UAE holds Level 0 coaching course
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) held a Level 0 coaching course at the end of May to focus on the basics of cricket which went hand-in-hand with a workshop by ACC Development Officer Rumesh Ratnayake. The 'Thinking Out-of-the Box' workshop was designed to provide coaches with more coaching options rather than a by-the-book approach.
Ratnayake spent four days in Abu Dhabi and three in Sharjah with the workshop, which took place after he attended the ICC Development and Performance Officers Forum. He said: "Nowadays coaches, even if they were ex-players, forget to utilize their experience in sessions. I find it vital that they open up instead of going into their shell after doing coaching courses."
The 50 participants consisted of former and current cricketers as well as physical education teachers. According to ECB Administrator Mazhar Khan, all participants took part very enthusiastically and are looking forward to Ratnayake coming back.
Khan said he was confident of these new coaches doing a good job for Emirates cricket: "They got good advice and are very positive for the game. Many of the participants are still playing in league matches and by doing the Level 0 course, they, along with current cricketers, can teach and help upcoming UAE talent."
UAE had previously dominated the ACC's senior developing nations' tournaments winning four consecutive ACC Trophies from 2000 to 2006. In 2008, they were losing finalists to Hong Kong but in the 2010 tournament they finished sixth, their worst placing in the ACC Trophy.
The search for new coaches may well be a fresh start for cricket in the Emirates. The UAE has 15 academies which run cricket coaching clinics for children. Each of these academies train close to 100 children, therefore, it is vital that the people involved in coaching have proper training in safety and technical skills to guide the younger talent. The participants of this course will begin coaching immediately and the ECB is hoping to conduct a Level I course for them by the end of the year.
