UPDATE
NCU Coaches Asscociation Launch - Rescheduled
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we are having to postpone this Launch Event until the end of May/early June 2013 (final details will follow over next couple of weeks). The reason for postponing until then is that you will probably be involved within your club and we want to let the season get underway and hopefully by then things will become a little less manic!

Calling all NCU Coaches: Launch Evening for the NCU Coaches Association

Date: Wednesday 10th April 2013
Venue: Playball Pavilion (behind CSNI CC Pavilion, opposite hockey pitches), The Pavilion, Stormont
Time: 7pm - 9.30pm

“Tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember, involve me and I will understand.” – Benjamin Franklin

The quote above should ring-true to most, if not all coaches. They are the folk on the front-line who give up our time during the week for practice and matches to try and develop the cricketers of the future. Over the last number of years Cricket Ireland has produced some fine cricketers, just take a look at the number of players who are now full-time professionals in the English County game and also the fact that Cricket Ireland can also boast a number of full-time playing staff as well. It isn’t luck that produces all these players, it is solely down to the coaching that they receive, the opportunities that are provided to them to play cricket by their coaches and the enjoyment, inspiration, guidance and challenges that their coaches create for them.

Every year, in the NCU alone, some 40+ folk go on coaching courses, ranging from Introduction to Cricket Courses to UKCC Level 1, 2 and 2.5 courses. These strong and healthy numbers illustrate the fact that cricket in Ireland has seen a massive upsurge in playing numbers; therefore the need for more qualified coaches has been highlighted even further. Within the NCU itself, the opportunities to get involved with coaching are growing every year as well, with opportunities at your clubs, NCU Development Squads, NCU PlaySmart workshops, NCU Interprovincial Coaching and Cricket Ireland Coaching.

As a result of the growing popularity of cricket, the NCU are creating a Coaches Association to help provide a backbone of support for the delivery of coaching programmes for all coaches within the NCU. Initially we see that the benefits of a Coaches Association are:

• To provide a network and forum to discuss and share views and talk about new ideas and best practice
• Newsletters
• Workshops
• Information on upcoming courses (cricket specific and support courses e.g. first aid, safeguarding children)
• Getting involved in NCU Coaching Programmes
• To gain experience, knowledge and confidence
• Coaches Insurance

Therefore, we hope that you will be able to join us at this Launch Evening for the NCU Coaches Association.

This will be your Coaches Association, which will be run by coaches, for coaches. The evening will be an opportunity for you to share your ideas, take part in group discussions, get a flavour for what current coaches are doing, find out how to get involved with NCU Coaching Programmes and possibly become a part of the Coaches Association and help to create this exciting new project.

If you would like to come along to this Launch Evening, please register your attendance by sending an email to Michael Hingston at michael.hingston@cricketireland.ie by Friday 5th April at 5pm.
Please make sure to pass this information on to everyone who you think might be interested in being a part of this night like current coaches, past coaches and potentially future coaches.
We look forward to seeing you there.