Inspiring participation and maximising performance of coaches and players SEAMHITTING THE TheOfficial Magazineof the ECB Coaches Association

ISSUE 37

As the World Cup arrives

We look ahead to a massive summer of cricket CHANGE THE GAME St George’s Park, October 28-29, 2017 m o c . k c o t s r e t t u h S / v o s t s

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL INVITATION TO THIS UNMISSABLE EVENT o K

© Welcome to Hitting the Seam 37! The Women’s World Cup is nearly upon us! 2017 is shaping up to be an exciting year for everyone. The imminent ICC Women's World Cup and Champions Trophy, a tri-series for England Learning Disability, the launch of All Stars Cricket, a National Conference and further developments to icoachcricket all contribute to More Play, Great Teams and Inspired Fans. In this issue our focus is on women’s and girls’ cricket from the top of the game to grass roots and the legacy the World Cup will leave behind after 23rd July. Martyn Kiel, ECB Coach Development Manager

Women’s Coaching Conferences: Evolving every year Featuring Kate Cross Lisa Pagett Nicky Fuller Women’s Coaching 1 – Jane Booth Conference in 2016 ugh and th January Myersco conferences in 29 Tony Robson 3 College, Preston 2017, with 120 delegates.

– 11th Febr uar y Edgbaston St adium, Birmingham

– dshire y Hertfor 21st Januar ge, Hatfield Sports Villa

‘In terms of coach development and investing in people, this has been a huge step forward in laying the foundations for what I am sure will be a sign of things to come through Cricket Unleashed, our new strategy, which highlights the importance and value of the women’s game.’ Cookie Patel, ECB Training Manager .

Hitting the Seam is the Official ECB Coaches Association Telephone: 0121 440 4332 Magazine of the ECB Coaches Support Centre Email: [email protected] Association. Ground © ECB Coaches Association, 2017 Edgbaston Birmingham Designed and produced Photography © Getty Images / ECB Warwickshire by Coachwise Creative unless otherwise stated B5 7QX 92682 MAKING HIS TOR Y

As the Women’s World Cup returns to these shores for the first time in 24 years, England Women’s Head Coach Mark Robinson is confident his players are ready for the challenge. s e g a m I n o i t c A

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4 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 ‘We need to lose more!’ is not a phrase you expect to hear from someone in charge of a national team, but that’s how Mark Robinson expresses the situation facing England Women. Robinson spoke to ECB Coach Development Manager Martyn Kiel, before he took an extended squad to Abu Dhabi for a ‘We’ve tried to take comprehensive training camp in the fear of failure preparation for a tournament where expectations are sky-high away, which is a for the host nation. difficult thing in The opening game, on 24 June, professional sport. comes over seven months after We’ve tried to free their previous competitive fixture and over eight months the girls up to after their last defeat, to the express themselves.’ West Indies in October. His willingness to be challenged is understandable then. ‘You don’t just make them personally. ‘Failure is part of the game,’ professional and expect them to Robinson explained. ‘You can’t ‘In their own eyes what they do be 100 times better all of a win all the time or be happy all is often not good enough and sudden though. These girls are the time. Learning is often ugly, it’s being around my daughter pioneers, the first group of so let’s get things wrong, let’s female professionals. They don’t and speaking to people close to be in game situations where have senior players around who her that I came to understand things aren’t going to plan. have got the t-shirt – the that before I even started working with the national team. ‘We play too many one-sided experience with the press for games currently, so we don’t example. That means sometimes I now spend a lot of time trying get tested. That’s an objective we have tears, along with joy, to normalise feelings and for us, to put more pressure on. but that’s one of the reasons behaviours with my players.’ To make better decisions under I’m here, to help the players Emotions will be heightened as pressure is something we’re understand the good and bad hosts, but Robinson is intent on working on, but you never know of professionalism.’ using that to spur on the team, where you are with that until Managing the emotional not as an excuse for poor you’re in a pressure situation.’ rollercoaster of elite sport is a performance. key part of Robinson’s job and Pressure is certainly not new to ‘I relish these global events and one that he’s been building an the former Sussex coach, who there’s no bigger than a home understanding of in the has been at the helm during a World Cup. There is a sense of women’s game since observing pioneering time in the women’s pressure though, in terms of his daughter at Sussex. game. His appointment came a eyes on us, so we need to year and a half after the ‘Having her play and love embrace all that while introduction of central the game did bring me to understanding that the girls will contracts, a massive leap women’s cricket and made be feeling that added scrutiny. forward for women’s cricket me look at the struggles that but a challenge for this female players face. That’s ‘Managing our own emotions generation of trailblazers. changing now – counties are around the tournament will be the biggest challenge. We’ve ‘Professionalism has allowed us supporting far more and are got to embrace all the well- to have more time with them, it bringing the right people in to wishing, rather than let it has allowed them to dedicate quicken that change. overpower us. We can use it as more time to training, but it is a ‘Working with my daughter an advantage.’ case of coming to terms with gave me greater empathy in what it means – the terms of seeing how female From the opening game, the accountability. They are judged players tend to beat themselves pressure – and excitement – will now, so they must train, be fit up far more than male players, be something for us all to and perform. and can at times take it more embrace.

Bring On The Pressure 5 THE VIEW FROM s e g a m I

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© THE TOP As the Director of England Women’s Cricket, few can see the lay of the land like . As she tells Martyn Kiel, it’s a sight worth taking in.

‘The women’s game is 2005 with over 100 caps to her unrecognisable from 1993,’ name – followed by 10 years begins Clare, recalling leading England Women’s women’s cricket in England Cricket, Clare’s is a voice worth after the last home World Cup. listening to. ‘We won the tournament, then So when she emphasises the played virtually no cricket for two ‘exciting momentum around the years. So we had the huge high of profile of the game,’ or warns of winning a home World Cup, then ‘entrenched attitudes needing to no cricket to build on that, to be changed,’ they can be keep that team together and considered closer to facts than performing at that level. opinions. ‘Compare that to the 2009 ‘What we need to do Take her view on the upcoming Women’s World Twenty20 World Cup: ‘It gives us more is do everything in our semi-final England won, when we opportunities to talk about the power to promote and chased down 164 in front of the women’s game, to talk to girls world’s media. Look at the create opportunities and women with the new soft power-hitting ability shown in that ball project for example – a new for female coaches in game, and the coverage it got.’ activity that we can hook on to the game.’ With a nine-year international the World Cup, to normalise the career under her belt – ending in sport among women and girls.

6 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 promote and create opportunities for female coaches in the game. The recent women’s coaching conferences have helped with that, and shows the kinds of things we can do to recruit and retain female coaches at the grass-roots level.’ For coaches at that level, it’s an exciting time to be working in women’s and girls’ cricket. Female coaches may be currently in the minority, but with the Chance to Shine project revealing recently that 55 per cent of their s e g participants at secondary school a m I are female, it’s a fast-growing area n o i t for the sport. Not that Clare is in c A any doubt about the work that is © yet to be done. ‘Later in the summer we’ll have Michael Bates, Carl Hopkinson, ‘There will be some quick wins, the second year of the Kia Super John Stanworth – new, some actions that we can take League (KSL), which can do a fresh-thinking coaches with within the next six months, but similar job, as we saw last year. experiences that Robbo sees there are also some longer, There was a great quality of are required. cultural, historical transformations that need to happen. Looking at cricket, the average attendance at ‘He’s created a step-change in All Stars Cricket though, the way the group stage was over 1000, perception, with his acceptance that’s being presented and which was fantastic, and this year of the role showing the coaching communicated, that will hopefully we’ve got better coverage on Sky profession that a high-profile, be a huge influence on mums and and BBC. Next year it will expand, county coach saw a job in on local deliverers. doubling the number of group women’s cricket as being a good stage games.’ step to take.’ ‘The same will be true of the men’s eight-team Twenty20 If Clare is seeing those With the KSL offering a competition from 2020, with a opportunities, you can be sure it’s comparable level of women’s focus on families and being able there and that the game won’t be cricket to a wider number of to have a competition on letting it pass. coaches, the women’s game is free-to-air TV.’ Similarly, her praise for England becoming more attractive to all Women’s Head Coach Mark levels of cricket coaches. Won’t 2020, and the opportunities that Robinson will be one steeped in that limit the opportunities for will bring, may seem like a long consideration and experience. female coaches? way off. If it’s part of Clare Connor’s vision though, you can ‘He’s brought a different lens over ‘I’m a big champion of inclusivity be sure no stone will be left from the men’s game,’ in cricket, and I recognise that we unturned in the push for the Clare reveals. need to be proactive in making relevancy of cricket to women. ‘He’s developed the existing the sport more accessible, like we ‘The ultimate vision for us is to Olympic values, of togetherness, are doing with All Stars Cricket make cricket as relevant to into a ruthlessness, the ability to and young children. women as it is to men, which is give critical feedback to each ‘The question of coaching role a long-term goal. We are starting other. He’s got this balance of models is a tricky one because we by looking at ECB. Once we’ve compassion with toughness want young female coaches to be established the state of play, we which is perfect for that situation. able to see a path for them, like are devising a plan that we’ll roll men can, to the highest level of ‘The contacts he’s developed in out for the year, which will the game. the men’s game have allowed him eventually put us in a to bring in people like James ‘What we need to do is do strong position to get towards Kirtley, Tom Smith, Gareth Breese, everything in our power to that vision.’

The View From The Top 7 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 A NEW CHAPTER When Lydia Greenway started to play cricket, she didn’t even s e

know an elite England Women’s g a m I

team existed! n o i t c A

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Now 31, having retired from then a mini-World Cup in the and a female role model to look international cricket as a World afternoon for them to play in up to. I know that female cricket Cup and World Twenty20 amongst themselves.’ coaches are often few and far winner and a five –time Ashes between, so I’m trying to provide As demand increases and Cricket winner, Lydia Greenway is more role models and make it for Girls grows, Greenway is looking to inspire the next much more accessible.’ fortunate that she can call on her generation of female cricketers. former England teammates – Marsh agrees, adding: ‘When we Since her England retirement in and grew up playing cricket, we June 2016, the middle-order were two of the first to come didn’t necessarily have female batter, known for her fielding, has on –board. role models in the game to look been working on establishing up to, so the more we can do to Cricket for Girls. It is intended to ‘The young girls who might just get involved at grass –roots level offer relevant and appealing be getting into the game for the and promote the game and coaching to women and girls of first time, they might be players inspire young kids, the better the all ages and abilities, from who want to go on and play for game will be moving forward. novices to talented players England themselves, so I think for ‘Women’s sport as a whole in the looking to take the next step. them to be able to be coached by some of the England girls is last few years has done brilliantly. ‘At the top of the pyramid we really good,’ says Greenway. It’s great that the media have have the academies, which are jumped on that as well and really aimed at club and county Marsh is pleased to be able to got behind it. I think we definitely cricketers who just want to help out her old pal. ‘I’m really have a role to play in that, and if develop and improve their game glad I’ve got the opportunity to we can give back and help to – that would be a longer training go down and help out and coach coach, and inspire young girls not programme over six to eight some of the young girls,’ she just through our performances weeks, where they get specialist says. ‘It’s important, growing up, but through coaching, then that’s coaching,’ she explains. ‘As well to have role models, and really powerful too.’ as that, we have masterclasses hopefully that’s the kind of role Marsh thinks that female coaches with England players, open to all that us England players can have can teach, inspire and support players of all ages and abilities. in academies like Lydia’s.’ female players in a way that a It’s an opportunity to come along Lydia feels incredibly strongly male equivalent might not quite and work with an England player, about ensuring that girls have understand. learn from them, and learn how role models to show them their they train. We have day camps, ‘There are differences in the dreams are achievable. us going to clubs and running game between men and more of a fun day where there’s ‘I think it’s just brilliant for young women’s cricket,’ she says, ‘and I lots of skills, lots of games, and girls growing up to have a coach suppose being female players we

10 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 understand the type of game we play, so it’s helpful to pass that on to young girls. We can talk to them about things they might come up against, being female in a male-dominated sport. Even though it’s changing, there still might be girls playing in boys’ teams at school or in club teams. They might come up against different challenges – that’s certainly something we’ve all been through.’ She does, however, pay tribute to a man who she says was her best coach ever. ‘If I had to single one of my coaches out, it would be Jack Birkenshaw,’ says Marsh, naming the former England all-rounder, who later became a respected umpire as well as a coach. ‘He developed me as a spinner and we worked really closely together for a number of years and had a

really good relationship, which I s e g think is important with coaches a m I

and players. To have the backing n o i t of a coach, to see it in their eyes c A

that they want you to do well, is © something that’s quite special.’ Laura Marsh in the nets with former England Women’s coach Mark Lane When Greenway was a child, she watched her father play cricket for young girls to have female involvement with the England for their local club, and he went role models. It helps break down team might be limited moving through practices with her. In the barrier and perception that forwards,’ she said at the time. fact, she wonders whether it was cricket is a boy’s game.’ ‘Whilst in the past I have been in him who began to hone her a similar position and have As her career developed, she got now-legendary fielding abilities. fought for my place, I now feel that England call-up – and that at this stage in my life, it’s ‘I practised fielding a lot because started to meet the colleagues time to take a step back and I enjoyed it, so my dad would just and coaches who shaped the rest retire from international cricket throw tennis balls at me in the of her career. Former with immediate effect, allowing evening – I had to catch them or was one of the next generation of players to I’d get one in between the eyes!’ her inspirations, along with ex- develop on the world stage.’ she laughs. coach Mark Lane. Now, some time later, Greenway Looking back and reflecting on ‘I was lucky enough to work is looking to the future and her own experiences, she says: with him on a one-to-one basis,’ planning her next moves. ‘Don’t specialise too early. One she recalls. ‘I liked how simple thing that really helped me was he kept it, so that’s something I ‘I think I’m in a transition period playing a lot of different sports at want to take into my own at the moment, to be honest,’ she a young age. I think that coaching.’ admits. ‘I’m probably half and generally helps children’s half, trying to make that athleticism and agility, and all the Meanwhile, she continues to transition from playing into basic movements.’ balance her coaching with her coaching – and developing continuing domestic playing If you’re coaching just girls or in a Cricket for Girls alongside that.’ career. mixed group, get female coaches Summer 2017 will no doubt prove on –board if you can. ‘Having ‘During discussions with Mark to be a busy season for Lydia. coached all over the country in Robinson about his focus on schools, clubs and counties, I developing new players, it Lydia will feature at the National now realise how important it is became clear that my Conference in October.

This feature was written by Carrie Dunn and previously published in Coaching Edge magazine A New Chapter 11 WORLD CUP LEGACY: EAST MIDLANDS With two World Cup venues and 15 matches, the region is primed to make the most of a once in a generation celebration of cricket.

The Women’s World Cup Over the next two years the and implementation of a plan presents a fantastic region will focus its efforts on in conjunction with opportunity to harness the making cricket more inclusive, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, potential of Cricket accessible and inspiring to Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Unleashed’s central themes – women and girls through Northamptonshire, and the More Play, Great Teams and innovative playing region’s Kia Super League Inspired Fans. opportunities and growing women’s team, Loughborough relations throughout the Lightning. Since February, the regional community. team in the East Midlands has The region’s plan includes the following objectives: been formulating plans to The appointment of a Women harness the legacy and Girls Legacy Officer • Increase the number of opportunities presented by the demonstrates the region’s women and girls accessing tournament. Bristol, Taunton commitment to implementing its cricket –related activity plans. Jack Arnold, the region’s and Lord’s have been • Increase the number of Growth Executive, outlined the developing their plans as hosts. women’s and girls’ teams impact this role will make. Derbyshire and Leicestershire • Positively change perceptions ‘The Legacy Officer will be are the region’s hosts, with their of women’s and girls’ cricket 15 games including the liaising with the two hosts, • Increase the number of beginning of England’s working across the community female volunteers campaign on 24 June against and commercial sectors to India at Derby, a match that’s identify new ways of growing • Connect the counties’ existing already sold out! the game. and future plans to the legacy programme In partnership with their ‘It’s vital we use the World Cup respective city council, county as a tool to engage with new • Increase the number of club, cricket board and the ICC, players and coaches, as well women and girls attending Derby (23 June) and Leicester as celebrate and advocate the World Cup fixtures. role of women in sport,’ Jack (26 June) will host events to After the staging of three explained. raise people’s awareness about women’s coaching conferences, the global competition on their Growth and retention will be one element of their strategy is doorsteps. targeted through development to focus on coach development

12 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 s e g a m I

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© through the creation of a perceptions of what cricket has ‘The World Cup will hopefully regional forum for female to offer. The competition transform the game around coaches and the staging of two provides a tangible opportunity Derbyshire. More women and workshops in 2017. for the five counties within the girls will have the opportunity ‘We want this forum to represent region to collaborate, and reach to participate in this wonderful a diverse range of individuals new audiences over the next game and be a part of the including players, coaches, two years and beyond. World Cup legacy!’ parents, students and partners,’ said Jack. ‘This forum will then determinine the nature and ‘The Women’s World Cup is providing a huge boost to our content of the workshops.’ promotion of cricket to new female audiences. We have been able to create more playing opportunities which has Current and potential coaches encouraged new players to join our local women’s clubs. will be invited to the events, We can provide incentives for players and volunteers in which aim to develop coaching relation to the World Cup which will really help us add value practice and highlight to current and future projects.’ opportunities such as new indoor and outdoor festivals, and Tom Leonard, Cricket Development Officer – Inclusion at coaching programmes being Leicestershire CCC offered in the region through the legacy plan. Reflecting on the challenge, Jack ‘Being a host venue, we have a great opportunity to inspire is confident in the region’s ability current or new players through the great skills on show by to capitalise. ‘The next two years international stars. We have always seen women and girls at are such an exciting opportunity the Fischer County Ground watching the men, but now they for women’s and girls’ cricket. will have a chance to see players who they can relate to, and ‘We hope to provide more hopefully we will have the girls saying “I want to be in an opportunities to be involved in England shirt one day!”’ the game in a variety of Rachel Hopkins, Cricket Development Officer – Youth, Women capacities as well as challenging and Girls and changing current

World Cup Legacy 13 ‘Over 180 festivals will take place nationwide to coincide with the ICC Women’s World Cup.’

UNLEASH THE GAME! Tracey Francis, Head of Growth at ECB, outlines plans to develop women’s cricket in England and Wales.

‘Expect the unexpected’ will be our sport. While playing will We have, over the past few my mantra this summer. It’s a always be a key priority, we years, invested significant once in a lifetime opportunity recognise that the business of resources into understanding where women’s cricket will take cricket is enriched by the women much better. A centre stage: the ICC Women’s inclusion of women as officials, common thread has appeared World Cup, season two of the coaches, leaders and – women want short, safe, Kia Super League, and a social and fun offers. The first brand –new women and girls’ administrators. Women quite often are the backbone of our cab off the rank is our Summer cricket strategy, all giving us a of Soft Ball Cricket, a bespoke sport – the unsung heroes perfect platform for growth. offer with a culmination of behind the scenes. It’s time to Our first commitment was to playing experiences and step out of the shadows and appoint a National Growth festival days to inspire and make our mark. Manager for Women and Girls, encourage women to take up and our first action was to split Women make up 50 per cent of our sport. them off. There is no catch-all the population, but only 10 per We have to demystify our game. here, they are uniquely different. cent actually play. It’s a Its laws and conditions are Our solutions need to reflect massively untapped market. complicated, we have to this…and so starts the journey. However, first we must ask recognise that the equipment It’s important that we seize the ourselves this: why don’t that must be fit for purpose. Long moment to showcase women in many women play? gone are the days when it’s

14 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 acceptable for women to be The festivals alone will not truly regions, creating community playing on the edges of our embed women into cricket. legacy offers which will inspire grounds with equipment The venue, experience, attitudes the next generation to start designed for children. and behaviours of our their lifelong involvement in our workforce, volunteers and club sport. We have a captive So we have unleashed the game environments will play a vital audience within primary and developed our softball role in creating that welcoming schools and All Stars Cricket format, featuring a revolutionary and positive first experience will ensure that five – to composite bat, for the Soft Ball of our sport. We have invested eight –year –old girls see cricket Cricket campaign. Over 180 in education programmes and as a sport for them at a much festivals will take place are working with the club earlier age. nationwide to coincide with the networks to develop their ICC Women’s World Cup, We are connecting the game offers, enabling them to grow attracting some 7000 female from grass roots to their women and girls’ sections. players. All will have an performance, and challenging opportunity to attend World Our investment into this area ourselves at every level, putting Cup matches through bespoke has seen significant growth. We our customer at the heart of our decision making. ticketing offers, competitions have used some of this money and a themed ‘ladies day’ for to build capacity in the Kia So this summer, be prepared, the finals. Super League teams and because here come the girls!

Expect the Unexpected 15 STATE OF THE N TION Helen Pack, ECB National Growth Manager – Women and Girls, lays out the state of play.

Women’s sport is on the rise, from This Girl Can to sold-out Ashes games at Essex and Sussex in 2015. That year saw an 11 per cent rise in year-on-year participation in sport by women and girls, while there has been a seven-fold increase in the number of clubs offering female cricket from 2003 to 2016. Women want to engage with cricket, as players and spectators, and are looking for the right offer for them.

What would bring lapsed female players back to their cricket club?

17%

13% 11% 11%

Women are looking for a great experience where they can improve their skills, spend time with family and friends, and generally feel good about themselves. They are looking for fun, fast, safe and social formats of the game that they A team near A game A team that A team with can combine with other things where I live format that moulds my the right in their life. Fundamentally, they fits my ability social are looking for choice. When we lifestyle atmosphere asked women what would bring them back to play, these were the answers they gave. We need to look at the playing offers currently available in clubs and make sure that there is something for everyone, from soft ball festivals to hard ball 40-over leagues, to make sure that we are keeping players in the % of female players see game and are also helping girls 93 coaching as essential to transition from school and junior their participation offers into appropriate open-age experiences.

16 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 Women tell us how much they value coaching. With many women coming into the game later in life, having never played before, coaching is essential to give them the confidence to enjoy playing. Yet many women have limited access to quality coaching in the club environment and this may be one of the reasons behind the high level of churn in the women’s game. Recent research has shown that women expect very little from cricket, but they still want to play. But maybe we should be setting their expectations slightly higher; giving women the quality of experience they deserve to keep them coming back, and reduce the amount of turnover we are seeing across the game. Currently, only 10 per cent of our clubs are offering cricket for women and girls, and we have a significant opportunity right now to change this. How are we going to inspire the girls engaged by All Stars Cricket and Chance to Shine to stay involved in our clubs? How are we going to persuade the mums who sit around the boundary to pick up a bat and give cricket a go themselves? How are we going to ensure that our existing network of hard ball clubs are given the support to grow without having to drive miles for a game? Let’s grab hold of the exciting opportunity that hosting a Women’s World Cup provides by making a step change for women across the game. Let’s focus on raising their expectations.

Choice – can we create Quality – can we Connections – can we more variety and improve the quality of raise the profile of greater accessibility to the welcome at our cricket for women and

playing opportunities? cricket clubs and girls, create new role

create top class models and improve playing experiences? our communications? ‘ ‘Welcome

In 2017 we will be celebrating all that’s great about the women’s game and we would love to hear about the successes you are having in inspiring more girls and women to play, and in improving the experiences of those already enjoying cricket. #expect

State of the Nation 17 THIS COACHING LIFE

Naomi Aspin and Patricia Hankins tell us their coaching stories; opportunities taken and challenges faced.

Naomi: Ten years after my first works hard to inspire other attending not only local CPD coaching session – when I was coaches to learn and grow. workshops with the Lancashire just trying to help out at the Coaches Association but also Those initial intentions, of giving club where my father was the the National Conferences where something back to the sport chairman – I look back and I’m I could learn yet more amazed at how much I’ve learnt which had been a fundamental information and talk it through and experienced. part of my family’s life, quickly with other like-minded coaches. evolved into something more. I I can see how much I’ve grown wanted other children to To be honest, my first National as a person through coaching experience the same fun, safe Conference was very daunting, and how my cricket family has environment that I had through as I think I was one of five also grown, massively. I am very cricket, by helping out with the female coaches in attendance! fortunate to have some great junior sessions at my club. Little However, at no point was I mentors who always help and made to feel out of place. I was did I know where I would be a support me. I am part of the CA, just seen as another coach there few short years later. an association of thousands of to improve my knowledge. I am like-minded members, and part My thirst for knowledge and my pleased to say that the number of a coach education team that desire to improve saw me of female coaches at the

18 Hitting the Seam Issue 37 quality sessions that make the players want to come back each week. Gone are the days of the coach setting out session plans weeks or months in advance. We need to be skilled and adaptable as a coach to run sessions based on what the players need and want to work on. I am also now fortunate enough to be part of the ECB Coach Educator team within Lancashire. This allows me the opportunity of enthusing the next generation of coaches and of spreading the word about never stopping learning. I can Naomi Aspin only do that by continually learning and developing myself, It’s great to see so many girls which I get to do through the taking up the sport and striving CA and ECB. to improve as players – and What a journey to date! For coaches. So many are wanting that I’m grateful, and I’m excited to give back to the sport by to see what experiences the gaining coaching qualifications. next 10 years of my coaching Northamptonshire ran three will bring. Coach Support Worker courses and two Certificate in Coaching Naomi features in Wings to Fly 14. Children’s Cricket courses in the Patricia: When I first started first four months of 2017, getting coaching, at local schools, I six females qualified as Coach used to love hearing the children Support Workers and five as Patricia Hankins say, ‘Oh wow, it’s a girl coaching coaches. I thoroughly enjoyed us today!’ tutoring on these courses; I felt proud to tell everyone what I National Conference is growing That was in 2006, and the children were so shocked have achieved in cricket over the every time, which is absolutely years and what experience I fantastic to see. because women’s cricket wasn’t as popular as it is now. have gained. As a female coach I often get I recently delivered the Cricket asked: ‘So you just coach Ten years later I was embarking on the Coach Educator for Teachers: Primary course in a women then?’ My reply is ‘No, I Development Programme as school that is dropping rounders coach cricket.’ It doesn’t matter well as the ECB Performance for cricket. They put nine to me if my players are male or Coach course. I knew it was teachers through the training female, they are players who are going to be a full-on year but I and it was great to work with attending sessions to get better wanted to develop myself as a people who are new to cricket and improve their skills. It is up coach, putting myself out of my but are excited about the future to me as a coach to plan my comfort zone to become a tutor of the game. sessions effectively, so every who helped people to become Since I gained my first coaching player is included yet a coach. certificate the women’s game challenged, irrespective of has grown massively and more ability or gender – to me, that In October 2016 my females are playing and working is coaching. responsibilities changed and I love my new role; I am looking within the sport. I will continue I feel passionately about at developing women’s and girls’ to do my best as a coach and strengthening grass –roots cricket within Northamptonshire, coach educator and look cricket, improving the as well as our coach education forward to developing cricket in recreational game through programme. Northamptonshire.

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