SEVEN NEW ECC LEVEL ONE COACHES FOR SPAIN
After a weekend of intense theory and practical coaching at La Manga, Spain now has seven new Level One ECC Coaches to be proud of. Under the watchful eye of Dave Gelling, Hampshire Youth Academy Coach and ECC European Staff Coach the enthusiastic cricketers from three different clubs spent a weekend learning different techniques and coaching skills to take back to their respective teams in Spain.
Jeff Matthews, John Howden and Peter Packinam from Sporting Alfas, Ryan Lobb and Mark Needham from La Manga, Phil Beale from Mojacar and Simon Hersh from Cricket España gained Level One status after completing the course.The candidates had to show a competent level of coaching and were assesed with a 24 question written test and a coaching demonstration on a subject decided by the tutor.
The candidates were assesed on amongst other things, their ability to coach catching relays, how to hit the stumps, understanding tactics-the Lords game, how to run them out, how to play the pull shot, how to score quick runs and catch safely,how to play continuous cricket and what target bowling is.
Dave also interjected with humurous stories on the likes of Shane Warne and Kevin Pieterson and gave the candidates a taster of what to expect if they wanted to furter their coaching skills with demonstrations on different bowling grips and spinning techniques, that are part of the ECC Level Two course.
His relaxed style contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the course and by keeping it simple and making it fun whilst still maintaining a professional approach on ” how” and ” what ” to coach the candidates left the weekend camp much wiser and excited at the prospect of taking their new found skills back to their clubs to pass on to the juniors, ladies and indeed seniors during practice and net sessions.
A huge thank you goes out to Dave from Cricket España for giving his time and effort to the weekend and we hope to repay your hard work by going back to the grass roots level and employing some of your thoughts and ideas to the players so the coaching drills become regular rituals rather than passing thoughts.