BCB, UG launch 2nd edition of youth coaching manual

The proactive Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with the assistance of the University of Guyana on Thursday launched the second edition of its historic coaching manual for youth cricketers.
The launching took place at the Tain campus of the university during a special ceremony to open the Berbice cricket wall of fame. A total of 31 players from the county were inducted onto the wall of fame. The players range from John Trim in 1948 to Ashmini Munsieur who debuted in 2023. The inductees were players from Berbice who represented the West Indies at either the Test, One-Day International (ODI) or T20 levels.
BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that the Board in 2021 had published the first edition of the manual after it was prepared by a top-level delegation of cricket coaches.

The group was headed by the late Michael Hyles and included Julian Moore, Leslie Solomon, Balram Samaroo, Winston Smith, Ameer Rahaman and Travis Hardcourt. The BCB distributed 1000 copies to schools, cricket clubs and youth cricketers across the county while several were requested by clubs as far away as Antigua, North America, and England.
With a total of 18 cricket coaches working with youths in Berbice under the Government of Guyana 10-day work programme, there was a huge demand for more manuals. The Board then approached the University of Guyana for assistance to publish another 1000 copies and Vice Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin readily agreed to the request. A special task committee reviewed the contents of the manual for correction and update.
Foster also hailed the effort of the Tain Campus Director, Dr Gomathinayagam Subramanian and the head of events, conferences and communication, Jainarine Deonauth, who worked with him to make the project a reality.
The full-colour manual covers basic coaching for all aspects of the game – batting, bowling, fielding, catching, wicketkeeping and physical fitness. It also offers advice on the attributes of a good batsman, mental approach to batting, mental approach to the game, importance of discipline, key points when running between the wickets, benefits of physical preparation, and the importance of physical fitness. Youths would benefit from coaching tips on the bat grip, stands and how to play a wide range of cricket shots, including the forward defence, straight drive, cover drive, on drive, pull shot, back foot defence, back foot drive and sweep shot. Tips are also available for fast bowling, off spin, leg spin and left arm orthodox. The fielding section include tips on long barrier, two hands interception and arm throw, high catching, throwing the ball and close catching. Other articles in the manual feature umpiring signals, ways of dismissals and photos of the female international and Test players from the county. Foster committed the BCB to making the manual available to other cricket boards if so requested.
UG Chancellor Edward Greene, Tain Director Dr Subramanian and Vice Chancellor Dr Mohamed Martin stated that the university was delighted to be part of the project. The Vice Chancellor expressed confidence that the coaching manual would inspire the next set of Berbice cricketing heroes to come forth to follow in the footsteps of Rohan Kanhai and Basil Butcher.
Deonauth stated that both efforts of the BCB and the university had resulted in an upgraded version of the coaching manual which matches international standards. He hailed the efforts of Foster and his executives in making the project a success. Special mention was also made of the Director of Tain campus Dr Subramaniam for his hard work and dedication.