How a Single Truss PVC Building Transformed Year-Round Cricket Training
No More Rained Off Sessions: How a Kit Buildings PVC Structure Transformed a Cricket Club's Training
For cricket clubs across the UK, the weather has always been the enemy. Sessions cancelled, players losing rhythm, coaches unable to maintain consistency through the winter months. One club decided enough was enough — and invested in a Kit Buildings Single Truss PVC building to create a dedicated indoor training facility. The results speak for themselves.
The Problem Every Cricket Club Knows
Outdoor cricket training in the UK is, at best, a six-month proposition. From October through to March, wet grounds, cold temperatures, poor light and persistent rain make consistent outdoor practice almost impossible. Players lose fitness and technique over winter. Junior development programmes stall. Coaches struggle to maintain any meaningful schedule.
The alternatives aren't much better. Hiring local sports halls is expensive, inconvenient and rarely designed with cricket in mind — proper bowling run-ups and batting practice need at least 20 to 25 metres of clear length, which most sports halls simply don't offer. Purpose-built indoor cricket centres are financially out of reach for the majority of community clubs. And outdoor nets, however well maintained, are only usable in fair weather.
The result is a sport that, for many clubs, effectively shuts down for half the year.
The Kit Buildings Solution: Single Truss PVC Building
Kit Buildings' Single Truss PVC building was designed precisely for situations like this — delivering a professional, weather-proof indoor training space at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction.
The specification is built around what cricket training actually requires:
- Typical size: 65–82ft x 26ft x 20ft (20–25m x 8m x 6.1m)
- Frame: Hot-dip galvanized Q235 steel, single truss design
- Cover: 610g/m² professional PVC tarpaulin — UV-stabilised, waterproof, tear-resistant
- Height: 6.1m apex accommodating full-height bowling and lofted shots
- Interior: Clear-span, unobstructed — no columns interfering with net layout
- Lighting: Translucent PVC providing excellent natural light during the day
- Structural warranty: 20 years
- Cover warranty: 5 years
The 20 to 25 metre clear-span length is particularly important. It's the minimum needed for proper bowling run-ups and batting practice — and Kit Buildings builds it in as standard, not as an expensive upgrade.
What It Delivers
Year-Round Training, Without Exception The single biggest change a Kit Buildings indoor facility delivers is simple: training happens regardless of the weather. Winter programmes run as planned. Pre-season preparation can begin months earlier than outdoor conditions would allow. Youth development continues through the cold months when, previously, young players would lose weeks of progress. Coaching schedules become predictable, consistent and far more effective.
Better Training Quality Consistent surface conditions allow technique work that outdoor nets can never fully replicate. The controlled environment reduces injury risk — no wet surfaces, no cold-stiffened muscles from standing in the rain. The 6.1m apex height means bowlers can bowl naturally and batters can play their full range of shots without restriction. Multiple net lanes can operate simultaneously with proper safety separation between them. Evening sessions under LED floodlighting extend training hours beyond what daylight allows outdoors.
Expanded Coaching Capacity A Kit Buildings training facility doesn't just improve existing sessions — it creates entirely new ones. More players can be accommodated in parallel. Private coaching becomes possible, generating additional revenue for the club. Schools outreach programmes can run during term time. Structured winter coaching packages can be offered to members who previously had nothing to attend between September and April.
A Space That Works Harder Beyond cricket, the clear-span interior serves the club in multiple ways — fitness and conditioning training, team meetings, equipment storage, community events and social activities during the off-season. A Kit Buildings structure isn't a single-purpose facility; it's a club asset that earns its keep across the whole calendar year.
The Financial Case
The cost comparison with traditional indoor construction is stark. A Kit Buildings Single Truss PVC building comes in at approximately 60–70% less than an equivalent permanent sports hall build — making proper indoor facilities genuinely accessible to community clubs that would otherwise have no realistic path to covered training space.
The ongoing financial benefits compound quickly:
- No more external hall hire costs
- Private coaching revenue from new sessions
- Facility hire to other clubs and schools
- Improved player retention reducing recruitment costs
- Competitive performance improvements benefiting league standing
Most clubs report a full return on investment within three to five years — after which the facility continues delivering value for its 20-year-plus lifespan at minimal ongoing cost.
Why Kit Buildings?
Kit Buildings uses hot-dip galvanized Q235 steel throughout — robust, corrosion-resistant, and engineered to UK wind and snow loading standards. The single truss design is optimised specifically for the span and height requirements of indoor sports facilities, delivering the structural performance needed without unnecessary cost.
The 610g/m² PVC cover is a professional-grade fabric — the same weight used in demanding industrial and agricultural applications. It is fully waterproof, UV-stabilised, and tear-resistant, with translucent options that flood the interior with natural light during daytime sessions and dramatically reduce the need for artificial lighting.
Installation is completed within weeks, not months. There is no lengthy construction programme, no groundworks disruption, and no waiting until the following season to start using the facility. A club can make the decision in the autumn and be training indoors before Christmas.
Planning Your Facility
A few practical points worth considering when specifying a Kit Buildings cricket training building:
Length — 20m is the workable minimum for cricket practice; 25m is the preferred length for full run-ups and proper batting distance. Kit Buildings can advise on the right size for your available plot and training requirements.
Surface — Budget for cricket matting or artificial turf suitable for indoor use. Professional installation ensures correct shock absorption and long-term durability.
Nets — Invest in quality cricket nets with proper ceiling mounting and tensioning. Safety zones between lanes are essential for multi-lane operation.
Lighting — LED floodlighting providing a minimum of 300 lux is recommended for evening training. Separate switching zones allow flexible power management.
Ventilation — The Kit Buildings design allows for natural airflow to prevent condensation. Supplementary heating should be considered for winter use to maintain comfortable training temperatures.
The Bottom Line
A Kit Buildings Single Truss PVC building gives cricket clubs something they have never had before — complete independence from the British weather. Year-round training, proper facilities, expanded coaching programmes and a genuine return on investment, all at a price point that community clubs can actually reach.
If your club is still losing months of the year to weather cancellations and expensive hall hire, it is worth having a conversation with Kit Buildings. The solution is more accessible — and more transformative — than most clubs expect.
