Hampshire coaches to spend three days with ZCCC coaches & their players

The first time ZCCC and Hampshire’s John Cook worked together was in May 2009, five years ago. Since then Hampshire coaches have been back to Switzerland once or even twice every year.

John Cook discusses a batting point in the break
John Cook discusses a batting point in the break

The idea behind the Hampshire coaches’ visit in January 2013 centres on the fact that both ZCCC coaches and players desire to make progress. As Hampshire’s John Cook says, “I’m an advocate of the coaches getting more development under their belts.” It is the coaches who are the ones working week for week with the players, and here in Switzerland coaches receive very little opportunity for further training in the course of a year. John Cook and Chris Wheeler see the three days in January as an opportunity to develop the skills of the coaches by working together with our players on a more individual basis. If we are better coaches, our players will improve, enjoy their game more, and our teams will be more successful.

Throwing techniques with Chris Wheeler
Throwing techniques with Chris Wheeler

For coaches who have completed ECB Level I or II courses the sessions scheduled over the three days in January come very close to the ECB Club Coach Development Workshop programme. In order to become a Club Coach, the next step up after Level II, six workshops have to be completed followed by an Assessment. The six workshops up to now have included the following units:

- Using Video with Batters;

- Developing Batters;

- Working with Bowlers using Video Cameras;

- Wicket Keepers and Fielders;

- Coaching a Team;

- and Coaching in the Nets.

 

The players themselves are being asked to consider in advance what they want to work on. Where are their strengths, where are there weaknesses? How do they want to improve their game? What do they want to focus on? They will be able to hone certain skills with the Hampshire coaches. Sessions with one other player, or in a group of three have been designed to cope with the large interest shown by the players. All these sessions will be assisted by a ZCCC coach.

 

In the case of the Under 11 players the coaches have opted to expose certain players to similar individual sessions, but there will also be sessions involving new drills and games with the whole group.

 

We are looking forward to the challenge.