BCB to launch historic coaching manual on Wednesday

— dedicated in memory of Michael Hyles

The vibrant Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), under the dynamic leadership of Hilbert Foster, would on Wednesday create history in Guyana when it launches its own coaching manual.
The launch, set for the BCB Office in New Amsterdam, is expected to be attended by senior board officials, youth cricketers, and cricket coaches in the county.
Foster, who has spearheaded a major cricketing revolution in the Ancient County, is expected to give the feature address at the launch, and then distribute the first copies of the manual to some cricketers.
Plans for the manual started after the board was unable to host its county-wide coaching programme because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Foster then promulgated to his executives that alternatives had to be found to assist youths to improve their game, and it was decided that the board should invest in a coaching manual.
The BCB President was able to obtain the necessary sponsorship, and a high-level team of qualified cricket coaches, led by level three coaches Winston Smith and Julian Moore, was set up to provide the necessary information for the booklet.
Other coaches involved were Leslie Soloman, Balram Samaroo, Travis Hardcourt, Tremayne Smartt and the late Michael Hyles.

Information in the manual involves tips on batting, fast bowling, spin bowling, wicket-keeping, fielding, and physical training. The manual also has special articles on the importance of discipline and education. Other topics covered are field positions, ways of dismissal, and umpire signals; while profiles of Berbice Test players and senior West Indies female players are also featured.
BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu has said that with the official launching of the manual out of the way, the board would now forge ahead with the hosting of four mini cricket academies across the county.
The academies would be hosted for almost 200 promising under 19 players in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne, and Upper Corentyne. Each player attending an academy would receive a copy of the manual, while the board also intends to assist its fellow county boards with copies, if they request same.
Foster has said that publication of the historic coaching manual was undertaken at great cost because the BCB is totally committed to the development of every available cricketing talent in the Ancient County. He said that with players having their own coaching manual, they would be able to work on their own personal development at home on a regular basis, and club officials would also be in a position to assist them.
Most clubs in Berbice are without the services of a cricket coach, and the manual should assist them to do their own coaching sessions. The BCB President made it quite clear that the manual would be distributed free of cost. The booklet was made possible with the support of overseas-based sponsors Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, Dr Puran Singh and Brian Ramphal.
The BCB has also decided to dedicate the manual to the memory of long-time cricket coach Michael Hyles, who died recently. Hyles had served as a cricket coach in the county for over four decades, and had assisted in preparation of the document before his sudden demise.