Update on Player Pathway

• Player Pathway Aspiration for 2010
• Player Pathway ACTUAL for 2010
• Player Pathway Aspiration for 2011
• March 31st LD Talent ID at Kent CCC – Les Randall and Richard Dalton
• April 11th LD first training session venue TBC – Les Randall and Richard Dalton

Chance to shine for Learning Disability (LD) and Physical Impaired (PI)

• Project acquired for the next 3 years to deliver 280 hours of coaching
• Les Randall leading the C2s 3 days a week
• Richard Dalton UKCC Level 2 and a teacher at Bower Grover has volunteered to work with the Kent LD team
• We part funded a teacher at Helen Allison School through her UKCC Level 1 – Jo Shillitoe – cricket will now be on the agenda at the school
• 3 Partnership Development Managers (PDMs) have signed up to partner fund the project
• The PDMs are in Tonbridge & Malling, Dartford and Maidstone have a total of 11 full days of activity from Sept 2010 to July 2011 in various Learning Disability Schools including festivals
• First after school club at Bower Grove yielded 12 boys who are strong players in softball cricket and 7 of these can move to hardball straight away
• As part of the MoU the Schools will commit to attending a County Festival on Monday 14th June with a venue TBC
• The second Triangular LD Festival to take place at Cricket4Change Centre later in the year (Kent, Surrey and Sussex)
• We will put together Schools/Clubs Map similar to our Focus Club Map
• Have organised a match between England LD v England PI to take place before a home match at Kent CCC – 2nd July

Deaf Cricket

• Attended the Deaf Sports Day at Canterbury High School - KCB organised 4 x half four sessions as the kids rotated around so they had the chance to do all sports.  There were approx 20 kids who enjoyed the day
• Meeting with Stefan Pichowski - Chairman of the England Cricket Association for the Deaf (ECAD)

Visually Impaired (VI) Cricket

• A volunteer has come forward and has expressed interest to help co-ordinate future activity.  He is taking his UKCC Level 2 shortly
• A link has been established with Becky Owen - Disability Access Officer at Sencio Community
• Leisure
• VI Awareness Day 17th April at Maplesden Noakes School run by Les Randall and Rob Comber to generate a team – Cricket4 Change will help to support it through Tony Joseph

Table Cricket

• Acquired some funding from Lord’s Taverners towards 2 Table Cricket Courses to take place in June and one TBC later in the year for teachers, coaches and officials to attend
• We will plan a Kent based Table Cricket Competition for 2011

Clubs

• Identify 4 clubs to start Disability Sections – Margate, Old Elthamians and two others to follow
• Put forward potential facility investment bids to Ian Martin – ECB’s National Disability Cricket Manager

Kent Cricket Board are working to establish a county VI cricket team to participate in the 2011 national VI cricket league and are looking to recruit players in preparation for this.

Adults and young people aged 14 and over are invited to attend the Kent County Visually Impaired Cricket awareness day on Saturday 17th April 2010 from 10am to 1pm at Maplesden Noakes School in Maidstone.

Any family, friends, coaches and teachers with an interest in VI cricket are also invited to attend. The session will include an explanation of the rules of VI cricket followed by an active hands on session.

All details are available in a flyer which is available for download from this link.

England’s deaf cricketers have their sights on success in December’s World Cup in New Zealand.  They are in the middle of some intense pre-season training ahead of what promises to be an exciting year.

England have their sights on success in December’s World Cup in New ZealandThey have two domestic tours, a game against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s and December’s World Cup in New Zealand.

The BBC’s See Hear recently joined the players at one of their training camps where Stefan Pichowski, chairman of the England Cricket Association for the Deaf (ECAD), explained some of the fundamental differences between deaf and hearing cricket.

An obvious difference is the qualification criteria: players have to provide an audiogram proving their hearing loss and remove all hearing instruments during matches to create a level playing field.

Running between the wickets also represents a challenge.

There are enough incidents in the Test arena to show how tough it can be to get calling right even in hearing cricket - but in deaf cricket players look for anything as subtle as a shrug of the shoulder or the raising of an eyebrow from their partner.

According to Pichowski, though, when playing hearing sides this can actually be advantage, catching many a dozing fielder off guard.

When asked about sledging, Pichowski’s face lights up.

“There’s plenty of that,” he says with a grin, before recalling how hearing umpires often compliment them on playing the game in a “quiet, gentlemanly manner”, oblivious to the gamesmanship that has passed under the radar through glares and glowers, as well as the odd choice bit of British Sign Language.
    
See Hear, BBC 2’s flagship programme for the deaf and hard of hearing, is broadcast every Wednesday at 1300 GMT and is available on BBC iPlayer

For Mike O’Mahoney deaf cricket is about relaxing. In hearing teams there can be a sense of isolation, whether in the changing room, on the pitch, or in the bar.

As O’Mahoney says, in deaf cricket he can sign or lip-read without worrying he is missing out on anything. In short, he can just enjoy the cricket; surely the point of any sport.

Yes, the squad has the honour of representing England but, equally importantly, they are doing something they love in an environment in which they feel comfortable.

Amateurs they might be, but there is certainly no shortage of professionalism and the squad are, understandably, confident of bringing the World Cup home.

As Pichowski said: “It’d be nice to do something the hearing men’s team haven’t managed yet.”

By Ed Barlow
Director - See Hear

This article appears on the BBC website

A teenager with cerebral palsy has hit new heights as he celebrates becoming qualified as a cricket umpire.

Harry Newton from Salisbury, Wiltshire, passed his ACO level one umpiring exam recently after completing a rigorous training course.

A wheelchair user and cricket-mad, the 19-year-old was delighted with his achievement.

“Harry lives for cricket and he was determined to find some way to be part of the game,” said his proud dad Lyndon.

“He took this test to prove it could be done. He scored 81 per cent and was in tears when he realised he’d done it. He was choked with emotion. We’re so proud of him.”

Harry, who was born with cerebral palsy, is quadriplegic and has spent his life in a wheelchair. He started watching cricket at a young age, is a member of Hampshire County Cricket Club and, later this year is off to Australia to watch the Ashes.

Harry, who is studying IT, sport and media at college and was a junior shot putt champion, hopes to begin umpiring matches this season, and has also been considering a cricket coaching course.

“We’ll have to see about access and the opportunities for him,” said Mr Newton.

“It would be great if he could umpire some local matches but he’s already shown that, despite his disability, he can achieve some great things.”

Pete Sykes, Cricket Development Manager for the Wiltshire Cricket Board, said the teenager is an inspiration.

“This is an absolutely superb achievement for Harry and is something that is very groundbreaking for cricket given Harry’s disability and the nature of the course,” he said.

“It is the first time certainly in Wiltshire that a disabled candidate has gone through any sort of volunteering course, be it coaching or umpiring and so is something that will inspire more people with disabilities to break down the barriers and get involved with cricket.

“It forms part of a wider plan for Wiltshire Cricket as the County Board are looking to venture more and more into disability cricket provision. This is one of the first success stories, showing that disabled people have as much of a role to play in cricket as anybody else and so we feel that Harry’s story should be celebrated.

“He is a superb role model and a very impressive man who I am delighted to have working with me in Wiltshire.”

Ally Jarvis, Regional vCricket Manager, South & South West, echoed those thoughts.

“Harry is an inspiration to all proving that there are no barriers within the game,” he said.

“Meeting Harry six months ago we set a 12 month vision and he is well on his way to achieving this.”

Ian Martin, National Disability Cricket Manager, added: “Harry’s achievement is fantastic and is further evidence that disability is no obstacle to enjoying and contributing to our great game. I hope that many other people with disabilities follow Harry’s lead and choose to become cricket officials.”

By Edward Kemp

Hampshire Disability player Leon Badger has become the first powered wheelchair user to gain a Level One coaching qualification.

Badger, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and diabetes, has begun coaching after making history when he gained the UKCC1 (coaching assistant) certificate last year.

Leon Badger - UKCC1 Coaching AssistantHaving played disability cricket at county level for over 10 years, and playing a central role in the establishment of a disability cricket team at his day centre, Badger has faced many challenges in his effort to become a coach. Health problems, he explains, have strengthened his determination to be involved in cricket.

“I decided when I had come out of hospital to go and take my Level One,” said Badger. “That was a challenge of mine, having had a bit of a rough time and being in hospital, I thought: ‘I need to get out there and achieve some goals.’

“My first port of call was to take the CSLA (Community Sports Leadership Award), and then they put you onto your chosen sport – mine was cricket – so I went and took my coaching badge.

“When I went on the course I thought, ‘Will they take to me, won’t they take to me? Are they going to question whether I know what I’m talking about, because I’m a guy in a wheelchair?’ But I met a lot of really good young lads who really wanted to get down and work with me.”

Hampshire Cricket Board has one of the most successful coach education programs in the country and has seen six coaches with disabilities qualified in the past two years.

Coach education CDO, John Cook, was delighted to accept Badger’s application and has worked closely with tutors to ensure that the course is accessible to all.

Leon Badger, who has become a Level One coaching assistant, said: “I’m someone who’s enthusiastic, wants to see cricketers improve their game and to bring enjoyment to their training session”

“The HCB is committed to providing opportunities for people with disabilities throughout cricket,” Cook added. “The qualification of Leon (and others) has hopefully paved the way for other cricketers with a range of disabilities to be inspired to become part of the coaching fraternity.”

To coach, Badger requires someone to help with setting up drills and with some demonstrations, although he is now qualified to assist with the actual coaching himself.

As he explains: “You have to work as a team, as disabled coaches. It’s a team effort between you and the person that’s helping you out.”

“I’m someone who’s enthusiastic, wants to see cricketers improve their game and to bring enjoyment to their training session. As a coach, enjoyment is the most important thing. It’s about bringing enjoyment and fun.”

ECB disability cricket manager Ian Martin was full of praise for Badger’s groundbreaking efforts.

“Leon’s achievement is fantastic,” Martin enthused. “It shows that disability is no barrier to being involved in sport, and symbolises the opportunities that cricket presents to get involved in sport both as a player and as a coach.

“The ECB wish to extend their congratulations to Leon, and wish him every success in the future.”

Badger has received support from the Eastleigh Disability Leisure Access Group to fund transport to attend coaching sessions with the under-11 age-group at Fair Oak Cricket Club and is keen to do more.

“It’s difficult for me to get to games, so I’m looking at trying to get some sponsorship, or someone who might be willing to help me get there and help out within the community,” he revealed.

He is hopeful that his example will help to maintain the current strength of Hampshire’s disability cricket teams, who are sponsored by Leon’s care company, AQS Homecare.

“I’m looking forward to there being a few more disabled cricketers taking their badges and for the disabled team to keep having coaches,” he concluded.