Winter initiatives at Canterbury Cricket

Although winter sports are in full swing, cricket in Canterbury remains a focus over winter.

Canterbury Cricket is launching a new coaching initiative, utilising the new indoor centre facilities at Iversen Terrace starting in June.

Lack of winter coaching and pre tournament preparation in past years has been highlighted as being largely responsible for the less than satisfactory age group tournament results this season.

In an effort to reinstate Canterbury's dominance at these levels, the Canterbury Cricket Centre of Excellence has emerged, offering a two-strand comprehensive winter coaching programme.

Individual one-on-one coaching, offered to any cricketer who is interested in developing his or her skills, has already proved extremely popular with over 70 registrations for this intensive programme starting in June. Highly skilled Level Three coaches will work with the individual for a selected period of time, using up-to-date methods such as video analysis, bowling machine use and innovative coaching methods.

In conjunction with the one-on-one programme, the Centre of Excellence also incorporates the coaching of age group Canterbury squads, ranging from under-19 men to under-14 girls. Squad members have been selected through a nomination process, taking into account past performance and future potential. Fortnightly sessions will take place initially, with weekly sessions being introduced closer to the start of next season.

As well as developing Canterbury's players, current and aspiring coaches within the region have the opportunity to view the sessions as a means of developing their knowledge and experience through observing elite coaches, such as Michael Sharpe, Gary Stead and Vicki Burtt.

Also about to be introduced is the Canterbury Cricket Association Academy, formed to provide the very best coaching for Canterbury's elite cricketers from under-14 to Emerging Players. Small groups of approximately six athletes will be invited to develop their skills via specialised, intensive coaching for batting, pace bowling, spin bowling and wicket-keeping.

With these progressive initiatives there is no doubt that Canterbury Cricket is on a return to the winning podium of the various underage tournaments.

For more information on any of the above programmes, contact Richard Hayward, director of coaching and development, on phone (03) 363 5097.