New Zealand Cricket Hosts EAP High Performance Managers

The inaugural High Performance Manager Meeting was held at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre at Lincoln University. A two-day workshop brought together High Performance personnel from five EAP's Member countries - Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, PNG and Vanuatu.

Attendees had an intense two-day session including professional development and workshops. Following an introductory dinner on Friday night, they had discussions on building a High Performance Programme, talent identification, and strength and conditioning. The day's activities demonstrated the premise of the meeting, to facilitate discussions on High Performance topics for EAP Members.

Charlie Burke, EAP's Regional Development Officer, who also coordinated the meeting in conjunction with New Zealand Cricket, said: "The potential for growth and development in each Member's High Performance Programme emphasises the relevance of the event. We have grown our full-time High Performance Manager (HPM) staff from none in 2006 to three full-time and three part-time in 2009".

Living and working together over two days, the meeting also focused on networking between attendees along with formal discussions and development workshops. "The HPMs will learn much from each other's programme along with what is discussed in the meeting. Even though the seminar was held on a weekend, the passion and drive from these leaders is outstanding," Burke said.

The inaugural event precedes the sixth Advanced Coaching and Development Seminar (AC&D), a week-long event bringing together coaches from the EAP region. Each High Performance Manager will act as a mentor on the first day of the seminar, further facilitating the transfer of professional knowledge and skills between representatives of Member countries. The attendees will meet for the first time at a dinner function on Sunday night where New Zealand cricket legend John Wright will address the group.

The AC&D seminar will help provide the skills to present and access level 1 coaching courses in Member countries. Fiji, Indonesia, PNG, Cook Islands and Tonga will all be represented at the seminar as the ICC EAP region continues to strive for coach education opportunities.