Coaching 2009

Finchampstead Cricket Club’s Vision Statement is: 

“To ensure that every boy and girl is introduced to the game and is given the opportunity to progress through a structured coaching and support programme.  Likewise, the Club wishes to ensure that every player will perform to the highest level that their desire and ability allows, and play the game fairly and within the spirit of the game.”

The Club is extremely proud of the work and development that has gone into the Coaching Programme element of the Club’s Development. Since it achieved ClubMark status in 2005, the club has gone from strength to strength, and in 2006, it was one of the first Club’s in the UK to be selected to deliver coaching to schools in the Community through the Chance to Shine and Berkshire Sports Partnership programmes.

As a result of the grants provided by these programmes, the club are now able to provide an extremely comprehensive Club Coaching Programme. This has been developed by the Club under the guidance of the Director of Coaching, Alan Jones, who was a professional cricketer with Glamorgan for 13 years. It makes available coaching for Club & non Club members, young or old, beginners or experienced players alike, and involves:

• Squad Sessions for Youth & Senior sides
• ‘Specialist’ Sessions for carefully selected individuals who show good promise in certain skill and technique areas.
• 1:1 Sessions to all players who wish to seriously improve their game
• Coaching Camps

Over the past 3 years, the Club has invested a great deal into developing a coaching team to deliver this programme and now boasts over 20 ECB qualified coaches, two-thirds of them being at UKCC level 2 or above.

Squad Sessions:

• Under 9's - Fridays - (06.00 – 8.00)
• Under 11's - Fridays - (6.00 - 8.00)
• Under 13's - Saturdays - (09.30 -11.00)
• Under 15s - Mondays - (6.00 – 8.00)
• Girls (all age groups) - Wednesdays - (5.00 - 6.30)
• Premiers & Development Squad - Tuesdays - (6.00 – 8.00)
• ‘Club’ Night & Under 17s - Thursdays - (6.00 – 8.00)

‘Specialist’ Sessions

These sessions assist players who have been identified by their Managers with good skill levels that can be developed further to provide greater opportunity for them to progress into District and County Squads. Contact Denise Lincoln, Coaching Coordinator, for more details.

1 : 1 Sessions

• Wednesday Nights - (6.00 – 8.00)

These sessions are for any player who wishes to improve their technique, and also focus on the mental aspect of the game and how to maximise their performance in a game situation. These sessions are also available to Non-Members.

Coaching Camps:

• May half term course - 26th, 27th & 28th May 
• Summer (Course 1) - 3rd, 4th & 5th August
• Summer (Course 2) - 18th, 19th & 20th August

These camps focus on individual bowling, batting and fielding skills, in addition to this, they also endeavour to provide the participants with tactical awareness so that they may maximise their ability in the game situation.

The 1:1 Sessions and Coaching Camps are available to members and non-members - anyone who wishes to improve their cricketing abilities. For further information please contact the Coaching Coordinator:

Denise Lincoln
Tel: 01344 776594
E-mail:  deniselincoln@hotmail.co.uk

In summary, we believe that we have the facilities and Programme in place to help any player to improve their skills and help them to perform to the best of their abilities. I wish you well in your development as a cricketer, and of course a successful and enjoyable season.

Alan Jones
Director of Coaching