Coaching programme exceeds target

Andy Flower reveals the number of coaches to have graduated from the Sky Sports ECB coach education programme since its launch five years ago. "Coaching is all important at every level of the game," he said

The England and Wales Cricket Board and Sky Sports today announced that over 45,000 coaches have graduated from the Sky Sports ECB coach education programme since its launch five years ago.

There have been 11,000 newly qualified coaches in the last year alone. Overall figures are triple the original target set when the scheme launched in 2006.

England team director Andy Flower said: “Coaching is all important at every level of the game. 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.”

Sky Sports commentator and former England captain, Nasser 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.”

Mike Gatting, the ECB’s head of cricket partnerships, added: “We are delighted to once again see so many coaches benefit from the Sky Sports ECB coach education programme.

“The programme 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 sessions in schools - has continued to increase, with over 1,800 training over the last 12 months and 5,480 since the course started four years ago.

The Sky Sports ECB coach education programme aims to attract and train coaches at all levels of cricket across a number of different coaching courses:

• 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.

Sky has made an unrivalled commitment to cricket over the last 20 years, offering subscribers year-round live coverage from the recreational game to Test grounds.

Sky Sports has followed England overseas every winter and at home every summer. A record number of county matches have been televised and the commitment to support every level of the game includes coverage of England under-19s and England women, holders of the Women’s World Cup.

To find out more on the Sky Sports ECB coach education Programme, please visit www.skysports.com/coaching.