Sky hits new high

Flower: scheme delivers all-round

England team director Andy Flower has praised the continuing success of the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme.

"Everyone at Sky Sports is immensely proud of our involvement and we are delighted that the results are so impressive."
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In the same year that England climbed to the top of the Test rankings, new figures reveal that 11,000 newly-qualified coaches have come through the initiative to bring the total since the scheme launched in 2006 to a grand total of 45,846.

The scheme - which aims to attract and train coaches at all levels of cricket across a number of different coaching courses - is proving a hit in clubs and schools.

"Coaching is all important at every level of the game," said Flower, after giving a coaching masterclass at the Oval.

"The programme gives coaches the skills to be able to empower players from beginners learning the basics, through to dealing in minute technical aspects with professional cricketers at elite level. Whatever level you coach at acquiring the right skills is absolutely essential."

The courses offered include:

Coaching Assistants and Coaches - Enhancing coaching at club, regional and county level.

Cricket Young Leaders - Providing 14-18 year olds the opportunity to assist coaching in schools, clubs and Kwik Cricket tournaments throughout the UK.

Coaching for Teachers - Training Primary and Secondary school teachers to deliver quality cricket sessions.

Working in Schools - Training qualified coaches to work in primary schools to deliver cricket sessions in line with the curriculum.

The initiative has won the backing of two former England captains, Nasser Hussain and Mike Gatting.

Sky Sports commentator Hussain said: "This is a fantastic programme that is proving how important coaching is to the game of cricket. Everyone at Sky Sports is immensely proud of our involvement and we are delighted that the results are so impressive."

Healthy

Gatting, now ECB Head of Cricket Partnerships, added: "We are delighted to once again see so many coaches benefit from the programme, which is invaluable for the continued development of coaches in cricket and the future of the game.

"Over the last five years the programme has introduced over 12,900 young leaders to coaching cricket as well as running modules to suit all ages and abilities, which paints a healthy prospect for the future of the game."

The number of people on the Coaching for Teachers course - which trains primary and secondary school teachers to deliver quality cricket session in schools - has continued to increase with over 1800 training over the last 12 months and 5,480 since the course started four years ago.

To find out more on the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme, please click here or visit the ECB's website.