CWI bolsters grassroots cricket with new wave of coach training

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

In a major push to strengthen the pipeline of Caribbean cricket talent, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has kicked off a second round of essential coaching courses across the Leeward Islands and St Vincent.

The initiative is a critical part of CWI's strategy to build a deep and qualified pool of coaches, preparing for the restart of primary school and community grassroots programmes.

The training will equip local coaches with the skills needed to nurture the next generation of stars.

The sessions began on Thursday, October 2, at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua & Barbuda.

The programme will now move through the region, with stops already taking place in Montserrat and the British and US Virgin islands. The programme will next move to St Maarten & Anguilla (October 10), and a final session in St Vincent on October 30.

CWI's Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, emphasised the long-term importance of the investment in coaching.

"Investing in coaching education at this early stage is essential to building a solid foundation for the growth and future sustainability of the sport in the region," Bascombe stated. "By equipping coaches with the right tools and knowledge, we are creating a more inclusive and sustainable cricket pathway."

Bascombe highlighted that flagship development programmes like the Republic Bank Limited (RBL) Five for Fun Cricket and the Girls Under-16/19 Territorial Cricket Hubs will directly benefit from this newly trained cohort of coaches.

The courses are being led by two highly qualified coaches from Trinidad & Tobago, Brendon Ramlal and Keshava Ramphal. Both are Level 3 certified and with extensive backgrounds in education, they bring over a decade of experience in age-group cricket development.

In a key move for player safety, CWI mandated that all participating coaches complete the online UNICEF Child Protection Course and a virtual Cricket Safeguarding Workshop before beginning their training. This ensures every coach is prepared to provide a safe and supportive environment for young players.