My 2019 highlight? Not what you might think.

It has been an incredible summer of international cricket.

England ODI World Champions; Super Over finish; heroics from Ben Stokes.

An enthralling, fluctuating Ashes series. Steve Smith (boo…oh, but he is incredible); Stokes’ batting (again). Jofra Archer’s pace. Amazing, impossible catching.

But what makes a “great” moment truly “great”?

For me, as a spectator (and coach), greatness is demonstrated in the player’s commitment to perform at their absolute best, all of the time.

It doesn’t matter the level of competition, or the venue — cricket is a game played best when it is played “properly”, whatever the context.

It can seem like a cliche, but playing every game, every moment, as if it could be your last on the playing field.

Continue reading “My 2019 highlight? Not what you might think.” →

Festival nights — reflections on the MiniMatchplay festival at the CloudFM Essex County Ground, Chelmsford

I enjoyed two evenings this week at the County Ground, Chelmsford, officiating in the annual MiniMatchplay festivals hosted by Essex Cricket in the Community.

The MiniMatchplay is a participation event, for teams of under 11s from clubs around the County.

What a great opportunity for the young cricketers to play on a first class ground, under floodlights. Certainly trumps my only appearance (to date) at the County Ground as a player.

Continue reading “Festival nights — reflections on the MiniMatchplay festival at the CloudFM Essex County Ground, Chelmsford” →

Peer-to-peer mentoring: the future of coach development?

“we need to develop world class coaches for beginners”

Frank Dick

A couple of weeks ago, I posted on the challenge of developing coaches to work with beginners — children, or adults, new to a sport or to sports in general.

When I wrote that post, I asked what was being done to deliver on the ambition espoused by Frank Dick, and supported by many others.

I received some feedback that recognised the issue, but no suggestions of what could be done about it.

Since then, I have completed a quietly inspirational online course, Coaching Others to Coach.

And I might have seen the future of coach development in England.

Just maybe, it looks a bit like you, or me.

Continue reading “Peer-to-peer mentoring: the future of coach development?” →