Success of SVGCA/WICB Foundation coaching course depends on continuity

The success of a two-day Foundation Cricket Course held here June 29 and 30 at the Arnos Vale Playing Field must now be measured by the continuity of the 20 participants who were present.{{more}}

Expressing such a projection was Territorial Development officer for the Windward Islands Vincentian Irvin Warrican, who was the main facilitator of the course.

Hopeful that the participants would stick to their words, Warrican said, “Based on the evaluation, the teachers who did the course vowed that they are going to go back and really put a lot of that into practice.”

The two-day workshop involved both theoretical and practical sessions.

Looking at the two days, Warrican explained, “We covered areas such as the introduction to coaching, how children learn, as well as the basic knowledge of the game… In terms of the practical sessions, we looked at some basic things, but the emphasis was really not what to coach, but how to coach, the methodology of coaching; so we looked at batting, bowling, fielding and wicketkeeping.”

Warrican added that because the course/workshop has young children as its target group, motivation and how we motivate them, as well as their safety, were also key components delved into during the two days.

He revealed that the “U.M.P.I.R.E.S” approach was used as the mnemonic for the various aspects of coaching their charges.

“I think the teachers really gravitated to it and accepted that it is something new and they have to take time to master and how it can be effective. They too were given an opportunity to demonstrate some of the skills and I believe with that in place I think the kids going to benefit,” Warrican said.

Meanwhile, senior project officer at the WICB with responsibility for the development of club cricket Fawwaz Baksh told SEARCHLIGHT that coaching education is now an integral part of the regional cricket body’s mandate.

Baksh noted, “Coaching education is nothing new to the West Indies Cricket Board; it has been around since 2001, but in the last three years, we have sought to modernize the course, making it relevant to the needs at present.”

Baksh said the progression is from Foundation to Level One, Level Two, Level Three and finally Assessor status.

He reiterated that in the Foundation segment, fun among the children is paramount to get those students at the primary school age to love cricket.

Baksh said St Vincent and the Grenadines had joined other regional territories in hosting the Foundation course.

He disclosed that such a course costs US$130 per person; however, Scotia Bank, the sponsor of the Kiddy Cricket programme, has come on board and given full financial support throughout the various countries which stage the courses.

As prerequisites for gaining the upward statuses, the Foundation coaches must possess a clean Police Record, a Child Protection Certificate and a First Aid Certificate from a recognized organization.(RT)