PRIVATE COACHING ACADEMIES

The demand for private coaching has increased dramatically over the past few years and with it has come various challenges as well as opportunities. SWD Cricket receives many phone-calls from parents and players looking for extra coaching.

With this in mind, as well as the focus from SASCOC relating to accreditation of coaches, Cricket South Africa has put forward various requirements for Private Academies, should they wish to be officially recognised and endorsed by Cricket South Africa, as well as their local affiliate bodies.

This has been done to ensure that SWD Cricket and other affiliates will only endorse Private Academies who meet certain criteria, to protect both the player and the coach’s interests.

Private Academies who wish to apply for this approval are directed to the “Guidelines for the Approval of Private Cricket Academies” listed below and may approach the SWD Coaching Department for the relevant application forms via email: info@swdcricket.co.za

SWD AND CSA ENDORSED PRIVATE CRICKET COACHING ACADEMIES

Currently no private cricket academy in the SWD Region is endorsed by SWD or CSA

Guidelines for the Approval of Private Cricket Academies

Following a CSA Board decision, private cricket academies or similar centres of excellence operating within the regions could be eligible for CSA approval subject to compliance with prescribed criteria and minimum standards. Minimum standards for approval:

• All coaches to be in possession of a CSA Level II (revised 2005 version) coaching certificate
• If under the age of 21 years, a coach with a Level I qualification will only be permitted to coach players up to 15 years of age
• Cricketers with first-class experience are permitted to enter the coaching pathway at Level II and should be encouraged, and are expected, to attain an official Level II qualification if they wish to coach young cricketers
• An academy must operate for at least 7 months per year
• The academy must provide adequate training equipment and facilities to players; such facilities can be either rented or leased
• All coaches must register with CSA through their local Union
• All coaches are expected to be members of their provincial coach’s association and regularly attend the regional coaching forums
• The academy is to present a clear transformation objective, to be audited each year; this could include the funding/sponsoring of a programme for developing promising players/coaches or the transfer of skills in a previously disadvantaged area in the form of an ‘outreach’ programme
• CSA approval to be granted to an individual academy, not an association or organisation of various bodies
• The recommended coach/cricketer ratio is to be strictly adhered to:
  • group sessions: 14 players/coach
  • net sessions: 7 players/coach
• Private academy fixtures must never clash with any official affiliated matches.

Process of approval:

• The local Union/Provincial Coaching Manager, under the auspices of the CSA Coaching Department and CSA Coaches Academy, to assess and confirm the status of a private academy
• List of approved academies to be posted on the relevant Affiliate’s website
• CSA website to feature qualification criteria
• Approval to be reviewed annually.