is anyone standing dangerously close to the batter or behind the bowler’s arm?
Is our wicketkeeper in the right spot and completely focused?
Did we huddle up and give a team cheer before taking the field?

Throughout the match - All Players:

Am I staying positive and encouraging my teammates - especially after mistakes?
Am I using the 3-Second Rule - getting to a teammate quickly after a difficult moment?
Am I showing the Spirit of Cricket - shaking hands, respecting umpires, and celebrating the opposition’s good play?
When I make a mistake, am I using the three-step reset to get ready for the next ball quickly?

⭐ And Remember!

Cricket is one of the most exciting games in the world - and you are just getting started.
Every great Armagh CC player who has ever walked out on The Mall began exactly where you are right now. They learned to catch, throw, bat, and bowl one step at a time - and so will you.

Enjoy every session, support your teammates, and remember that the most important thing is to keep coming back. 🏏

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

New to some of the cricket terms above? Visit our Cricket Glossary for clear explanations of every term used across the Academy.

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.

ARMAGH CRICKET CLUB ACADEMY - Demystifying DLS

Armagh Cricket Club — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:39:40 GMT

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

Armagh CC Digital Academy: Demystifying DLS

The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method Explained

For years, limited-overs matches in Northern Ireland interrupted by rain used simple “average run rate” methods to reset targets.

These old systems often penalised the team batting first and ignored a key truth: wickets are just as valuable as remaining overs.

Under current Cricket Ireland Playing Conditions, all NCU limited-overs matches interrupted by weather use official DLS software to set fair and accurate targets.

Whether you are a 1st XI player chasing under grey skies on The Mall or a youth player trying to understand the scoreboard, understanding DLS is important for match awareness.

Quick Navigation Index

Click on a section below to jump straight to your focus:

The Core Concept: Understanding Cricket Resources
Essential Reading - All Ages & Skill Levels
How DLS Works: The Two Main Match Scenarios
Intermediate Understanding - All Ages
The Strategic Par Score: A Tactical Guide for Chases
Match Application - Senior Players & Captains
Common DLS Myths Busted for Club Cricketers
Quick Reference - All Ages & Skill Levels

The Core Concept - What Are “Resources”?

At the heart of DLS is a simple idea: each team starts a limited-overs innings with 100% of their scoring resources.

⭐ Think of your resources like a phone battery. You start on 100%. Every over bowled and every wicket lost drains the battery a little further. DLS makes sure both teams play with the same battery level - even when rain cuts the match short. Lose too many wickets early and your battery drains faster than the overs alone would suggest.

In cricket, your resources are not just the overs left. They are a mix of:

Overs remaining
Wickets in hand

As balls are bowled and wickets fall, your resource percentage drops toward 0%.

DLS knows that 5 overs left with 8 wickets in hand allows aggressive, high-risk scoring, while 5 overs left with 2 wickets in hand forces you to play more carefully.

When rain removes overs, it removes resources. DLS adjusts the target fairly to reflect this loss.

📋 The DLS Resource Balancer

Inputs: Overs remaining and wickets in hand
Processing: Official DLS formula
Output: Fair revised target score

⭐ Golden Rule: DLS treats overs and wickets as one combined resource pool. Protect your wickets to keep your resource percentage high.

How DLS Works - The Two Main Scenarios

DLS changes the target depending on when play is interrupted during a limited-overs match.

📋 The Two DLS Match Scenarios

🟢 Scenario A - Interruption During the First Innings

What happens: Rain cuts short Team 1’s batting innings before they have used all their resources.

The effect: Team 1 scores fewer runs than they might have with a full innings. Team 2 will begin their chase with more resources than Team 1 had available.

The DLS adjustment: Team 2’s target is increased to reflect that they have more resources than Team 1 used. This balances the match fairly.

Simple example: Team 1 bats 30 overs instead of 40 due to rain and scores 140. Team 2 still gets 40 overs. Because Team 2 has more resources, their target is adjusted upward - perhaps to 165 - to reflect the advantage.

🔴 Scenario B - Interruption During the Second Innings

What happens: Rain interrupts play while Team 2 is chasing, reducing the overs available to them.

The DLS calculation looks at:

How many overs Team 2 had faced at the interruption
How many wickets Team 2 had lost
How many runs Team 2 had scored at that point

The DLS adjustment: DLS compares Team 2’s resources with Team 1’s resources and calculates a revised target based on what Team 2 should have scored with those resources.

If Team 2 is ahead of the revised number when play ends — they win
If Team 2 is behind the revised number — they lose
If Team 2 matches the revised number exactly — it is a tie

Simple example: Armagh are chasing 180 from 40 overs and are 85-2 after 22 overs when rain stops play permanently. DLS calculates that with the resources used, the par score was 82. Armagh are 3 runs ahead of par - Armagh win.

The Strategic Par Score

During a rain-affected chase, the scorer or DLS operator will provide a Par Score Sheet. This shows how many runs Team 2 needs at that moment to be level with Team 1.

A Par Score is the exact number of runs Team 2 should have scored at that point to be considered perfectly level.

If Team 2 is 1 run ahead of Par when the match ends, they win.
If Team 2 matches Par exactly, it is a tie.

📋 Par Score Example (12 Overs Completed)

Target: 78 Runs Currently Scored by Armagh

With 2 Wickets Down: DLS Par Required is 72 Runs ➔ 🟢 Armagh Ahead (Winning)
With 4 Wickets Down: DLS Par Required is 79 Runs ➔ 🔴 Armagh Behind (Losing)
With 6 Wickets Down: DLS Par Required is 92 Runs ➔ 🚨 Critical Danger Zone

📋 The Captain’s DLS Tactical Guide

🟢 If You Are Batting and Rain is Threatening

Protect wickets above all else - every wicket lost drains your resource percentage significantly
A lower wicket count keeps your Par Score requirement lower - making it easier to stay ahead
Communicate the current Par Score to your batting pair between every over
Calculate how many runs ahead of Par you are - not just how many runs you need in total

🔴 If You Are Bowling and Rain is Threatening

Bring on your best strike bowlers immediately - wickets push the Par Score higher for the batting team
Every wicket taken dramatically increases the pressure on the chasing team’s resource percentage
Set attacking fields - the risk of a boundary is worth taking if it creates a wicket-taking opportunity
Discuss the current Par Score with your scorer between overs so you know exactly where the match stands

⭐ In a DLS match, wickets are currency. Protect yours. Take theirs.

Common DLS Myths Busted

❌ Myth: “It’s just based on current run rate.”

✅ Fact: Completely false. A team scoring 8 runs an over with 9 wickets down has a much worse DLS position than a team scoring 5 runs an over with only 1 wicket down. DLS cares as much about wickets as it does about runs.

❌ Myth: “The computer program is biased toward the home team.”

✅ Fact: False. The software uses strict formulas based on global match data. It treats both teams the same, regardless of the venue or local conditions.

❌ Myth: “If we play 5 overs, it’s an automatic DLS result.”

✅ Fact: Not in standard NCU and Cricket Ireland senior club cricket. Both sides must face a minimum number of overs (usually 10–20 in the second innings, depending on the competition) before a valid DLS result can be declared.

❌ Myth: “The team batting second always has an advantage in a DLS match.”

✅ Fact: Not necessarily. DLS is specifically designed to be neutral regardless of which team is batting. Whether batting first or second is advantageous depends entirely on the match situation at the moment of interruption - not on the innings itself. A team batting second who have lost several wickets cheaply may actually find DLS working against them significantly.

New to our website? Find out how to save us to your home screen for one-tap access.

New to some of the cricket terms above? Visit our Cricket Glossary for clear explanations of every term used across the Academy.

ACCA Home | Main ACC Website

Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice

Important Information - Please Read Carefully:

Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.

By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.