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The Belgian National Development Program has always looked at the potential schools could offer to promote the game at grass roots level, especially as an opportunity to reach indigenous children at both primary and secondary level. In order to get the message across, the Stichting Vlaamse Schoolsport (Flemish School Sports Foundation - roughly comparable with the Youth Sport Trust in the UK) was approached and informed about the BCF's ambitions.

It was, therefore, a real breakthrough when the BCF was invited to take part in the SVS National Apotheose Day, which took place on 18 June - the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures rising to 33ƒ!

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Cricket was one of 21 different sports on offer for a total of over 1,200 PE teachers from all over Flanders. 34 participants initially selected cricket on their forms, but by the end of the afternoon session 45 were taking part!

The "Development Team" consisted of Alex Oltmans, National Coach, who had taken care of the practical set up of the day, Hans FranÁois (National U11 coach), Roland Lefebvre (courtesy of the KNCB - thank you chaps!) and Paul LariviËre, National Development Officer.

The day proved a massive success, as Alex had made sure the approach was based on fun and games, based on the well known Time to Play coaching book, with the clear intent to show how a technically "difficult" sport can be introduced as a real school sport if the basics are kept simple and fun, guaranteeing maximum participation.

Photo © ECC

The availability of Dutch speaking coaches and a free package (containing one Kwik Cricket set, a Flemish Kwik Cricket Video and a copy of SPELENDERWIJS - the Flemish version of Time to Play) for each participant and the professionalism of the coaches were resulted in cricket being considered one of the highlights of the day.

The National Development Program has already received invitations to organize refresher courses later this year at both national and regional level. They surely have their work cut out!