Junior Coaching
Introduction
In order to assist players to develop their cricketing skills and knowledge Cornwall provides coaching in a number of different ways. All these are focused on aiming to make the cricketing experience more enjoyable and rewarding for the players.
With nearly 1000 children at various ages and stages of cricket development, the challenge for the club is to deliver meaningful coaching to all members. The skills needed for success in cricket cover an enormous range from the highly technical, individual skills(e.g. how to grip the bat, or how to bowl an off spinner) to the general team organisation (e.g. how to set a field). It is important that all players and parents recognise that to address this range of skills requires a number of different approaches.
Consider the situation of a child who plays a musical instrument (say the violin) and who is encouraged to join an orchestra. Children would have music lessons (with a violin teacher on a one-on-one basis or in a small group). In all likelihood, the parents would pay for these private lessons. The purpose of these lessons would be for the child to become more technically competent at playing the violin.
When the child joins the orchestra, the focus turns to being a “team player”, and contributing to the overall success of the “team”. Different skills are required here, but the child continues to have their private music lessons in order to improve further their technical competence. The orchestra provides a setting for the player to perform, and the “conductor” coaches the team. By being both a team player and an individual, the child can get the best of both worlds.
We believe that cricket is quite similar to this music example. The club cannot provide all the individual coaching that players require. What it can provide is a team based environment, and access to the resources which players need to become more technically competent.
TOP OF PAGE
So, how does Cornwall approach this?
Team Coaching
By far the biggest coaching input which Cornwall as a club can provide is through the team in which the child plays.
Team coaching is done by individuals associated with the team. This may be a coach, a manager, an interested parent or family member. This is done voluntarily, and one of Cornwall’s great strengths is that many individuals are prepared to put their hands up for such a role. With over 100 teams, we need at least this number of team coaches.
Cornwall recognises the importance of team coaches by supporting them in various ways. The club organises “Introduction to Coaching” sessions (run by qualified coaches) for those new to coaching or who would like to brush up on their basic skills. These will be advertised in newsletters and on the website. They will be concentrated towards the beginning of the season.
Cornwall then encourages coaches to enroll in higher level courses run by the Auckland Cricket Association. The Level 1 course is an ideal way for coaches to develop their coaching skills as players move to “hard ball”. Talk to your grade convenor, or the junior coaching coordinator if you would like more information about these courses. Level 2 courses are even more intensive, but extremely valuable, and should be seriously considered by anyone wanting to coach secondary school players or representative teams.
Private Coaching
If parents feel that their child needs/wants extra “private coaching” a range of professional coaches is available. They should approach the coaching co-ordinator, Tony Yee, who can let you have all details necessary. Where private coaching is sought, parents (and players) should be clear what type of coaching is required and what objectives that coaching should have.
Coaching for Parents
Besides the “coaching for coaches” program described above, Cornwall also provides opportunities for non-cricketing parents and supporters to improve their cricketing knowledge. This means that they are able to help in such areas as team management, umpiring and scoring.
We encourage all parents and supporters to take advantage of these sessions.
TOP OF PAGE