Cricket Ireland's Coach Education Programme undergoes total revamp

When Mark Garaway, Cricket Ireland's Operations Director, came into post towards the end of last summer, he made it a priority to oversee a complete change in the way Coach Education was organised and directed.

His pinpointing of this area, which he sees as key to the development of the game at all levels, kick-started a series of events that aim to lay down a fabric and sustainable structure for Coach Education that will see an increase in the number of fully qualified coaches at all levels of the game, the continued development of those coaches already active and a general drive to deliver the highest standards of coaching possible.

With Mark having worked in partnership with Club Development Manager Tim Simmonite on the process of overhauling previous practice and design of future strategy, they deemed it necessary to create a position in the Governing Body that dealt solely with the development of this area.

With this being the case, Stephen Moreton was employed as Coach Education Officer at the end of January 2010. Stephen, based in Dublin, has an all-Ireland remit in his post, overseeing all elements of Coach Education from schools to International level.

A 12-month rolling programme of coaching courses is in the process of being designed, and the pre-requisites of Child Protection and First Aid qualifications will be built in alongside.

Stephen will also focus on the certification of coaches, and also the management of a new Coaches Database. Making reference to the new system Garaway said "Coach Education is a massively important driver in the development of the game in Ireland at all levels. With Stephen now in post we have somebody who can work intensely on this area and push on with the developments needed."