Last weekend, over 60 members of the Middlesex Coaches Association (MCoA) met (virtually) for the first MCoA event of 2021 titled ‘Get Ready to Coach Again!’ The event was a fantastic opportunity to come together and begin thinking positively for the summer of cricket.
The aim of the event was to help those coaching in clubs, schools, and community environments to get ready to start coaching again.Katie Berry, Middlesex’s Director of Participation and Safeguarding, opened the event by reminding us that it is essential to have in place the appropriate certifications, such as DBS, before we start coaching and explained how the Participation Team staff can help.
Rory Coutts, Head of Middlesex Youth Cricket, was next and he reflected on getting back to coaching after a long absence and some of the key lessons learned from working with the Middlesex Academy group during lockdown. He was followed by the Middlesex coaches who lead each of the county’s skills frameworks (spin bowling, fast bowling, fielding and wicket keeping, and batting), and they explained the key themes for each of these skill areas and gave great examples of how we can incorporate these into our training practices and match-play activities.
This was a very special event for our 2021 launch, which reflected in the attendance levels. The messages from Katie and Rory’s team of Middlesex coaches were really clear and simple, the questions from the coaches attending were excellent, and the passion for cricket coaching from all those taking part was fabulous. The event has inspired the coaches ready for when we can all get outside coaching again and put the principles into practice.
And here is some exciting news about future MCoA events! We intend to run a session outdoors at Merchant Taylors’ School during one of the County Age Group (CAG) matches, so that MCoA members can see some of the drills the CAG squads do, and also be talked through from the boundary some of the tactical and fielding issues that were mentioned in the weekend’s presentations.
The MCoA is also planning an event outdoors at William Perkin School in June aimed at those coaching in women’s and girls’ cricket; this is not just for female coaches but for all those involved in women’s and girls’ cricket. Details will be published in due course and please look out for the notices for these exciting events.
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