Coaching Apprenticeships

Cricket for Change runs a Cricket Apprenticeship Scheme which provides an opportunity for young people aged between 16 to 24 to become the next generation of Cricket for change coaches or sports development officers. 

The coaches more often than not come from Cricket For Change’s projects and partners and the aims of the apprenticeship are as follows:

  • To empower young people to achieve their potential.
  • To give young people an experience of working in partnership with a world leading cricket development agency assisting their transition into working life.
  • Progress to possible employment opportunities on Cricket For Change’s signature projects HIT THE TOP and STREET 20.
  • Inspire other individuals from similar backgrounds to follow a similar path.
  • Increase the capacity of Cricket For Change to provide opportunities for young people to learn and play cricket in a safe environment.

 The apprenticeship scheme consists of three main learning areas: 

  1. Training courses
  2. Apprentices group work and workshops
  3. Coaching hours in the field

TRAINING COURSES
The following courses MUST be done in order to complete the apprenticeship scheme.

  • ECB CRICKET LEVEL 1
  • SAFE GAURDING AND CHILD PROTECTION COURSE
  • EQUITY IN YOUR COACHING
  • WORKING WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR
  • FIRST AID COURSE

APPRENTICE GROUP WORK AND WORKSHOPS
The apprenticeship includes 16 one day courses where the apprentices come together to learn about specific areas of the charity's work and bounce ideas off each other. 

Below is a list of some of topics covered duringthese workshops. These days also help the apprentices' to learn how the charity works and help them improve as a coach and a person in the long run;

  • Street 20 rules and play       
  • Working in Visually Impaired cricket
  • Working with Wheelchair and frame users
  • Media Awareness
  • Conduct at work
  • Fundraising/Resource training
  • I.T training
  • Time management and goal setting
  • Organising and running a cricket match
  • Cricket/coaching skills workshop
  • Fundamentals of fitness

COACHING HOURS IN THE FIELD
Each apprentice will have to complete 100 hours of coaching / competition administration. This will include assisting with the lead coach as well as completing some hours with other coaches in order to gain experience into how different people work.

EXPENSES
Each apprentice is entitled to claim money back for any travel that they do in conjunction with the apprenticeship programme. 

SUPERVISION AND MONITORING OF APPRENTICES TRAINING
All apprentices will have an appraisal every two months to monitor progress, address areas of work and also to help with any queries or concerns.

GRADUATION AND BEYOND
The graduated apprentices may be offered paid work on some of the Cricket for Change projects. They will also receive support and backing from the charity if they wish to seek alternative employment with other organisations and hopefully begin to build their careers and take themselves and the charity forwards. 

Interested
The 2009/10 scheme is already underway but if you or anyone you know are interested, then for further information please do get in touch with Danny Baker:

Danny Baker on 020 8 669 2177 or dannybaker@cricketforchange.org.uk