Community Coach Programme in Action
6th August 2013
| Mallory Gray
Charlotte Edwards Coaching
The very first South
West Wales girl’s festival held at Llanelli CC on July 7th 2013 is
the culmination of two seasons work (2012 & 2013) involving clubs and
schools from three local authorities supported by three Community Coaches.
Girls' Cricket was
established as a focus area by Jeremy Cartwright (CDO South West Wales) at the
outset of the 2012 community coach programme.
Through the 2012 winter
and spring planning phases of the programme the regional CDO and Community
Coaches Keri Chahal (Swansea & South Carms) and Sean Evans (Neath &
Port Talbot) had met and agreed with 3 local clubs that start-up girls' sections could be achieved if all parties focused on creating the demand. The three
clubs targeted in 2012 were Swansea Civil Service, Llanelli and Briton Ferry
Steel. These clubs already had strong junior sections and were pro-active in
wanting to take the next step with girls’ cricket.
The community coaches
undertook a 6-8 week coaching programme within local schools and raised
awareness about cricket opportunities at local clubs. The clubs accessed
funding via the Cricket Wales Club Capacity Fund to buy new equipment, train
coaches and run taster evenings.
The initial migration
from the schools to the clubs was very good and a core group of girls remained
keen to play cricket on a regular basis.
In 2013 the focus
shifted to creating more teams to create sustainability and hopefully some
competition. Rhidian Harries, Community Coach for South Ceredigion and North
Carmarthenshire supported Whitland CC and Bronwydd CC to create new girls teams
while Keri Chahal worked with Gorseinon CC.
The hard work
culminated in teams from 6 clubs (Llanelli CC, Swansea Civil Service, Briton
Ferry Steel, Whitland, Bronwydd and Gorseinon) attending the 1st
South West Wales Girls Cricket Festival held at Llanelli CC on July 7th
2013.
The girls enjoyed the event so much that future dates have been agreed
and there will now be regular girls-only competitions for over 60 girls.