Jon Harris
e-mail: hennessy.harris@sympatico.ca

How can canadacricket.com contribute to the development of Canadian cricket? Our readers will already know that we have been fairly liberal with criticism. In some segments of our particular cricket world this has been considered to be unproductive, or even counter productive, to the advancement of Canadian cricket. Well sometimes the critic just has to put up with the criticism, for the pursuit of truth has been denigrated for centuries, and still is. There is a relationship between the pursuit of truth and criticism. In simplistic terms, the story that sounds too good to be true probably is. That story often has the dimension of spin. I heard one ICC official suggest that there has to be a positive spin with the message. What I determined from this assertion was that the truth is sometimes unpalatable, but with a bit of positive spin you can get cricketers to buy it. Readers will know what I think of that sort of patronizing claptrap, because I believe in the basic common sense of the grass roots cricketer.

So let me get back to the question of what canadacricket.com might be able to contribute to the development of our game in Canada.

I made a suggestion to one of the people I contacted on the trip recently completed to western Canada. Recently he has contacted me and commented on my suggestion. What had caught my ear about 'Princeton', during our initial contact, was that he is only two years away from coaching junior cricketers up to the level of trials for first class cricket in England. (Of course I am aware that “first class cricket in England” may be considered by some to be an oxymoron.).

Beyond his knowledge of cricket coaching is his experience of theatre. Cricket is theatre, and cricket coaching, from my perspective, would have to include the elements of theatre to communicate. I ran by him the idea of 'cyber' coaching. ‘Princeton’ has recently written to me, “Cyber coaching!! Fancy title but I am sure I could put something together on that one for you. I told Jack Potter (He of Australian Cricket Academy fame and a personal friend) and [he] thought it sounded a great idea. I will see him in England in September, perhaps I could get him involved with the project!”.

We at canadacricket.com now have access to the necessary expertise for cricket coaching. We already have access to certain computer skills, and others approached already are willing to contribute. Through other contacts we shall develop the long distance learning tools.

It is my wish that through our long winter there will be an enrollment for this coaching program which could lead to certification. The numbers of coaches in Canada is critical to the advancement of cricket. Robert Weeks has made it absolutely clear that without an elite stream of coaches, umpires and scorers, Canada will not gain international recognition. What he did not say was that it would be improbable, and perhaps impossible, to develop an elite stream of cricketers without the facility to coach the aspiring players.

There can be no progress without a plan. The above is our plan. We have the organisational skills to deliver. We have the technology. We will keep you posted on developments, but be prepared for a lot of homework. It would be better than watching TV, because there is nothing on anyway. The bonus to this particular project would be a recognition by Sports Canada that we have a growing number of certified cricket coaches. There are a lot of people who have coaching certification who are cricketers, unfortunately that does not make them cricket coaches. So lets all get to work. Send a message to me if you are interested in participating on the project. Let this be a grass roots movement for the development and improvement of our game. It could be fun, but be prepared to play a long innings.

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Note: The views expressed in the Opinion pages, unless otherwise stated, are the views of those who author the pages, and are not necessarily the views of CanadaCricket.com.