SL: Cricket Coaching Course Revived (17 Jun 1996)

17 June 1996

Cricket coaching course revived

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

An area of cricket coaching which had been greatly neglected by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka for eight years will be revived with the revival of the diploma award courses for cricket coaches next month.

Called the Level 2 Diploma, this five-day course from July 17-21 will initially have 22 candidates, each of them paying a fee of Rs. 2,000 to cover cost of accommodation, food, literature etc. The course is open to coaches who have qualified at the first level (basic).

What is most interesting is that two of the 22 candidates are from the MRF Pace Academy in Madras which gives a new dimension to cricket coaching in Sri Lanka. Their participation gives this course some recognition and standing and, provides a tremendous boost to our local coaches.

The guidelines that are being followed for the program are those set down in England and in Australia. It covers both theory and practical, assessment examinations, written impromptu talks, practical assessments etc.

"The coach needs information in a number of areas which you cannot demonstrate. He basically needs to understand how to correct errors. That is basically the core of coaching, and we have that fairly and thoroughly covered in the program,`` said Davenall Whatmore, the Sri Lankan cricket coach, who along with the Cricket Board`s director of coaching Malcolm Perera has drawn up the course program.

"There are the support areas, the nutrition, role of the coach, the biomechanics, the psychology. All that is covered in this session, mixed in with a number of practical sessions,`` said Whatmore.

John Harmer, a highly qualified sports biomechanist is coming to Sri Lanka specially for this course. Harmer is funded by the Cricket Foundation of Queensland and has always been commissioned in Australia to cover the biomechanic areas at their highest level of coaching.

Whatmore has the highest regard for Harmer. "I have heard him talk on many occasions and I can listen to him for hours. In many cases when I am not sure on techniques or a technical point, I always call him,`` he said.

"He knows the way the body works and has all the answers. Biomechanic governs technique. It is an effective use of body parts on performance of skill. Cricket is a skill based game,`` said Whatmore.

Other experts listed to lecture the courses are W.A.N. Silva and Ranjit Fernando, two of the highest qualified National Cricket Association of England coaches, the Sri Lankan team physio Alex Kountouri and human performance expert Richard Walsh, who is already in Sri Lanka and working with the national team.

The program will also invite past and present Sri Lankan cricketers like Roy Dias, Sidath Wettimuny, Ashantha de Mel, Lalith Kaluperuma, Brendon Kuruppu, Roshan Mahanama, Muthiah Muralitharan, Marvan Atapattu, Upul Chandana, to speak on specialised fields.

"This is a fairly comprehensive course, something which hasn`t been done for eight years. We are pretty excited about giving something back to the areas of Sri Lankan cricket that probably has been neglected for a while,`` said Whatmore.

"This is a good opportunity for the 420 coaches who have followed our Level 1 basic coaching award course to take a step higher. All these years they never got an opportunity of progressing further because we had a problem of getting down NCA coaches from England. Most of them were unhappy they could not obtain a senior certificate. But Dav has come to our help,`` said Perera.

The course has received the support of the Cricket Board`s ExCo, who have endorsed it, and the coaching committee headed by the Cricket Board`s vice president Thilanga Sumathipala, who have realised the need to generate more interest in cricket in the country.

Having been a professional cricket coach for six years, Whatmore`s views on this coaching course is: "I think this is absolutely vital for cricket in this country, to have a program like this where you are giving information all the time. Everyone is focusing on the national team after they won the World Cup. Not that they should be neglected, but you should also look after your future. The future is always the young ones. You will never know from where the next Aravinda de Silva will come from``.

If the coaches who follow the diploma award course can go back to their respective districts and pass on the knowledge they have gained, the Cricket Board`s efforts in this field will not be a wasted one. The success of the course depends on how well the coaches can spread the gospel of coaching.

The Cricket Board intends holding another Level 2 course with about 20 to 22 candidates and a Level 3 with a further 10 to 15 candidates during the year.

Source :: Daily News (http.//www.lanka.net)