The latest stage involved face-to-face practical components to build coaches’ knowledge. In addition to the technical basics of elite cricket, topics included Leadership, Programme Management, Communication, Skill Acquisition as well as Visual Technology and Data Analysis. One of the highlights was a bowling master-class with iconic fast bowler Courtney Walsh, who is the Head Coach of the West Indies Women’s Team.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the legendary West Indies batsman, was among the participants and he was very positive about the programme. “It is a lot of information being passed on. There are so many different and informative things, which we have gone through on this High-Performance Level 3 coaching course and I am very happy to be participating. It is very beneficial for all of us, this is where coaching is going, and it is very necessary that we are aware and equipped to be able to share the knowledge to our players,” he said.
Several other former international players participated including Nikita Miller, Garey Mathurin, Vishal Singh, Ryan Austin, and Rayad Emrit.
This is the first-ever locally planned and delivered High-Performance Coach Programme (Level 3) CWI which forms a key part of the “Cricket First” strategic plan, which includes investment in building coaching depth and quality across the region, especially considering the vital role coaches play in developing cricketers’ skills across all age groups and abilities both on and off the field.
The High-Performance (Level 3) programme has been designed by CWI Coach Development Manager, Chris Brabazon, in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI). It provides a number of the region’s best coaches with opportunities to further learn and develop contemporary coaching philosophies and techniques that will allow them to thrive in the high-performance environment of the West Indies Cricket Pathway.
The rigorous, holistic accreditation also consists of online discussions, tutorials, and ongoing mentoring. The course was delivered by CWI’s High-Performance staff, in conjunction with UWI representatives, to provide participants with unprecedented access to best practice case studies and frameworks from the elite levels of West Indies cricket and beyond.
This forum will be the launchpad for the new CWI Coach Education Program, a key part of the new “Cricket First” strategy and investment plan to develop coaches and players to strengthen cricket in the West Indies for long-term success.
Newly-appointed Coaching Education Manager Chris Brabazon, international and franchise coaches will be working together to develop a framework as to how all coaches in the region will work and communicate together to improve player development and shape the players of the future.
“This is something I tried to initiate a few years ago in my previous stint as head coach and it's great that this was initiated in 2017 under Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams. I feel we can all learn from each other and all work together for the development of West Indies Cricket,” said West Indies Head Coach, Phil Simmons.
Adams said he was happy that the programme has been getting the backing it needs to ensure success.
“I am pleased that CW is putting resources behind player-development through the strengthening of its coaching pathway,” he said.
“We need to have all our coaches in the region playing a consistent and integrated role in player development and this forum will be a significant part of the process.”
CWI plans to use this forum to start building consistency throughout its coaching pathway, from U15s to international level by identifying current and future playing skills critical for international success and then determining the coaching pathway and education to develop those playing skills.
Following the West Indies Coaches Forum, Coach Education Manager Chris Brabazon will visit all regional franchises to meet with regional pathway coaches to understand how CWI can better support regional coaches and how all coaches can work together with the new Coach Education Program.
“There is no doubt that the role of the coach is vital at every level of the player pathway. These Coach Forums will be crucial to the creation of a coach development system that provides our coaches with the practical resources required to assist them to play their part in the player journey,” said Brabazon.
CWI President Ricky Skerritt, who will be making opening remarks at the forum, said bringing cricket specialists together to learn from each other, establish standards and plan strategy is a crucial component of CWI’s overall strategy.
“I am really pleased to see such a gathering taking place,” he said.
The coaches participating in the Coaching Forum are Andre Coley, Nikita Miller, Emmerson Trotman, Fernix Thomas, Wilden Cornwall, Esuan Crandon, Stuart Williams, Andrew Richardson, Roddy Estwick, David Williams, Vasbert Drakes, Floyd Reifer, and Pedro Collins.
