1) Fundemental Phase
2) Cricket Orientation Certificate
3) Level 1
4) Level 2
5) Level 3
6) Level 4
The Coaches Academy is managed by Cricket South Africa’s Manager of Coaching, Anton Ferreira, working out of the High Performance Centre at Pretoria University. The Academy aims are to:
• Keep updated with the latest developments in coaching from the ICC and other national structures;
• Strictly monitor the criteria for the Coach Education in order to maintain uniformity;
• Broaden the base of the South African cricket community, mainly by coaching new coaches;
• Supply quality and informed coaches to benefit the local cricket structure.
ACCREDITATION, COURSE CRITERIA AND CERTIFICATES:
With one of the main concerns being to control the training, qualification and certification of accredited cricket coaches, the following courses are now being offered:
MINI-CRICKET COACHING COURSE (Fundamental Phase)
This certificate enables coaches / teachers to coach Mini-Cricket (a simple form of the game) to children under the age of 10 years. The course covers the necessary skills and principles of this 8-a-side form of cricket. Mini-Cricket has been an integral part of the cricket development pathway in South Africa for more than 20 years; a similar format is being used in most other major cricketing nations and has proved to be an important starting point for junior cricketers. The course also should include an introduction to the Long Term Athlete Development (or L.T.A.D.) principles.
Candidates need not have any prior expertise or knowledge.
Course duration: < 10 hours
Evaluation: Theoretical: 1 hour Practical: 10 minutes per candidate.
Successful candidates will receive a Mini-Cricket Coaching certificate within 2 /3 months.
CRICKET ORIENTATION COURSE (Preparatory Phase)
The objective of this course is to introduce potential coaches to the hard-ball version of cricket. Many coaches / teachers that enroll for Level One are short of understanding on “game knowledge” and this considerably restricts the further development of the coach at any level. Thus the key focuses of the Orientation Course are the Laws and terminology of cricket: this prepares a candidate for enrollment in a Level One course if necessary. A candidate is expected to be at least 16 years of age to attend.
Course duration: Six hours (2 / 3modules or as appropriate)
No evaluation or exam.
Candidates will receive a certificate of attendance only.
LEVEL ONE COURSE (Junior Skills Coach)
The Level One Course is designed to enable successful candidates to coach cricket skills and to organize effective practice & training sessions for cricketers at junior level. They need a good understanding of cricket or should have previously attended the Orientation Course; candidates will be required to write a preliminary entry test at the commencement of Level One.
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and must have access to a PC.
Course duration: <18 hours (normally SIX x 3 hour modules) + self study of the CD resource
Evaluation: 1 hour theory paper. Practical: 20 minute personal evaluation.
Successful candidates will receive a Level One Coaching certificate within 2 /3 months.
LEVEL TWO COURSE (Intermediate Skills Coach)
A Level Two candidate needs to be a holder of a Level One certificate for a minimum of 12 months or be a previously accredited Level Two coach (under the old UCB structure) N.B. The new Level Two serves as a possible entry level for those with some credible 1st Class playing experience. In the past it was agreed that regular Premier League players could go straight into Level Two; this exemption no longer applies to league players, but ONLY to those players with 1st class status.
A holder of this certificate should be able to coach any school or junior club side with confidence. The course covers most aspects of modern coaching with the important teaching methods and coaching styles being discussed; also practice organization and session preparation is handled in depth. Further planning using the L.T.A.D. practice principles and techniques are dealt with in more depth at Level Two, providing coaches with the appropriate coaching tools.
All candidates must be at least 21 years of age and must have access to a PC.
Course duration: 24 / 26 hours (normally EIGHT x 3 hour modules) + self study of the CD resource.
Evaluation: (Pre-course assignment); post-course written exam (2 hours) and a practical evaluation.
Successful candidates will receive a Level Two Coaching certificate within 6 to 8 months.
LEVEL THREE COURSE (Advanced Skills Coach)
Every year ONE Level Three course is held for advanced, professional coaches within the South African cricket system. Suitably qualified and experienced Level Two Coaches are nominated by their respective Unions or Associations; Cricket South Africa’s Coaching Department reserves the right to invite or select individuals at any given opportunity, as the need arises.
Candidates will get the chance to extend their knowledge on more technically advanced aspects of the game, enabling them to become capable coaches at senior Club, Provincial Youth and Academy levels.
The course covers technical and tactical aspects of all the areas of skill, as well as selected aspects of the Sports Sciences. Emphasis is also placed on advanced skill assessment, empowering the coach to improve technique analysis, error detection and intervention strategies.
All candidates must be at least 25 years of age to be considered and must have access to a PC.
Course duration: 30 / 32 hours incorporating a FIVE day residential course at HPC, Pretoria Univ.
Evaluation: In addition to pre & post-course assignments, candidates must complete the following: Two hour written examination; An extensive practical assessment including video analysis; Presentation of an appropriate squad training program; In-course appraisals.
Successful candidates will usually receive a Level Three Coaching certificate within 12 months.
LEVEL FOUR COURSES / SEMINARS (National / International)
This is the highest coaching qualification currently available in Southern Africa. Attendance is strictly by invitation from the National Coaching Manager and / or the coaching hierarchy of C.S.A.
Holders of this certificate will be sufficiently capable of undertaking cricket coaching in the highest echelons of the professional game. They would be regarded as highly proficient in the technical skills, as well as displaying advanced administrative and man-management capacities. An advanced level of cricket appreciation and Information Technology skills is a pre-requisite for candidates.
Course duration: 35/ 40 hours. A modular format; consisting of two separate weekly units.
Evaluation: In-depth pre-course assignment; Daily written tests; Individual interviews on random, unspecified topics; Practical session, including game planning and analysis; Assessment of IT skills.
Certification: 12 Months from the start of course.
ALL COACHING COURSES LISTED, BELOW LEVEL THREE, ARE OFFERED BY THE PROVINCIAL CRICKET BODIES, NORMALLY UNDER THE DIRECTON OF THE AMATEUR COACHING MANAGER – CONTACT DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
