Today sport can offer the individual so much more than ever before, and at last there is a specialised coaching program for High-School cricketers in the Eastern Cape called the Senior Cricket Academy (SCA). Many cricketers can get through High-School cricket on natural talent, but out of school, all ‘age-groups’ fall away, and then only a sound technique will see a cricketer excel. After the huge success of the Youth Cricket Academy (YCA), it was clear that this program was needed to assist High-School cricketers in reaching their full potential.
The YCA is aimed at Grade 1 to Grade 7 pupils, and is designed to improve any cricketer, from the weakest to the strongest, giving them the technical ability, confidence and maturity to succeed at whatever level they wish to play!
In a world where junior school cricketers are being offered bursaries to change schools, just imagine what is on offer to cricketers when they leave school! The options vary from a bursary to attend most tertiary institutions, to finding employment with a much larger wage than any casual work, or even having an overseas club organise a 6 month stay in their country in exchange for your coaching and playing services. There is also every cricketer’s dream, to turn professional, and make a living through playing cricket. Many people do not know what to do after matric, and spending some time in the UK or Holland offers an incredible experience and plenty of time to decide which direction to take, as well as an opportunity to earn money! The SCA’s responsibility is to assist all cricketers in achieving everything they are capable of, from playing socially to professionally, through an efficient, professional and experienced coaching environment.
The best schools manage only 2 team practices a week, while most schools only have time for one practice per week and in a world where sport is becoming more important daily, this simply is not enough if a cricketer is to reach his full potential. The cricketers who join the SCA will be divided into groups of four or less, according to their individual skill level and age groups. This will ensure that strong players can play to their full potential, and that the weaker players are not exposed to a level of play where they feel out of their depth. The size of the group is designed to give the coach enough cricketers with which to work and do the necessary drills, but also, and very importantly, will keep the groups small enough to ensure that each cricketer will be worked and improved on through individual attention.
Cricketers will recognize their own faults and correct them, and this knowledge is imperative if players are to succeed at higher levels than school cricket. Each lesson will run for 90 minutes. Every aspect of cricket will be worked on at the SCA, from batting, bowling, fielding and wicket keeping, to the laws of the game and captaincy. There will be good quality nets as well as a ball machine and cricket kit available. Video footage of a cricketer’s progress can be made available if prior arrangements have been made with the coach. Cricketers attending the Academy will be expected to wear their school cricket clothes or other suitable white attire.
The fees will be as follows for lessons booked on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays:
• Grade 8 - 12...R1040.00 paid in advance or R350.00 paid monthly. (12 x R80.00)
The fees will be as follows for lessons booked on Mondays and Tuesdays:
• Grade 8 - 12...R960.00 paid in advance or R325.00 paid monthly. (11 x R80.00)
Monday to Friday:
Grade 8 - 12...14:45 - 16:15 : 16:30 - 18:00
The Senior Cricket Academy’s aim is to improve all the cricketers that attend, teaching them the skills, harnessing their talents, and building their self-confidence so they will not only start enjoying cricket, but start excelling at it! After all, the best cricketers are not born great; they are coached to become great!