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Photo © ECC

Adam Cole, European Development Officer, visited Portugal on a Regional Coach Placement Initiative trip during the week of 19-23 May. The main purpose of the visit was to run a two-day introductory coaching course for twenty-five teachers from eleven different schools.

This was certainly an impressive turnout, and the teachers must be commended on their efforts, as they had never seen cricket before. St Peter's School hosted the course, and the head teacher has already requested that cricket be added to the curriculum.

Photo © ECC

All the other teachers seemed equally keen. All participants were given videos and coaching manuals to help with development.On the second day a class of children took part in some coaching drills run by the Portuguese teachers. This was fantastic to see and a great success. Equipment will be sent over to the Portuguese federation, who will then pass it on to the teachers for their respective schools.

Photo © ECC

Adam also found time during the trip to inspect potential grounds. The first was a forty-five minute drive from Lisbon and is in its infancy at the present time, but has the potential to be a lovely ground with a grass outfield. Federation secretary Fatima Buccimazza is actually buying the land and then developing it with a clubhouse and other such facilities. The other ground viewed was in the Algarve at Brown's Sports Complex, which is a wonderful facility but not likely to feature in the Federation's development plans at this stage.