ECB Core Coach is a coach education programme for the recreational game and an entry-level qualification for coaching cricket in England and Wales alongside ECB Foundation Coach.
This programme has been designed to develop your knowledge, skills and confidence to lead player-centred coaching sessions.
An ECB Core Coach is qualified to lead coaching sessions independently and without supervision.
Who is it for?
Anyone aged 17 and over wishing to become qualified to coach cricket, inspire and develop players and make a difference to the game.
Experience of playing or coaching cricket is desirable but not essential when applying for ECB Core Coach.
A cohort route to becoming an ECB Core Coach
The cohort route is designed for coaches who want structure and connectivity to develop.
Modules blend face-to-face and micro-learning to focus on developing your coaching through regular opportunities to coach, generate feedback and reflect. Modules are intentionally spaced over time to create opportunities to explore and apply key themes in your own coaching environment.
The cohort route may be right for you if you:
- Want structure and support throughout your learning and development
- Enjoy learning alongside other coaches
- Value opportunities to discuss ideas and share experiences
- Want coaching opportunities and feedback.
Commitment
- Programme fee – £400.00
- Eight modules – each including face-to-face and micro-learning spaced over a minimum eight week period
- Four assessments – two coaching observations, one multiple choice question assessment and one short answer question assessment.
Key themes
- Role of an ECB Core Coach
- Core principles - batting, bowling (pace and spin), fielding and wicketkeeping
- Safety
- icoachcricket
- Player development
- Player-centred planning process
- Tactical knowledge, physical fundamentals and mental skills
- The coaching tools
- The continuum of practice.
Pre-requisites for certification
- 18 years of age
- Valid safeguarding training e.g. Safeguarding Level 2
- Valid ECB Disclosure and Barring Service check.
How to apply
To search for the next ECB Core Coach course near you, visit our course finder.
Further learning opportunities
- Membership of the ECB Coaches Association
- Micro-learning
- Coaching practice workshops
- Learning workshops
- Local events
- ECB Advanced Coach.
Reimagining ECB Core Coach
From 1st October 2026, ECB Core Coach will be offered through a 'multiple routes to the same destination' approach. Coaches work towards the same nationally recognised ECB Core Coach qualification through different routes, all aligned to the same national outcomes, assessment criteria and quality standards.
This reimagining builds on what already works. A cohort route remains central to ECB Core Coach, while two additional routes now sit within a single national framework, reflecting the range of coaching experience, confidence and context across the game.
- From 1st February 2027
- Situated – for coaches who want to develop in their own environment with individualised support
- Solo – for coaches who want to demonstrate their experience and capability.
All routes:
- Align to the same national outcomes, conditions and quality standards
- Operate to consistent expectations for assessment
- Lead to the same ECB Core Coach qualification as the destination.
What differs is how coaches are supported to develop, not what they are required to demonstrate.
The reimagined ECB Core Coach is designed to meet coaches where they are, reduce barriers to development and support a diverse, highly skilled coaching workforce, while retaining national clarity and standards.
Further detail will be shared once local plans are confirmed.