Europe's coaches get to mix with big names in cricket

Representatives from 14 countries throughout Europe will get the chance to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in cricket over the next four days at Warwick University in the United Kingdom.

28 coaches from places as diverse as France, Denmark, Finland, Spain and Belgium will be there from Thursday 19 January, attending the European Coaching and Development Conference and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Coaches Association National Conference.

At the latter event they will hear from former England captain Nasser Hussain along with, amongst others, England Assistant Coach Matthew Maynard, Shane Warne's spin-bowling coach Terry Jenner and Peter Moores, the ECB Academy Director.

"The four days are all about sharing good practice and good procedures throughout Europe," said the ICC's European Development Manager Richard Holdsworth.

"The 28 coaches attending from throughout our region all have a role with national squads either at youth, Academy or senior level and this is a golden chance for them to acquire expert knowledge on a first-hand basis.

"To have someone like Nasser Hussain, for example, talking about captaincy and leadership will give those coaches present so much quality information.

"Our hope is that they can use that to improve their own skill levels and those of their players and also enthuse new people to get involved in coaching," he added.

The European attendees include Eddie de Moura Correira, the Netherlands' U/17 coach, former Derbyshire seam bowler Ole Mortensen, who is heading up Denmark's recently formed Academy, and Finland's Head of Youth Development, Julian Roach.

In addition to contributions from Hussain, Jenner, Moores and Maynard, there will be plenty of other activities taking place to keep the European coaches busy.

There will be a host of presentations and demonstrations including ones from England team physiologist Nigel Stockhill, and English county Academy Directors Stuart Barnes (Gloucestershire) and Richard Cox (Warwickshire).

"The emphasis is to help the European coaches in their planning and preparation and match-day and post match-day activities," said Holdsworth.

The ECB Coaches Association National Conference will be attended by 450 delegates, including the 28 from Europe.

As part of the ICC Development Program, coach education in Europe has increased dramatically since 2002 thanks to the European Cricket Council's involvement with the ECB's Coach Education Programme.

As a result of that involvement, the number of qualified coaches in Europe (not including England and Wales) increased from 1028 in 2002 to 1546 in 2005.

This is the second European Coaching and Development Conference with the first one taking place at Lord's in London In December 2004.

It will be the first time coaches from Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man have attended such a gathering since becoming ICC Affiliate Members in 2005.