Bashley Rydal CC is delighted to welcome Steve Wilson as Junior and Senior Club Coach commencing in 2018.

Steve is a fully qualified ECB Level 4 coach, ECB Leadership CPD, and works as Elite Coach mentor for the ECB. His coaching experience includes county youth teams from age 10-17 since 2006, women’s cricket teams and a series of successful senior squads.  As well as having been Cricket Coach at Millfield School, and currently Head Coach for Bournemouth University’s cricket programme, Steve brings a huge wealth of experience in developing cricket coaching and elite programmes, supporting individual players as they progress to the next level and focussing teams through successful league campaigns.

Steve will be co-ordinating both the senior and junior training programmes from January 2018, working alongside the senior captains, junior managers and coaching team.

During discussions prior to his appointment, it was agreed by all parties concerned that more emphasis should be made to encourage all boys and girls to enjoy the game of cricket along with learning the basics of the game, particularly at all age groups of under11 levels. To help us achieve this it is planned to further establish the All Stars cricket programme and continue expanding the successful under 9 and 11 age groups. To state the obvious it is felt the more enjoyment children get at these age groups, the more likely they are to continue through the older junior levels and into senior level. Our intention is to continue the under 13 and 15 age groups and whilst still supporting all age group teams at District and County levels, the ambition is to establish an Elite Academy team to play outside the league structure, which will enable them to accommodate all standards of cricket at junior level. It will be the Coach’s role to oversee and have hands on participation in all these ambitions.

Although the foundation of the club is the junior section, it was agreed that we have to maintain and further establish the five senior teams. Although each team plays at a good level, all players and captains would benefit from the direction, coaching and management such an elite coach can provide. His main role will be to provide team and individual coaching and instruction at all levels by holding coaching sessions twice weekly during the season and indoor nets during the winter. The club envisages that everyone, from under 7 through to our elite first team players, will have group and individual access to his talents. It is also hoped, particularly at junior level, that this will be open to both members and non-members, so everyone can be encouraged to play cricket. It is appreciated that this will not happen overnight and it is a long term project, but both the Junior Director of Cricket, Di Harris and Club Chairman, John Neal, agree that “to obtain the services of such an experienced and well respected cricket coach is an opportunity not to be missed and is a vital step in continuing and expanding cricket participation in the local area”

As stated previously, coaching is open to members and non-members, so if anyone is interested or would like more information regarding the coaching programmes, visit the club website www.bashleyrydal.co.uk.

As you will see from Steve’s personal CV statement, we have a unique opportunity to improve individually and collectively and should give it our full backing:

 

“Having commenced my coaching career back in 2004 I have been privileged to have progressed through my coaching qualifications at a rapid rate, culminating in the completion of the prestigious Level 4 coaching qualification back in 2013. At the time of completion, I was one of the youngest coaches in the country to complete the course. Since then I am one of a minority of Level 4 coaches who have completed the subsequent Leadership CPD that is only accessible to Level 4 graduates. When it comes to formal cricket coaching qualifications I have successfully completed them all.

 I consider myself lucky to have worked with some of the world’s best coaches, notably working with former India and South Africa coach Gary Kirsten. I also work as an Elite Coach Mentor for the ECB, supporting the development of several county coaches in their completion of the level 4.    

 In addition to my formal coaching background I have been fortunate to have gained considerable hands on coaching experience. I have been coaching county youth teams since 2006, working across age groups from 10-17.  I have supported many players as they have progressed to the next level; be that county academies, regional or minor counties. In addition to my county youth experience I also set up the current Dorset Leopards programme which was very successful in transitioning players in to the Dorset CCC first XI.

 In 2013 I took up the position as Cricket Coach at Millfield School; the foremost cricket school in the country. A fantastic experience that culminated in the winning of all three national school’s competitions as well as seeing four players achieve national honours with the England U19’s. This was in addition to all the other players who achieved academy contracts, Bunbury and Super Four selections.

 I am currently the Head Coach of Bournemouth University’s Cricket programme, a position I have held since 2011. I have overseen the successful campaigns that have led the side to their current league of Premier A – South as well as reaching a national final in 2011. Prior to this I was Head Coach of the Women’s programme at the University.

Bashley is already a special place to play cricket; a club with strong foundations in place both on and off the pitch. My aim is to build upon and enhance this foundation. In my exciting new role I aim to positively impact upon the clubs players from experienced seniors all the way down to young players embarking on their journey in Cricket.  I see this as an incredibly exciting project, one where I know I’ll be working with great people in taking Bashley to the next level, both inside and outside the boundary rope.“