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Coaches are critical to the success of any cricket development programme and as a result the Leinster Cricket Union have been in close working contact with the National Coaching and Training Centre (NCTC) who act as technical advisors to the Irish Sports Council. Significant change has been undertaken in relation to course syllabus and course material, the result being the delivery of a more professional course and the production of higher quality coaches. 38 newly qualified coaches have entered the coaching field following the running of four separate courses held over the winter.

• Course 1
  ICU/NCTC Introduction Course - Malahide Community School (Nov 23rd, Nov 30th, Dec 7th & Jan 11th)

  Simon Chase, Sean Gill, Keith Reynolds, Sean Hill, Neil Boyne, Andrew Richardson, Killian Grimes, Darragh McGrath & Sam Cassidy.

  “The course gave me a great understanding of the role of the coach and the ‘best practice' methods of teaching schoolchildren new skills. I have been using these teaching methods on my weekly coaching visits to the National Schools in the Malahide area” Sam Cassidy - Malahide CC.

• Course 2
  ICU/NCTC Introduction Course - North County CC (Nov 26th & Dec 10th)

  Darren Roux, Elaine Pollard, Dave Winter, Douglas Nicol, Greg Withey (all North Kildare), Bazil Cromer, Ian Darnell (Sandyford), Michael Shoebridge, Niall O'Brien (Malahide) & Warrick Hewitt (CYM).

  “The new techniques that the course teaches are excellent. A lot different than the ‘block it - hit it' technique that I remember from schooldays. Each drill is now broken down into 4 or 5 easy-to-remember segments which culminate to make the perfect technique. I have been using these methods while working with the St Columba's U'14 school team in recent weeks. I'm hoping all I have learnt from this course can be passed on to the group of young cricketers I am currently working with”. Bazil Cromer - Sandyford CC

• Course 3
  ICU/NCTC Introduction Course - CUS School (Jan 17th, Jan 24th & Feb 23rd) Conall O'Brien, Caleb Andreson, Mario Riccardi, Raymond O'Connor, Yousuf Junaid, Eoghan Stanley, David McAllister, Andrew O'Tuama, Mark Kelly, Stephen Reid, Robert McGrath.

  “Following completion of the course, our school principal Mr Jennings has had us running cricket sessions in the schoolyard for the boys in the Prep school. Although a bit nervous at first we have all worked hard with the young cricketers and we have all noticed an improvement since we started the coaching sessions six weeks ago” Ray O'Connor - CUS School and Merrion CC

• Course 4
  ICU/NCTC Level 1 Course - North County CC (Feb 25th, Mar 4th, Mar 25th & Apr 1st)

  Aideen Rice (YMCA), Anne Linehan (Downpatrick), Ronan Cruise (North Kildare), Barbara McDonald (Malahide), Ian Darnell, Bazil Cromer (Sandyford), Fintan McAllister, Ronan McGuire (Rush), Reiltin O'Connor (Phoenix), John Pope (The Hills), Sean Stanley (North Wicklow).

  “It was an excellent course and was very much designed to assist me as a coach to develop my coaching skills by providing me with the latest information on cricket techniques, group coaching and Long Term Athlete Development. It helped me develop an understanding of the key technical coaching points (what to coach) along with the best methods of delivering these sessions (how to coach)” Fintan McAllister - Rush CC & Irish squad member

  The Tutor team of Brían O'Rourke, Brian Kelleher and Vinnie Savino were very pleased with the new amount of coaches brought into the system and appreciate their role in the further development of the game within the province. Further courses are currently being planned and will be delivered by the Leinster Cricket Union from Oct 2006 - March 2007.

  Photograph: Recently qualified coach Sam Cassidy coaching girls from Pope John Paul's National School in Malahide.