The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is set to launch its own coaching manual this week.
The launch is set for the BCB Office in New Amsterdam Wednesday and is expected to be attended by senior board officials, youth cricketers and cricket coaches in the county.
The manual is dedicated to the memory of the late coach; Michael Hyles who served as a cricket coach in the county for over four decades and had assisted in the preparation of the document before his sudden death.
President of the BCB Hilbert Foster, who has spearheaded a major cricketing revolution in the Ancient County is expected to give the feature address at the launch and distribute the first set of manuals to some cricketers.
“Plans for the manual started after the board was unable to hosts its county wide coaching programme due to ongoing covid-19 pandemic,” a release from the BCB stated.
“Foster then suggested to his executives that alternatives had to be found to assist youths to improve their game and it was decided that the board should invest in a coaching manual,” the release added.
The BCB President was able to obtain the necessary sponsorship and a high level team of qualified cricket coaches, led by Level Three coaches Winston Smith and Julian Moore was set up to provide the necessary information for the manual. Other coaches involved were Leslie Solomon, Balram Samaroo, Travis Hardcourt, Tremayne Smartt and the late Hyles.
Information in the manual involves tips on batting, fast bowling; spin bowling, wicket keeping, fielding and physical training.
The manual also features special articles on the importance of discipline and education along with other topics such as field positions, ways of dismissals and umpires signals.
It also profiles Berbice test players and senior West Indies female players.
BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, stated that with the official launch of the manual out of the way, the board will forge ahead with the hosting of four mini-cricket academies across the county.
The academies will be held for approximately 200 promising under 19 players in West Coast Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje and Lower and Upper Corentyne.
Each of the players attending the academies will receive a copy of the manual while the board also intends to assist its fellow county boards with copies if requested.
“The publication of the historic coaching manual was done at a great cost because the BCB was totally committed to the development of every available cricketing talent in the Ancient County,” said Foster.
He stated that with players having their own coaching manual, they will be able to work on their own personal development at home on a regular basis and that club officials will also be in a position to assist them.
“Most clubs in Berbice are without the services of a cricket coach and the manual should assist them to do their own coaching sessions,” the release stated. Foster said that the manual will be distributed free of cost. The manual was made possible with the support of overseas based sponsors Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh. Dr. Puran Singh and Brian Ramphal.
