Trinidad launch massive coaching programme

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) will embark on a massive coaching programme from which approximately 120 persons will be certified as West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Level One coaches.

There will be six courses, five in Trinidad and one in Tobago, with the first programme scheduled to get underway in the south zone on Friday September 15. Each course will run over a six-day period between 9am to 4.30 pm and will cater for 20 participants from each zone. According to Forbes Persaud, chief executive officer/general secretary of the TTCB this is just another one of the several development programmes to be undertaken by the board in their efforts to improve the standard and quality of local cricket.

"We are hoping that through this exercise there will be more qualified coaches who will be available to teach the proper techniques to local cricketers at the zonal, clubs and schools levels," Persaud said. He added that according to the board's investigations, there are several zones and clubs operating without sufficient qualified coaching personnel.

"We have found out that there is a shortage of qualified coaches in several parts of the country and as a result it is our view that an exercise of this nature is very critical for the development of young cricketers and the game in general.

"We are therefore calling on all interested persons to get in touch with their respective zonal officers in order to be a part of this massive exercise."

As far as the youth development programmes were concerned, Persaud claimed the new initiatives introduced this year were successful. These included the Star Programme for form one students across the country, the High Performance Centres and three developmental tours.

"The Star Programme attracted approximately 2500 boys and the main aim of this programme was to get the participants to enjoy the game of cricket", he said. "However, we will be modifying the programme in the new season which will culminate with a cricket festival for form one cricketers."

Persaud also claimed success for the TTCB's High Performance Centres. "The High Performance Centres catered for 128 elite under-15 cricketers at eight centres, seven in Trinidad and one in Tobago. These camps were conducted on weekends over a three-month period and will continue every other Saturday from September. Also in September, we will be starting the High Performance Centres for under-17 cricketers."

Persaud pointed out that at these centres, the aim was not only to develop the young cricketers' skills but a lot of emphasis will be placed on their all-round development.

Following are the dates for the WICB Level One courses.

Course 1 South Zone Sept 15,16,17, 22, 23, 24
Course 2 North Zone Oct 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
Course 3 North East Zone Oct 27, 28, 29, Nov 3, 4, 5
Course 4 South East Zone Nov 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19
Course 5 Central Zone Nov 24, 25, 26, Dec 1, 2, 3
Course 6 Tobago Zone Dec 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17