The West Indies Cricket Board sponsored Grassroots Program-me was launched Friday at the Banks DIH Limited Thirst Park ground.
The programme targets individuals 11 to 17-years-old in Guyana’s mostly populated areas who will have an opportunity to develop their cricket abilities under the supervision of the Guyana Cricket Board.
Colin Stuart Territorial Development Officer of GCB said the Grassroots Programme has been developed
due to an initiative undertaken by the WICB to focus on individuals 11 to 17 years of age of both sexes who have an interest in cricket but currently possess limited or no cricketing experience.
“GCB aims to utilize the school structure and interest to create an environment of discipline, goal oriented individuals and individuals with high levels of commitment and competitiveness,” said Stuart a former West Indies fast bowler.
He added that there are also plans to “identify and nurture talent at an early stage, through coaching education and competition activities and to direct such identified talents to appropriate clubs.”
Director of Sport Neil Kumar said that he noted that the program was being used by the WICB in the Region to develop sports and to have it here will be good for youth development.
Kumar, who said that he recognized a top student from the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in the Queen’s College Team, said:“It is very important to balance education and recreational activities.”
Colin Bynoe, President of the Guyana Teachers Union, declkared that having both sexes participate in the programme was very good for the development of the sport.
He added that he would like to see the GCB expand to areas that are not currently involved since players from those areas might probably possess the natural ability to play cricket.
Lindley Langhorne Senior Physical Education Officer, said that he was most grateful for the programme since it can be used as an advantage by the students who are writing CSEC.
Stuart in concluding said the programme was a stepping stone from the Kiddy cricket programme and as such, it is good to have immediate initiative for the transition of development for youths.
GCB will employ coaches to assess the cricketing abilities of these individuals. The assessment phase will be divided into two parts: (1) Assessing the Natural Cricketing talents of players through observation and; (2) Assessing the players’ knowledge of the game through use of short and purposefully structured questions, whether written or oral.
