SPAIN WIN PRESTIGIOUS ICC EUROPE AWARD
Cricket Espana received some exciting news today when it was annouced that Neil Brook had won the prestigious ICC Award for the Best Overall Development Plan for 2009, the first time that an affiliate have won the award since 2002.
Below is a synopsis of the development plan and an up to date report on and how it has been implemented within the framework of Spanish Junior Cricket.
It was decided by CE committee for 2009 that Development would be priority for the growth of Spanish Cricket with a junior development program plan put together.
The report is to update you on what’s happened in 2009, at the end of February we held our first introductory of coaching course which was held under the guidance of National Coach Bobby Denning with a wide range of candidates taking part, the course was a success and achieved it goals.
Two young players were invited by Cricket Espana to take part in the successful Centre of Excellence run by the European Cricket Council; it was the first opportunity for Spain to offer the positions to our colleagues at the Lanzarotte Cricket Association and one Junior from Albox Cricket club who are both working hard with junior coaching.
In April I received some fantastic news that one of our U15 players Jack Hersh received his Middlesex county cap playing for Middlesex U14, we wish Jack all the success in future and hopefully he will be available to play for our U17 later in the year
It was also decided that at junior level, Spain wouldn’t participate in European competitions due to priority for senior squad to take part in ECC Div 3 championships, Juniors would take part in locally held tournaments with more high performance training weekends with Derbyshire County Cricket Board.
Our U19 development Squad took part in an International Schools Tournament held at La Manga club, with Mill Hill School in Middx, Blundell’s school from Devon, Bromsgrove School in Warwickshire and Campbell College from Northern Ireland
All these schools were strongly represented with Mill Hill School having an England U16 player and with 2 schools having ex county players as coaches the standard was high, with Spain being coached by Derbyshire head of Development Chris Porter and assisted by Derbyshire Colleague Alan Hancock.
Spain’s performance was excellent throughout the tournament with a strong win against Campbell College and a narrow defeat in the last over to Bromsgrove school, a high scoring match in the last game against Mill Hill produce Spain’s best performance, Spain lost the game with the last ball of the innings after chasing down 243 runs to loose by a mere 2 runs.
The decision to invite the Derbyshire coaches proved to be a success with the improvement and confidence of the players grew as the tournament went on, Spain will continue with this type of development for the rest of 2009 and in to 2010.
The Schools program is now in place with all the info going out to schools and clubs in certain regions of Spain, the program is to assist PE teachers in school to teach pupils to play Cricket, Cricket Espana supplies each school who take up the offer with 2 Kwick Cricket sets, introductory coaching course, discounted equipment, and supplying coaching manuals in Spanish.
Mar Azul International School were the first School to take up the scheme with 150 boys and Girls being taught Cricket in a structured program at the school, this is the beginning of what could be a massive program of Junior Cricket.
August was an important month for another junior who has come through the ranks, Christian Munoz Mills was selected to play for Spanish senior side in ECC Div 3 championships, I am so pleased for Christian as he’s been the junior captain and backbone of junior cricket I wish him all success for 2010
October we held our Junior Cricket festival which was a huge success with 120 boys and girls taking part, the day consisted of coaching sessions Kwik Cricket tournament, Hard Ball Match, catching and throwing competitions we hope the event will be bigger for next year if the interest in Junior Cricket is still strong we could have over 1000 boys and girls playing Cricket in Spain by 2010.
2009 has seen a growth of new grounds and clubs, CE will be hoping to support these grounds and clubs with Junior development for 2010.
2010 will be another huge year for Junior Cricket in Spain, I’ve put together Junior development budget/plan to assist schools and regions for there development, Trials will be held at 2 locations early in the year for U11, U13, U15, U17 Squads U19 squad players I would like to join Senior training sessions.
U17 have an important year where they will play in the ECC Div 2 Championships, they will be joined by some U19 players to take part inUKschools tournament in April and possible warm up games in July, then go on to championships in the Isle of Man.
I would like to thank everyone who has put their time and effort in supporting Junior Cricket in 2009 and hopefully we have a successful 2010
The future of Spanish Cricket is in our hands.
Neil Brook
Director Junior Cricket