Portugal's Paulo reports from Middlesex

Over the last couple of seasons I have looked to develop my coaching skills in the hope of taking my ECB Level II Coaching Award sometime in the future. Due to a shortage of numbers of qualified coaches in Portugal it has not been possible to arrange a Level II course. While working with the Portuguese national coach Graeme West, during the Affiliates Championship, he suggested that it might be possible for me to attend a Level II course in January held by Graeme's employer Middlesex CCC.

I was fortunate to have friends in London, who were prepared to put up with me for the week, and this would help save a fortune in accommodation costs.

Graeme who is employed by the Middlesex Cricket Board as their Cricket Development Officer spoke to both the MCB and the ECC to confirm that my participation on this Level II course could go ahead. The course was due to take place over 2 weekends. Thanks to a lot of behind the scenes negotiating between Philip Hudson at the European Cricket Council and Graeme West at Middlesex CB, they managed to produce a program, which provided me the opportunity to attend the course and participate in coaching sessions held by Middlesex CCC during the week.

The ECB Level 2 Coaching Course was held at the Indoor School in Finchley, and was every bit as challenging as it was made out to be. It covered a wide range of coaching skills, net sessions and video analysis of both batting and bowling and a First Aid course all jam packed into two Sundays. To prevent spending an extra week awaiting assessment I was assessed on the Monday and Tuesday before returning to Lisbon. During the week the arranged program allowed me to assist a Middlesex coach in his role of coaching at various schools in the area, attend Middlesex CCC Academy sessions, have some one on one coaching from Graeme West and help out at the ICC Regional Office at Lord's.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Middlesex CCC. I have learnt a great deal, and a large number of the new skills I was taught will allow me to improve the coaching sessions that I run back home. The whole trip reinforced in my mind the massive gap that exists between cricket in Portugal and cricket in a leading English county. Although this gap was huge our aim in Portugal must be to try and close this gap other the next 5-10 years and opportunities such as my visit to the UK can only help. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Europe Office and Graeme West especially for all their hard work in arranging my visit. I would also like to thank everyone at the MCCC Indoor School who made me feel at home throughout my stay. I look forward to returning to Middlesex CCC in the future.