Coaching is a challenging and enormously rewarding role within our game. Players need expertise, support and passion at every level of their development.
No matter whether you are putting something back into the game you love, progressing your career, helping out at your local club, or simply providing more support to your child, there is a reason for everyone to get involved in cricket coaching.
If you or someone you know is thinking of joining the coaching family click here to find out which programme is right for you.
Bursaries funded by The England and Wales Cricket Trust are intended to increase the diversity of learners taking their first step into coaching, gaining a qualification or taking the next step on their coach development journey.
Groups that have been identified to increase the diversity of learners accessing coach development programmes are:
- Potential coaches/coaches that are female
- Potential coaches/coaches from ethnically diverse communities
- Potential coaches/coaches with a disability
- Potential coaches/coaches experiencing financial hardship.
A bursary can be awarded to learners that register on ECB Support Coach, ECB Foundation Coach or ECB Core Coach programmes between 1st February 2024 and 31st January 2025.
Anyone wanting to access coach development that is experiencing financial hardship will be awarded a bursary of up to 100% of the national price of the programme.
Once an applicant receives confirmation they will need complete their programme registration using a discount code to redeem their bursary.
Anyone wanting to access coach development that is female, from an ethnically diverse community, has a disability who is not experiencing financial hardship will be awarded a bursary of up to 50% of the national price of the programme.
Once an applicant receives confirmation they will need to complete their programme registration and make full payment and upon attendance to the face to face modules will receive a refund.
Click here to begin your bursary application. Please note if you are experiencing financial hardship and applying for a bursary you will need a discount code to complete your ECB Support Coach/ECB Foundation Coach/ECB Core Coach registration.
Please contact patricia.hankins@nccc.co.uk if you have any bursary related questions.
ECB Foundation Coach is a coach development programme and qualification that has been created to help more people take their first steps into coaching cricket.
This programme has been designed to develop a learner’s knowledge, skills and confidence to use icoachcricket to coach safe, fun and inclusive sessions that ignite a lifelong love of the game.
An ECB Foundation Coach will be qualified to lead coaching sessions independently and without supervision.
A blend of e-learning and face-to-face modules led by ECB Coach Developers will explore what coaching looks like, the impact you can have as an ECB Foundation Coach, the skills you can help players to develop and how you can learn from your experiences.
Anyone over 17 years of age can attend the course but you’ll need to be over 18 to be certified.
A Safeguarding Young Children qualification and valid ECB DBS check are required before being certified.
Commitment
- £150.00
- Four face-to-face modules lasting three hours each, including three observed coaching opportunities
- Seven bitesize e-learning modules lasting 10-15 minutes each
- Multiple choice question assessment.
Players need coaches with expertise, support and passion at every stage of their development. At all levels of the game coaches can make a difference to a player’s experience and help them enhance their performance.
This programme has been designed to build on your experiences and give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to help players improve their game as well as developing a wide area of expertise when coaching individuals, units and teams.
This 8 day course spans 3 months and is available to those who hold an ECB Level 2 or equivalent.
You’ll also undertake individual and group coaching with players in your own club environment.
ECB Support Coach is a coach development programme consisting of e-learning and face to face modules that will help you take your first steps into coaching cricket.
This programme has been designed to give learners the knowledge, skills and confidence to support qualified coaches.
An ECB Support Coach is not qualified to lead coaching sessions independently and therefore must be supervised by a qualified cricket coach.
Anyone aged 16 and over wishing to support qualified coaches, inspire players and make a difference to the game
A Safeguarding Young Children qualification and valid ECB DBS check are required before being certified.
Commitment
- £40.00
- One face-to-face module lasting three hours
- Two bitesize e-learning modules lasting 10-15 minutes each
- Multiple choice question assessment.
The ECB Core Coach programme is an entry level qualification for coaching cricket alongside Foundation Coach. The programme is a blend of e-learning and face to face modules led by ECB Coach Developers will explore the player-centred planning process, player development, the skills you can help players to develop and how you can learn from your experiences.
An ECB Core Coach will be qualified to lead coaching sessions independently and without supervision.
Anyone aged 17 and over wishing to become qualified to coach cricket, inspire and develop players and make a difference to the game.
Experience of playing or coaching cricket is desirable but not essential when applying for this programme
Commitment
- £300.00
- Eight face-to-face modules lasting three hours each, including two observed coaching opportunities
- Six bitesize e-learning modules lasting 15-20 minutes each
- Multiple choice question assessment
- Short answer question assessment
The purpose of the ECB Coaches Association is to inspire participation and maximise of cricket coaches and players.
Members come from all levels of the game, right from the England team downwards, and have somewhere to turn to get the ongoing support all coaches need in order to be the best they can be.
Nationally, the ECB Coaches Association offers a range of products and services that help you to support players.
Your membership will provide access to the latest thinking and developments through our resources, invitations to workshops, networking with like minded coaches as well as being able to wear the ECB CA three lions.
If you are a full member of the ECB CA you will receive specialist insurance
The ECB’s free online learning resource is designed for anyone interested in getting into coaching.
The course will help inspire participation and maximise performance of coaches and players.
Club Safeguarding Officers are essential for all clubs, regardless of whether they feature a junior section or not. CSOs are required to attend a Safehands course every 3 years and must renew their Safeguarding and Protecting Children qualification every 3 years.
CSOs must have a valid ECB DBS and can initiate and verify DBS applications for volunteers at their club.
Any questions regarding welfare or safeguarding can be directed to our County Safeguarding Officer Dave Weston.
safeguarding@nccc.co.uk | 07780 067692
STEELBACKS IN THE COMMUNITY OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO CRICKET AWARDS
The Steelbacks in the Community Outstanding Service to Cricket awards was introduced in 2021 and is an expansion of the ECB Grass Roots Cricket awards and also incorporates the ECB Coaches awards. We recognise incredible coaches, young volunteers, schools and lifetime achievers across our 13 categories.
The 2022 deserving winners were:
Coach of the Year – Daniel Austin
Heartbeat of the Club – Michael Greener
Lifetime Achiever – Tim Keeber
Making Cricket Accessible – Thrapston CC
Outstanding Contribution to Coaching – Glenn Thompson
Pro Active Leadership in Cricket – Ben Hartley
Young Coach of the Year – Fay Robinson
Young Volunteer (Age 19-25) – David Hornby
Young Volunteer (Ages 14-18) – Iris Kirk
Young Volunteer (Ages 14-18) – Hannah McDade
National Programme Activator – Olivia Belcher
School of the Year – Crick Primary School
Coaching Club of the Year – Kettering Town CC
Official of the Year – Colin Megennis
Groundsman of the Year – Mark Toseland
Nominations are sorted in Spring time for the work the individual has done in the previous season, with the winners being invited to the awards ceremony in July/ August.
For more information on the SITC OSCAs please contact Patricia on patricia.hankins@nccc.co.uk
STEELBACKS FAMILY
The Steelbacks Family is a really simple concept, anyone who contributes to cricket in Northamptonshire is part of the family. You may be a local player or a club volunteer or one of our County players or supporters, for example we have some supporters around the world who only get to watch the team on Youtube but they’re still part of the ‘Steelback Family’
Certain achievements within the family are specifically recognised for example the Steelbacks In the Community outstanding service awards. Individuals recognised will be presented with a Steelbacks Family Pin Badge which they can wear with pride.
Each county has a Grounds Association which supports all grounds staff.
Northamptonshire’s County Pitch Advisor is Dave Goodjohn who can be contacted on david.goodjohn@nccc.co.uk
Join the Northamptonshire Cricket Grounds Association Facebook group.
The ACO represents scorers and umpires across the county.
County specific information is available here, or more general information about the various ACOs is available here.
This online process is free for volunteers and can be arranged through your Club Safeguarding Officer, they’ll be able to advise on what’s involved and initiate your application.
The roles within cricket that require a valid DBS are:
- Club Safeguarding Officer
- Volunteer Co-Ordinator
- Coaches
- Umpires/ Scorer
- Age Group Manager
- Open-Age Team Captain
- Junior Supervisor
- First Aider/Physiotherapist/Medical Support
Annual DBS renewals-
- Applicants will receive an email from the DBS team every 12 months
- As long as no new information is detected then the applicants clearance will continue for a further 12 months
- If nothing has changed since the certificate was issued or last re-checked, then NO ACTION is required on the applicants behalf.
- Individual has option to opt out of annual DBS renewals within 25 days