SLC Southern Province talent search, coach education a success

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) National Coaching Department successfully conducted the cricket ’Talent Search’ program at the Galle International Cricket Stadium recently.

The main objective of this exercise was to search for young talent, between 14 to 19 age group levels. The training program was attended by over 70 cricketers representing Galle, Matara and Hambantota Districts.

Over the years, SLC have nurtured many cricketers from the Southern Province, who have represented the country, still to date the association keeps a close watchful eye in this part of the country, from where cricketers show great promise, and eventually the most talented go on to Nationals. Cricketers who attended the program were from various schools of the Southern Province, who were identified with talent and will continue to work closely with the respective district and provincial Coach, while any players identified with extreme talent, will be drafted to the National age group squads, managed by the SLC National Coaching department.

On 22 May 2013, the SLC ‘Coach Education Unit’ conducted an ’Coach education workshop’ for all cricket coaches of the coaching fraternity in the Southern Province. This program was attended by 48 coaches from the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota and was conducted successfully. It is imperative that the teachings and knowledge at National level are shared and filtered down to the rest of the coaches involved in active coaching throughout the Country.

Other than the cricketing areas the teachings also included a subject on ‘physiotherapy’ in the effort of sharing ones knowledge and making an awareness with regard to the importance of this area related to injury management of young cricketers which is a common feature in today’s context.

SLC also linked up with the ‘Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association’ and the ‘Southern Provincial Cricket Association’ in conducting a program for the schools ‘Masters in charge’ involved in Cricket with regard to the duties one is expected to perform during his or her involvement. This program was attended by 72 participants from Galle, Matara and Hambantota Districts. This occasion was also graced by SLSCA Secretary Dilshan De Silva, Y. Nishantha and Provincial Secretary Jayananda Waranaweera.

The ‘Coach Education Unit’ of the SLC National Coaching Department conducted this program with the assistance of ‘Naveed Nawaz’ (U19 National Coach), Roger Wijesuriya (U17/15 National Coach), Piyal Wijetunga (National Spin Bowling Coach), Sumitra Waranakulasuriys (Development Coach) Nuwan Seniviratne (Fielding Coach), JC Jamage and Heshan De Mel (Coach Educators). The SLC Provincial and District Coaches network and the ‘Southern Provincial Cricket Association’s assistance was utilised in organizing and conducting the two-day program.