Warwickshire Cricket Foundation once again hosted The Mayor of the West Midlands Skills Blast event on Sunday, during which a number of young people from Warwickshire and Birmingham were granted free coaching lessons on the Edgbaston outfield.
The Skills Blast is an annual event which grants newly qualified coaches the opportunity to put their burgeoning coaching skills to the test in a supportive environment, overseen by Foundation coaches who are there to encourage and advise.
It is also a chance for local youngsters to access free cricket coaching on the same pitch played on by the Warwickshire squad and by the Birmingham Phoenix players, during the ongoing Hundred competition.
The event, championed by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, focuses on helping newly qualified coaches by providing them with a platform to oversee sessions, apply their newfound skills and to build their confidence levels in a work-place scenario.
Three drills were set up on the outfield, across which the young people in attendance rotated around. One was centred around batting tips, another concentrated on bowling technique and the third was designated to improving fielding skills.
The day was overseen by Skills Blast Director Pritam Grewal, who himself was a student coach handed the opportunity 12 months ago through Skills Blast to demonstrate his coaching abilities.
A year on and Pritam is now co-ordinating the same event himself, a story which highlights the impact of the opportunities afforded to young people through the Foundation and which emphasises the Foundation’s passion for helping people of all backgrounds and ages to discover careers in sport.
“I found the day went really smoothly,” he said. “We paired up coaches based on experience - someone more experienced would go with someone slightly less experienced, but we wanted the less experienced coaches to get as much out of the day as they possibly could.
“They did so - they all said how much they enjoyed it.
“The main thing about Skills Blast is getting as many kids as possible into cricket, giving them the opportunity to play on the Edgbaston pitch and, from a coaching point of view, giving them that experience, getting them out of their comfort zones and leading sessions.”
Having worked so closely with those aspiring coaches who contributed to Skills Blast, Pritam hopes to have inspired them in their own efforts to make a career in sport and coaching.
“I’d been in their shoes less than a year ago,” Pritam said. “Technically I still am in their shoes, as I am still learning as a coach as well, but it was good to be stepping into the role of being a mentor and giving them tips as a coach.
“I really enjoyed it, having that responsibility that's been given to me and to go out there and show people what I have been able to achieve.”
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