How to Become a Cricket Coach

A cricket coach needs a thorough technical knowledge of the game and good motivational skills. A cricket coach will normally begin his or her coaching career at a low level, though a former professional cricketer can often get good coaching opportunities soon after retiring as a player. A brilliant coach can move up through the ranks in the game, with the lowest level being village green cricket. The next step up is league cricket, then county (or state), then international level cricket. A cricket coach should be open to new ideas and always willing to learn. The more interesting the coaching, the more responsive a cricketer will be.

Instructions

    • 1

      Contact your local cricket club and ask if they're looking for a coach. Even at a low level, you'll still need to prove that you're knowledgeable about the game, and you should offer to take a short coaching session with the players. This will help prove your suitability. Because you'll be dealing with amateur players, you'll need to have a relaxed approach. Playing cricket will be seen by these players as a hobby, and they won't take kindly to severe criticism.

    • 2

      Watch great players live, or on television. This will keep you up to date with current trends in cricket techniques. Even though most cricket techniques have been tried and tested over 100 years, there are still some great players who innovate. A batsman may have an unconventional stance, and a bowler may have a very unusual arm action, for instance. DVDs are also a good way of teaching cricketers how to improve their techniques, through studying great players.

    • 3

      Analyze your players' strengths and weaknesses. Work on the weaknesses in players' techniques. Though even strengths can be improved upon, it's wise not to coach a player too much, as it could stifle his natural ability.

    • 4

      Take a coaching course to improve your coaching skills. Contact your local national cricket board for information on their coaching courses, which can be done online. Their will be several levels -- up to level 4 and beyond on the English Cricket Board's coaching course, for instance. These courses can be expensive, but when you begin coaching cricketers at a higher standard, they'll expect you to either have achieved something as a player, or to have good coaching credentials. When you have either, or both, then your opinions will carry more weight.