Kids Cricket and Reasons to Coach

First of all you should have a good reason to coach cricket. It goes without saying that if you fail to have this motivation then you will not succeed as a sports coach. You must have a passion for the game and be willing to commit time to training kids.

.

Every person will have their own reasons for wanting to coach cricket, here are some examples.

Many older coaches may have had a good career and may want to pass on their knowledge to young cricketers, they are safe in the knowledge that they still have a place in the game.

Other aspiring coaches like to help their clubs to strengthen their youth squads.

Their is the potential to earn additional income if you coach cricket on a private basis.

Some people like to work in a sporting environment and the benefits associated with it.

Their is also the chance to develop personal skills which are discussed below. These can look great on a CV.

Generally speaking you don't need to be a great player in order to make an impact as a coach. Love for the game is paramount, any negativity will have an impact on players and we especially don't want this in kids cricket. When training to become a coach you will be taught everything you need to know in terms of what to coach and how to coach. The intensity will change depending on the level of the cricket coaching badge. The following are typical skills required by a coach.

Organisation - The role of a coach involves management tasks and good organisational skills can help. A coach will be respnsible for organising and planning training sessions and matches. Venues need to be booked, equipment needs to be prepared and players and parents must be kept informed.

Risk Assessment - Coaches must assess venues and training sessions for the potential hazards they may present. Where necessary precautionary measures must be taken to ensure safety.

Communication - A coach is required to express their observations to a player along with their proposed solution to a problem. If a player knows exactly what they are doing wrong, then they stand a better chance of improving.Questioning is commonly used, this requires that players think about their own technique and suggest ways that it could be improved. This enhances the learning experience. When coaching cricket you are presented with players of different ages, abilities and backgrounds. The ability to communicate with different types of people is essential. Questioning is commonly used, this requires that players think about their own technique and suggest ways that it could be improved. This enhances the learning experience.

Counselling - players can often turn to a coach for advice and it is important that the coach learns to deal with a players emotional needs in addition to their technical needs.

First Aid - All coaches will be trained in emergency first aid and CPR. Cricket, like any other sport, poses some risks and the coach must be in a position to deal with any accidents that may arise. It is essential to know if players suffer from any medical conditions, this will not necessarily exclude a player from being involved but will make a coach aware of any special requirements. A coach should also take reasonable steps to avoid sports injuries by suitably warming and cooling players before and after a session or game.

Motivation - A coach should be able to motivate himself in order to put in the time and effort required. They must also be able to motivate the players during training sessions and in match situations.

Role Model - This is especially the case when coaching kids cricket. Children will look up to their coach and will follow their lead. It is important that coaches conduct themselves in a manner that sets a good example to players.

Cricket clubs are increasingly employing coaches to help them to develop their youth setup. Most clubs will be able to point you in the right direction. Otherwise it is worth contacting a cricketing authority or local county who will be able to advise on up and coming coaching courses in your area.

Any reputable cricket coaching course will provide an emphasis on the safegurding and protecting of children. In order to coach cricket to kids a valid CRB check is required. Here in England a coaching certificate will not be issued until such a check has been carried and I'm certain this will be the same internationally.

I hope you found this useful, Daniel Maddocks