COUNTY CRICKET BOARD HEAD COACH OF THE “EMERGING PLAYERS GROUP"

DORSET HEAD COACH  MATTHEW KEECH

matthew.keech@dorsetcricketboard.co.uk

or

keech100@googlemail.com

1. Introduction:

Through the new County Cricket Board Development Planning process each Board now has the opportunity to make strategic decisions based on local priorities and development needs. One key area of Programme Management is the design and coordinated delivery of support to the most talented players. Whilst the County Cricket Board will identify, select and develop a large number of players to play for its various teams, there will clearly be a number of male and female players aged between 13 and 16 who show greater athleticism, attitude and aptitude for the game. It is these players who can be defined as the “Emerging Players Group”.

It will be up to each CCB to establish how many players they have identified for the “Emerging Players Group”. Over the next 12 months the ECB will be conducting further work into “What constitutes talent?” and Talent Identification Criteria which will in time inform the process further.

It is not the purpose to take the “Emerging Players Group” out of their squads or away from their cricket peer group, but to give them the opportunity to devote more and increased quality time to their development as potentially elite cricketers. All players will have the opportunity to be a part of the “Emerging Players Group” at any particular time in their own development which will vary from individual to individual.

Purpose of the Position:

1. To oversee the management of those players at County Cricket Board level who have been identified as the “Emerging Players Group” of talented male and female players aged between 13 and 16.

Principle Responsibilities:

1. To act as the main point of contact within the County Cricket Board for the Regional Performance Managers.
2. To be responsible for coordinating the delivery of the programme for those players identified by the County Cricket Board as the “Emerging Players Group”.
3. To work with the Regional Performance Managers in the design and delivery of Individual Development Programmes (IDP’s) for each of the players in the “Emerging Players Group”.
4. To communicate issues relating to IDP’s to coaches working with the “Emerging Players Group”.
5. To biannually attend a Regional “Head Coach” Workshop to discuss and share “Best Practice”.
6. Attend all ECB EPP conferences, workshops and meetings.
7. Circulate ECB Talent Selection guidance notes to District and County Coaches.
8. To manage the budget and allocate resource to programme delivery.
9. To maintain any necessary records and information relating to the “Emerging Players Group”.
10. To meet annually with the appropriate Regional Performance Manager as part of the County Cricket Board Audit process.

Suggested “Head Coach” Profile:

• Minimum L3.
• Experience of working with talented young cricketers
• Good knowledge of the working practices, existing structures and coaching personnel already in operation within the CCB
• May or may not be actively involved in actually delivery to the “Emerging Players Group” but must be available to devote sufficient time to the consultation process, design, delivery and monitoring of the programme.
• Given the existing responsibilities of the CDM network, the “Head Coach” is unlikely to be the existing CDM. But he or she may be employed by the County Cricket Board or County Club in another capacity if the role fits within existing structures already in place e.g. Youth Cricket Director, Development Officer, Youth Manager etc. It will be the CCB responsibility to establish the person most suitable for the role but in the 18 First Class Counties the decision should be taken in consultation with the County Academy Director and/or Director of Cricket.