Recreational cricket across the country can only function due to the fantastic volunteer network that exists within clubs and leagues. When cricket finally returns this network is going to be vital for the game to flourish.

We have compiled details of online courses that are available to complete from home to help clubs develop their volunteer workforce. We have broken the courses down into five areas (clicking on the title will take you straight to that section):

1. Umpiring and Scoring
2. Grounds maintenance
3. Coaching
4. Safeguarding
5. Google Digital Garage

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1. Umpiring and scoring

The Association of Cricket Officials have launched online courses (free of charge) for anyone involved in cricket.

These are a brilliant opportunity for any players, juniors or parents at clubs to enhance their skills and knowledge of umpiring and scoring.

In addition, scorers can follow Worcestershire CCC’ s Sue Drinkwater, deliver a series of live scoring demonstrations on a range of topics on YouTube.

a. Basics of Umpiring- 30mins

This course is aimed at club umpires who just need to know the key laws and basic field craft and those players who umpire 5 or 10 overs at the weekend. For ages 13 and over. Register here.

b. It’s Your Call – Umpire Education Stage One- 3-4 hours

This course is designed to give an overview of the basic laws of the game, how to apply them and introduce the principles of field craft and match management.  This course is a perfect introduction for new club umpires, a refresher for existing umpires and the first step for those who aspire to umpire at higher levels. For ages 13 and over. Register here.

c. Basics of Scoring- 30 mins

This course is designed to provide you with all the skills needed to start scoring.  The course covers the basics of scoring a game of cricket such as, scoring symbols, umpire signals, dismissals and gives a helpful overview of the laws of the game. For ages 13 and over. Register here.

If you have any questions, SACO (Somerset Association of Cricket officials) Tutor Ben Peverall, is available to assist via: benpeverall@gmail.com

d. RunsWktsOvers – Live YouTube Demonstrations for Scorers

RUNSWKTSOVERS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Sue Drinkwater’s (ECB ACO Scorer Education Manager) is delivering series of live scoring demonstrations over on her YouTube channel. Covering everything from the basics of scoring, the various methods, including linear scoring to ‘Score Alongs’ and more advanced demos with Q&As. We encourage all scorers to head over to YouTube and subscribe to Sue’s channel.

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2. Grounds Maintenance

Ground staff at clubs are vitality important and can often be under appreciated for the hours of work they do to produce pitches to enable players to play.

Good pitches play a significant role in player’s enjoyment and we are delighted that there is some online training for grounds keepers during this time.

a. (ONLINE) Level 1 Cricket Grounds Maintenance- 3-4 hours

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) have a range of training courses that are suitable for the professional to the grass roots volunteer and have launched a new online Level 1 module on Cricket Grounds Maintenance to allow you to gain an awareness and general understanding of the tasks involved in maintaining playing surfaces.

There are three modules to this training course. All are designed to either give you a new understanding or build on your experiences so far.

• Requirements of the groundsperson and pitch
• Maintenance activities (Equipment and Machinery)
• Safe use and storage (Materials)

Each module has an informal self-assessment test, plus there is a formal end of course multiple choice assessment test, which is also online.
After you have completed these 3 modules, we will also suggest other topics of progression should you wish to continue to learn.

The course is £25.00 & can be booked by visiting:  https://portal.iog.org/education/course/379841

b. The GMA Back to Play Webinar Series

On Wednesday 13th May the GMA ran their first webinar on “Back to Play” which proved very popular. You can Watch the Recording of the webinar back using the link if you missed it!

On 16th June at 7pm- Adapting to the ‘new-normal’ can present challenges for grounds staff, volunteers, and businesses – so we’ve gathered a panel for our latest webinar, led by Mark Clemmit, to discuss and explore mental health strategies for the grounds sector.

Register at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1330272037999578895

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3. Coaching

Inspiring the next generation of cricketers is crucial and coaches at clubs are a key part of doing this.

This is the perfect time for coaches develop and learn new skills to help the players they work with to improve when cricket resumes.

a. iCoach Cricket Live

The ECB have launched a series of coaching webinars, held every Thursday afternoon. The webinars have allowed ECB to continue developing and supporting coaches at what would have been a busy period both locally and nationally. So far Jane Powell, Ashley Giles and Peter Such have been their guests – the recordings are available in the Kitbag area of icoachcricket here.

Register here to secure your place or contact coachdevelopment@ecb.co.uk for more information

b. iCoach Cricket Resources Update

ECB recently announced updates to the fantastic iCoach Cricket resource which your coaches should certainly take a look at to learn some new drills to try with your players.

c. UK Coaching

UK Coaching know there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to do what you love. But while the spread of the virus may be preventing you gathering with your teams and participants, it cannot stop you gathering knowledge and growing your coaching skills during this exasperating but unavoidable pause in play. UK Coaching would like to help you use your downtime effectively, so that when things return to normal you will be stronger for the experience.

To this end, they have temporarily unlocked 10 of their most valuable subscriber resources making them available to all registered on UK Coaching

Each week UK Coaching will be holding a conversation through their ‘Curious Coaches Club’ about a particular coaching topic that they know is important to coaches and one that many would like to learn more about.

The ‘Curious Coaches Club’ will have three parts to it:

1. Watch ‘A Conversation About…’ between expert coaches live on a Monday or on-demand via UKCoaching.org or their You Tube channel.
2. Engage and take part in a more in-depth conversation about the topic on Wednesday or Thursday via smaller informal gatherings of coaches hosted by one of the UK Coaching team.
3. Continue the conversation via the community aspect of ‘Connected Coaches’ hosted on their website.

Over the coming weeks UK Coaching will be following this process to talk about all sorts of different topics and feel free to share with them if there are any specific topics, discussions or coaches you would like to hear from and they will see what they can do!

• Mondays Open Webinar sessions
• Wednesday & Thursday Community of Practice sessions

d. ECB Coach Ambassador

This e-learning workshop has been designed to help develop your confidence and equip you with knowledge, understanding and skills to recruit coaches, advocate coaching and help coaches unlock their potential.

Those most passionate about developing players should consider becoming an ECB Coaching Ambassador which can now be accessed via a 40-minute e-learning module

e. Young Volunteer

The Cricket Activators Course aims to encourage young people to get more involved as cricket volunteers.

The course will provide the skills and knowledge needed to volunteer in a wide variety of roles in clubs, community and education.

To become a Cricket Activator, you can complete an e:Learning module

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4. Safeguarding

The welfare of people in cricket is vitally important and whilst cricket is not taking place it is worth making sure safeguarding requirements at up to date.

a. DBS Vetting Checks

The roles in cricket that require ECB vetting are:

• Welfare Officer (Club, League, County)
• Volunteer Co-ordinator
• Coach (volunteer or paid, assistant or lead)
• Umpire
• Scorer
• Colt/Junior Manager
• Age Group Manager
• Open-Age Team Captain
• Junior Supervisor
• First Aider/Physiotherapist/Medical Support

If anyone at your club need a DBS to setup an online DBS form the following information is required:

1. Full Name
2. Date of Birth
3. Preferred Email Address
4. Club affiliation

Please email this information to Matt Counsell – matthew.counsell@somersetcricketboard.org who will set this up.

ECB have temporarily introduced a change to the ID verification part of the application to allow these to be actioned via a video call as opposed to the standard Face to Face Meeting. Again, contact Matt Counsell – matthew.counsell@somersetcricketboard.org to arrange this.

b. Online Safeguarding Young Cricketers

This is for existing coaches who are required to obtain or renew the online Safeguarding Young Cricketers certificate.

This course is accessed online through the ECB and is free to all coaches.

Coaches who have previously accessed the online SYC module and qualified through the ECB online portal, should log in and access the course in their e-learning account at: https://e-learning.ecb.co.uk

If required, please use the forgotten password facility to access the portal. If candidates still cannot access the portal or the course once in their e-learning account, then please contact Michael Woodhouse at the ECB: Michael.Woodhouse@ecb.co.uk

Coaches who have not previously undertaken the online SYC module, should email Matt Counsell – matthew.counsell@somersetcricketboard.org

You will then be sent an invitation email to enrol onto the online Safeguarding Young Cricketers module directly from the ECB.

c. Interim Welfare Officer Training

There is now an interim online safeguarding course for clubs, those registered for a course that was cancelled will be contacted by the ECB. For more details check out our Interim Welfare Officer Training Article

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5. Google Digital Garage