Since October 2007 cricket development and coaching has been on going in the Forth Valley area.  The Academy squad have been training fortnightly under the watchful eye of Australian Steve Fryer.  With a small squad of 19 athletes, 9 in the younger group and 10 in the U18 age group, it has allowed Steve to spend more time 1 on 1 and develop an individual programme to cater for each individual and to give them quality programme that should benefit and improve them as cricketers.

The Forth Valley squads, which sit just below the academy programme, started in January 2008.  With 41 players in the programme the emphasis really is on improving player’s skills and techniques in-group coaching.  Coaches from the local clubs have been over seeing the player’s development with the sessions taking place at a new venue for the squads, Grangemouth Sports Complex.

Out with the 2 squads running, girl’s development sessions continue to run after the successful trial period last year.  The development centre based at McLaren Leisure Centre attracts along 10 girls every Monday evening and 14 girls have signed up to attend the session at Dollar.  The emphasis for these sessions is to improve the girls understanding of the game but also to teach them the basics involved in cricket, and those who do have more knowledge learn advanced skills.  Both squads will be taking part in 2 indoor competitions, the annual girls indoor tournament held through in Edinburgh by Cricket Scotland that will be held in March and the Peebles indoor competition that will be held in April.

Coach development continues to be a priority in the area for new and existing coaches.  A UKCC 2 course, which was taking place at Tullibody Civic Centre, is nearly complete with the coaches on the course looking to complete their 10 hours assisted practice before the assessment takes place towards the end of February.  In March there is an ICC introduction to cricket course being held at Dunblane Primary school over 2 consecutive Wednesday evenings.  This follows on from the successful course that took place in November at Tulligarth Community Leisure Complex, Lornshill Academy.

The summer months will see the return of the Taggarts Jaguar Introductory Programme being rolled out to primary school across the Forth Valley culminating in a challenge day held at their local cricket club.

For further information on cricket activities in the Forth Valley area, contact Kari Anderson on 01786 432348.