The Teesra

Blog

  • We don’t talk any more…if we ever did — on (the absence of) coaching discourse amongst cricket coaches, and a possible role for Communities of Practice in coach development

    When did you last have a serious coaching conversation with a fellow coach?

    Not about who gets to use the bowling machine first, or about an individual player, or the opposition for next week’s game. But actually about the art and craft of coaching?

    Just before Christmas, I stumbled into what could evolve into a local Community of Practice (CoP). It started (indeed, still largely functions) as a WhatsApp group for a group of coaches to arrange social events and to vent about employment issues.

    One of the team posted a video of a young bowler with a question about his action, and got back a range of replies, all with a slightly different perspective, all with the same objective of helping that bowler to develop a more repeatable, more robust bowling action.

    A hopeful beginning.

    But where are the open discussion boards, the CoPs, the communities of like-minded individuals striving to provide the best possible experience to their charges?

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  • Year in review (2) — Another season of Seniors cricket — promotions and runs!

    They always say the second season is harder than the first…

    Another year of Seniors Cricket, my first as a properly qualified member of the team. (I played in 2021 as a permitted “under-age” player!).

    The teams did well, again. 4th XI finished (distant) second to a resurgent Kent, 2s & 3s both qualified from their regional groups, only to fall at the first (1/4 final) national knock-out round. The 1s had their National Final postponed to April 2023.

    My own season reached unexpected levels — I started in May opening the bowling for the 4th XI, but by late July was batting at no.4 (and scoring runs) in the 2nd XI!

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  • Year in review (1) — Coaching in 2022

    I didn’t expect to do much coaching in 2022. Maybe some private 1-to-1s, perhaps some schools work, but not a lot more.

    But I returned to regular coaching in the summer term, when so many of my former colleagues were (sensibly!) playing, and found that I enjoyed myself. And whilst I do not expect to get back to pre-lockdown levels (and no more 6am alarm calls!), I hope to coach maybe a day a week going forward.

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