Questions

Not at all — beginners are some of our favourite sessions. Starting properly is far easier than fixing habits later, and nobody has to prove they're any good before they're welcome here. We'll begin with whatever feels comfortable and build from there.

Mainly 8 to 18. If your child is younger, get in touch and we'll be honest about whether it's the right time — sometimes it is. If you're older and coming back to the game, we'd like to hear from you too.

Yes — and not as an exception. We focus on girls' cricket because that's where players most often feel out of place, but the entire point is that nobody should. Boys train with us and get exactly the same coaching.

Quite a lot, actually. Diara only started playing because a friend asked her to come along — that friend didn't want to be the only girl there. So we know exactly how much difference it makes to have someone with you on day one. Tell us beforehand and we'll pitch the first session accordingly: no pressure, no assessment, nothing that feels like a trial. You're welcome to stay and watch, and your child is welcome to bring a friend.

We spend a while just seeing how your child moves and plays. There's no test to pass and no verdict at the end. By the time you leave, you'll know one specific thing we're working on and why. If you'd rather talk before booking anything at all, email us and we'll help you work out what your player needs first.

Yes, and properly. Diara came through as a bowler before a shoulder injury changed what her own body would let her do — but the knowledge didn't go anywhere. She still loves bowling, still coaches the technical side of it in detail, and has a particular respect for looking after a young bowler's action and workload. She's an all-rounder in what she knows, not only in what she plays.

No — and we'd be a little suspicious of anyone who does. Nobody can honestly tell you where a ten-year-old's ceiling is. What we can tell you is exactly where your child is now, what to work on next, and what it will take — and then be the person in their corner while they do the work. We don't think great players are discovered. We think they're built.

Once a week suits most players — enough to build on the last session, not so much that it stops being fun or takes over their week. Twice a week makes sense if they're preparing for trials or working through a specific technical change. Beyond that it rarely helps at junior level; what happens between sessions matters more than how many sessions there are.

Always. Some children play better with a parent watching and some very much don't — you'll know which yours is, and either is completely fine by us.

Sessions run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, seven days a week — Sundays included. Whatever is open shows on the booking calendar, so you never have to guess or ask. Early mornings and weekends tend to go first in term time.

Yes, and holidays are often the best time to work on something properly without a fixture list in the way. Mornings open right up once school is out. Book as you normally would.

At Diara's nets in Lonehill, or at your own nets if you have access to one — and we don't charge for travel. Most of our players are in the northern suburbs, so if you're somewhere unusual just say where when you book and Diara will confirm it works before anything is fixed.

Bring whatever you have. We'll tell you honestly what's worth buying, what can wait, and what you're better off not spending money on yet. Nobody needs to arrive fully kitted out to start.

You pay upfront and book the sessions whenever suits you across the next 4 months. 5 sessions is R1 150, which works out at R230 each. 10 sessions is R2 250 — that's ten sessions for the price of nine, so your tenth one is free. We email an invoice when you buy a block, and the sessions are ready to book as soon as it's paid. You'll need an account to buy and use one, so your sessions can only ever be booked by you.

Yes. Two players in one net works well for siblings, teammates or friends at a similar level, and it's R175 per player for an hour. Choose two players when you book. If the second player is from another family, we'll ask their parent to confirm before the session is fixed, and each family is invoiced separately.

We never charge for a cancelled session — not before, not after, not on the day. Just tell us as early as you can, and an hour's notice at the very least so Diara isn't already on her way to you. School runs, traffic and sick children happen.

Sessions are invoiced monthly. Diara sends an invoice covering the sessions your player attended — it arrives by email, and if you have an account it's always in your dashboard too, so you can see what's been paid and what's outstanding without having to ask. Session blocks are paid upfront when you buy them.