TT&T Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath is disappointed that T&T had fallen short in their attempt to claim a Rising Stars youth regional title this season.
Speaking at a two-day Enhancement Programme for coaches on the weekend, the experienced cricket administrator said "that the Enhancement Programme will inject a dose of enthusiasm and excitement among the coaches which will bear fruit in the coming year."
Among the topics covered at the programme, where the facilitators were former Clico Preysal Sports Club coach Debideen Manick and Bhoodish Dookie over the two days were consistency, adaptation, assessing conditions, the dew factor, maintaining composure, Duckworth-Lewis method of scoring, and the need for coaches to have a calm head and provide clear guidance and instructions. The courses included practical demonstrations, where the coaches were able to get hands on practice especially the Duckworth-Lewis Method, which has become almost synonymous with cricket.
General secretary of the TTCB Atlaf Baksh, at the closing ceremony on Sunday evening, told the participating coaches that "they are in a unique position to chart the course for a revival of the nation’s fortunes in regional cricket."
Baksh, who is a SEA teacher at Montrose Government Primary School said the job of the coaches, who are teachers, is not an easy one.
He said: "As teachers yourselves, you face the challenge of determining the different levels of receptiveness of the cricketers in your charge and you have to relate to them in a way that they can fully understand and grasp.”
Manick said he was impressed with the level of expertise of the coaches and their willingness to absorb what was disseminated at the program. He praised fellow facilitator Dookie, whom he described as quite opposite in how he approached his teaching methods, but was just as effective as a communicator and instructor.