St Michael’s Cricket Club proudly completed their 2016 free schools coaching programme recently with the valued support of Dumfries & Galloway Council Active Schools.
Throughout this summer Saints qualified Australian Coaches Ethan Lulham and Kyle Jordan have delivered 27 free sessions to over 400 boys and girls throughout our community. Ethan and Kyle from Narara, New South Wales have run fun sessions that support the health and wellbeing of the pupils – and at the same time introduce the great game of cricket to a new audience / generation – in the following schools:
Calside Primary School
Collin Primary School
Caerlaverock Primary School
Georgetown Primary School
Heathhall Primary School
St Andrew’s Primary School
Troqueer Primary School
Describing the experience of coming to a new country and trying to promote and develop his nations sport of cricket in Dumfries, Ethan Lulham said “The coaching programme that Kyle and I have been involved with, on behalf of St Michaels Cricket Club was thoroughly enjoyable these past 6 months.
The kids from the various schools around Dumfries have been actively engaging in the drills that we’ve run and have made significant personal developments. Coming from coaching in a country where cricket is the paramount sport, to Dumfries where everyone asks “it’s like rounders right?” has posed obvious challenges.
But once the kids learned the basics of the game, acquiring enthusiasm for the game, it then comes as second nature for the kids. It’s always a rewarding experience to spread the game you love, whilst seeing smiling kids enjoying themselves.
The assistance from John Alison from the Active Schools programme has been invaluable. His personal skills have made the transition between schools much smoother, and have made our jobs as coaches that much easier. I’ve got no doubts that next year when Kyle comes back next year, he with the assistance of John Alison, will continue to develop this programme from strength to strength.
This year we’ve already seen a large number of school children come down to Kingholm Park on a Monday night – where we run our St. Michael’s junior training session. All good cricket clubs focus on their grassroots development, and I’m pleased to see that St. Michael’s realise this, and are setting themselves up for a long promising future in Scottish cricket.
It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent St Michael’s as both a player and a coach. Thanks to all at St. Michael’s for giving Kyle and I such an opportunity.”
The club would like to first of all thank the schools involved in this year’s programme for their hospitality, and especially the boys and girls involved in the sessions for their enthusiasm and effort. Thanks must also go to our supporters such as The Holywood Trust as without their support our programme would not take place.
The success of this year’s programme can be seen from the 12 new junior Saints members who enjoyed club sessions every Monday night 6-8pm at Kingholm Park, having been introduced to cricket first at their school sessions by Ethan and Kyle.
John Allison from Active Schools describing the benefits of the joined up approach between Active Schools and St. Michael’s that has now been running for several years said “St Michaels Cricket Club have continued to provide safe, fun and progressive curricular and extra-curricular cricket sessions to 8 primary schools within Nithsdale.
The club has worked closely with the Active Schools team to try and establish direct links to individual schools; this has helped to provide a pathway for participants to continue playing within the club setting”.
Next year’s programme template is already at an advanced stage, and the club are delighted to announce that Kyle is planning to return to these parts in 2017.
It is also great news that we have secured grant funding from The Youthbank Trust, so we will be running winter indoor sessions / games for U16, U12 and U10 age groups from February 2017.
Any schools who are interested in taking part in the 2017 programme should contact John Allison on 07725 065443, and any parents or youngsters wanting to know more about joining Saints junior section should contact Chairman Sandy McNay (and 2016 Nithsdale Sports Council award winner for Services to Local Sport!!) on 01387 710713 or 07842 013884.
