Rebuilding The West Indies

Part II - THE COACHING SYSTEM

by ANGUS GIRARD-ISAAC

Now that we have attended to the developing of our 'infant' cricketers, focus should be directed towards establishing and maintaining a uniform system of coaching in the region. The coaches of our future test players should be working off the same page, setting the same goals all from the same manual. The training or certification of coaches in foreign facilities, follows criteria tailor-made for the success of cricket in that nation or region.

Our current coaches therefore embark on restructuring our unique approach to playing cricket, by changing our players to adopt the style and characteristics of others. In fact it should be the reverse - remodeling the proven methods and techniques of others to suit our cricket character.

The WICB, it appears, has taken the initial step to develop a manual specifically for our region, which should address the above need. If or when it is completed, they must ensure its circulation and availability to all current coaches and understudy/trainees through a retraining program.

It is of utmost importance that current coaches throughout the region prepare to change existing attitudes and mentality towards coaching, be receptive to the principals of 'our' manual - vacating that of the foreign acquired. To do so the WICB may have to seduce the existing regional boards with the 'One Page' concept, to induce openmindedness, for the good of cricket in the region.

The theoretical methods of this new manual cannot and should not be exclusively for selected Windies U-15 through Test team coaches. The WICB should re-educate the regions coaches with prescribed courses of instruction, various exams and a practical stint at an affiliate cricket facility, where interaction and communicative skills can be observed. That accomplished the participants can receive WICB Regional Coaching Certificates qualifying them to coach in all territories under the WICB jurisdiction. The ultimate effect will be a WICB community of coaches prepared for the future and with more leverage when competing for available coaching poisitions at various institutions in the region.

It would also put to rest the exclusivity created by the foreign 'Coaching Certificate', a parchment that did more for the ego of the holder, rather than highlight his coaching accomplishments. In my opinion it is a document better suited to cricketing nations like Australia and England, with a larger community of skilled coaches where it can be an elimination tool. The WICB would be shooting itself in the foot if it kept that policy. There is an abundance of know how talent in our caribbean cricketing world, better suited to us when equipped and trained properly. Let experience then be the deciding factor used for assignments.

From this pool, the WICB can select a senior panel of coaches based on Test playing and or First Class experience, years of service etc . Their mission, to become the advisors, instructors and motivators for players of regional national teams. In a case where a long tenured coach would not be released by his Regional Board, (if he is not retrained), the WICB senior coach will become his advisor, assisting with the development of the team.

Obviously in the near future, all coaches would have enlisted into the system and evolved into a coaching fraternity united in their ideals, goals and practices. They would be able to brainstorm together, eliminating conflicting approaches, methods etc while maintaining the existing friendly rivalries in our tournaments.

By involving, rather than excluding itself from the building, developing and coaching of regional teams the WICB is ensuring continuity from the training levels mentioned in Part I. The players would continue to blossom under the same similar conditions introduced at the earlier 'infant' stage, though more intensified, and will not feel abandoned. By precipitating more advanced training and knowledge through these senior coaches, what was instilled earlier can be reinforced for the next level. These youngsters would have been familiar with some of the methods and would be prepared for this stage of fine tuning.

Instead of National coaches each with their own agenda, we now would have one communitive body working towards cohesiveness, learning, adjusting from the same page heading for the same predetermined goal. The Return to Glory of West Indies Cricket.

** Also see: PART I - SCOUTING FROM THE RANKS