Indoor Cricket Net Hire Explained: Which Option Is Right for You?

If you have never booked indoor cricket net hire before, the choices can feel a bit confusing. Do you need a family net? A solo lane? Should you bring a coach along? It is easy to end up booking the wrong thing or paying more than you needed to.

This guide breaks down the main options so you can pick the right one in a couple of minutes, whether you are a junior player, a parent, a club captain, or someone who just fancies a bit of batting practice after work.

Why Net Hire Comes in Different Types

Not every cricketer wants the same thing from a session. A ten-year-old having their first go at batting needs something very different from a club side blocking out the whole hall for winter training. That is why indoor net hire is usually split into a few clear categories, each with its own price and rules.

At HECC in Sawbridgeworth, every indoor net hire option covers the same five wide lanes, each with a full 20-metre run-up and proper cricket flooring, so whichever type you book, you get a genuine practice environment.

Family and Under 18s Hire

This is the option most families and young players will use. It covers anyone under 18, along with family net hire, and it is priced lower than adult sessions because it is aimed at newer or younger players still building confidence.

It is a great starting point if your child plays for a local club and wants extra practice outside normal training, or if you simply want to introduce them to cricket in a safe, controlled space rather than an open field. You do not need any previous experience to book a family net hire session.

Adult or Mixed Nets

This is the standard option for grown-up players, whether you are training alone, with friends, or as part of an informal group. Up to eight people can share a lane, which makes it a sensible choice if a few of you want to split the cost of an hour and take turns batting and bowling. Mixed nets suit players of pretty much any standard, from someone returning to the game after a break to a regular club player wanting extra reps before the weekend.

The Solo Batting Special

If you want focused, uninterrupted practice, the Solo Batting Special is worth knowing about. It gives you a lane on your own, paired with the Bola bowling machine and its automatic feeder, so you can face ball after ball without waiting for a partner to bowl.

This option is aimed at adults training on weekday daytimes, and it is popular with players who want to work on one specific thing, such as playing spin, handling short-pitched bowling, or simply getting more balls faced in an hour than a shared session would allow. If you just want to add a bowling machine to a different type of lane rather than book the full solo package, that is usually possible too, for an extra fee per hour.

External Coach and Client

Some players already work with their own coach outside of HECC, whether that is someone from their club or a private coach they have used before. This option lets you hire a lane specifically for that purpose. You bring your coach, HECC provides the facility, and you get the same wide lane and proper flooring as every other booking, priced the same as adult or mixed nets.

Club and Winter Block Hire

If you are booking on behalf of a club rather than as an individual, this is the option to look at. Clubs can hire a single lane or the entire hall, with discounted rates available if you prepay or book more than ten sessions at once.

This is especially useful over winter, when outdoor pitches are often unusable. With five lanes running at once, a full club can train together on the same evening instead of splitting across two venues.

So Which One Should You Choose?

A simple way to think about it: under 18 or booking for your child, start with family hire. Training with a few friends, go for adult or mixed nets. Want serious, focused solo practice, look at the Solo Batting Special. Already have your own coach, book the external coach and client option. Organising for a whole club, ask about winter block hire.

As the England and Wales Cricket Board notes on its junior cricket pages, the game is open to all, with clubs and schools right across the country offering ways for children to get involved from the age of five upwards. So there really is an option here for almost any player at any stage.

How to Book

Booking is done online and takes a couple of minutes. You choose your date, pick your lane, add the bowling machine if you want it, and pay a small deposit to confirm your slot. If you are not sure which option applies to you, it is worth a quick call before you book rather than guessing.

To hire an indoor cricket net at HECC, head to the booking page, or get in touch with the team directly on 01279 724782 or at enquiries@heccsport.com. HECC is based at Tharbies Farm in Sawbridgeworth, with free parking on site and easy access from Bishop's Stortford, Harlow, and Stansted.

Whatever stage you are at, there is a net hire option built for you. The hardest part is picking the right one, and hopefully, this guide has made that a bit easier.

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