Attracting more female coaches to cricket is vital for the game, and the advice from one emerging village club is simple: give them your support. k c o t s r e t t u h S / t o h s x

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8 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 Buried in deepest Buckinghamshire, Dinton CC has a history of girls’ cricket similar to that of many small clubs: flashes of success thanks to enthusiastic parents and strong groups of friends. Now home to a growing, organised girl’s section, they’ve recognised that female coaches bring something distinctive, valuable and worth investing in. Dinton CC coaches Briony Brock (left), Hannah Fisher and Mike Sutliff Dinton’s Briony Brock, Hannah Fisher and Mike Sutliff took time out from filming for All Stars ‘I find it challenging when some Once clubs have created an Cricket to speak to ECB of the boys I coach don’t want environment to bring in female Coach Development Manager, to listen because I’m a girl; they coaches, what can we do to Martyn Kiel. seem to find it harder make the most of them? Briony is in her early 20s, a respecting a female coach. ‘We can support, encourage, lapsed player returning to That’s a real challenge because value them, give them access to volunteer as a coach with the you want to change that the coaching courses and help budding girls’ section. She had perspective but it’s obviously them to be the best coach they no coaching experience when set-in. Having support from can be. That doesn’t mean she came back to Dinton, but other coaches is important, and coaching at county level – she had something impossible for the boys to see the to teach: an understanding of performances of female there’s a perception that a good why playing cricket as a young cricketers is a big step.’ coach must coach elite squads. That’s not true. girl is a unique experience. From the point of view of Mike, ‘There are inherent feelings Dinton’s junior co-ordinator, ‘The coach that gives a having young female coaches about gender that are tough to 15–year–old the confidence to like Hannah and Briony is hear. For example when I ask a stay in the game is of real value, important for generating an girl if they want to bat, they say as is the one who can instill a atmosphere that encourages “oh ok, but I’m rubbish,” which love for the game in the young players of all kinds to join is exactly what I would have 12–year–old who is struggling to the club. said at that age! find their place in the world. ‘Players coming to cricket That’s the kind of thing Hannah ‘I know those underlying should be seeing the potential and Briony are far more feelings are in me and it’s a of girls. I want my son to successful at than a failed battle to generate the recognise that girls can be county pro. confidence I need to overcome incredible players. The all that. Men and boys tend to traditional image of the men ‘Clubs need to be flexible, to be better at projecting playing and women making the understand what else will be confidence so it’s a challenge to tea is horribly outdated. going on in their world, to guide girls into being confident provide an environment where in that way. ‘If we’re going to create a true people want to spend time. A family atmosphere here then place their friends will want to ‘I was on a coaching course everyone needs to participate. I come to. We should always be recently and there were lots of think it’s really important to open to discussions about other comments like, “so is it the girls’ have role models, people like things they may want to section you coach?” That kind Hannah and Briony who are experience – travel perhaps, or of attitude is clearly frustrating young adults, who provide a but it’s nice at Dinton because great model: they are coaching a different sport. people aren’t like that. They enthusiastic, they invest time. ‘We can’t just rely on who we’ve understand the importance of ‘They offer elements of personal got now either. We can be exposing kids to mixed cricket.’ development that most looking at our 14–year–olds and Hannah, another young coach at experienced cricketers can’t, offering them opportunities to Dinton, recalls similar things like confidence and work towards coaching, creating frustrations but maintains that empathy with teammates. They a sustainable club where we are cutting through that is a battle have a unique skill set that we building young coaches and worth taking on. can’t do without.’ young role models.’

The Support Network 9