The batting and bowling master classes came to Ireland and North County Cricket Club for the first time recently, and following a succession of successful master classes around England and Scotland, a lot was expected of the courses so the bar was already set high. The courses had been designed by Sam Lavery and Mark Lawson, and following some discussion with various people at Cricket Ireland including Mark Garaway and Stephen Moreton, as well as various club managers and coaches from around Leinster including Jeremy Bray, they had laid out a structure specifically aimed at the young players involved.
Batting looked in detail at establishing a perfect set up, something that all the coaches at Pro Coach have always been meticulous about... "If you don't start in the perfect position, what are your chances of playing a perfect shot...?" is often heard, and it's something that is so simple, but as it's not the most exciting thing to talk about it's so often overlooked. Something a lot of the young guys were to learn very quickly was that training like a pro isn't all excitement, and high speed action, it's method, and it's routine that breeds success at the top.
The young Irish players were then taken though an in-depth look at fast bowling fast bowling, from both front and back foot, with a combination of simple drills which can be recreated anyway, as well as a few which involve a little more imagination. This ingenuity for novel drills really takes off when Mark Lawson gets his chance to talk about playing spin. As a first class leg spinner, Mark explains how he opened his professional career with a well pitched up big turning leggie to one of the modern day greats Ricky Ponting, which was promptly deposited through square leg for four with a sweep. Mark has been exposed to some of the great players of spin, and so the methods he employs as a coach come first hand from the first class arena where he has chosen some of the best game plans from around the world.
"Growing up bowling at the likes of Darren Lehmann day in day out is an experience that money just can't buy, so developing tactical awareness, assessing tiny technical changes, and having a clear mind at the crease are all things I've grown up around at the very highest level. One thing I really try to pass on these boys is that understanding of what is needed to make it to the top. Yes some people are better than others, however if you focus your training properly there's no reason you can't leave every session a better player than when you started, and there's no reason you can't aim for the top.... how many of us can really say that, we've got the most out of every session we've attended and every ball we've hit? Hopefully a few more of the boys will start to now!" (Mark Lawson).
On the bowling side of things the big focus is on a well aligned, safe repeatable action. While many people find bowling actions a risky area to get involved in, Pro Coach aim to install simple basics into the boys which help develop a simple and strong repeatable action. Whilst every one is different, we all have few simple guidelines we should be sticking to and after and initial assessment and discussion using video analysis and the latest iPad technology Mark laid out individual plans and goals for each bowler based on their own personal needs.
"So often when working with a groups of bowlers it's easy to forget that everyone's an individual, so it's vital that everyone sets their own targets with the coach that is taking them in the direction they want to go. Some may want to bowl faster, some may want to develop more control or more swing, but we always try to kick off with a frank discussion between player and coach... where are we as a player right now? where to we want to be? how are we going to get there? It's that simple. As long as we have our own goals which we agree upon and a method that we believe in then we'll get there sooner rather than later", says Sam Lavery, Pro Coach's Managing Director and Head Coach.
This was Jeremy Bray's first sighting of Pro Coach, and following his chance to be involved over a few days he was full of praise...
"it was an honour to be apart of the coaching clinics over the last three days in North County with Mark, who I thought was outstanding, right through his knowledge to his presentation and clarity of getting his coaching points across. I came out of it more knowledgeable and I believe a better coach."
During the week Mark spent some one-to-one time with all the boys. One of them was Liam Giggins from Knockharley. Liam is a left arm quick bowler with a front on action, which is unusual to see. The Saturday following the course David Murphy (another of the boys) and Liam came up against one another when Laois played Knockharley and the result of the recent Pro Coach work could be seen clearly. Liam took 2 wickets, one that broke an important Laois partnership and he roughed David up with a few short balls. The spoils eventually went to Laois with Murphy taking 4 wickets including Liam's!
It was great to see that off the field the two boys had developed a strong relationship through the Pro Coach course. The two emerging fast bowlers could be seen sitting with one another at tea discussing last week's coaching, comparing technical points they were working on and how they were going to put what they had learnt into practice in the coming season.
These were two lads who had never met before attending the Pro Coach Master class and the results could be seen both on and off the field which was great to see.
So what's next for Pro Coach? Plans are to return in the summer to work with some individual clubs including Laois CC who are keen to make Pro Coach an important part of their development as a club. Pro Coach will again be looking to deliver a course, or range of courses open to any young cricketers wishing to sign up and work hard.
Mark Lawson is clearly excited about the prospect...
"I can't wait to come back and carry on the hard work all the boys have put in this week. For me this is just the beginning, while it's possible to pass on a good amount of knowledge and information in the time we had, it's about developing a long term relationship with these players. I always say to the boys send me your videos if you want me to have a look at how you're progressing and we've been doing that with one of the young quicks from Leinster (David Murphy), who's come on leaps and bounds in the past 6 months. As long as the boys have clearly defined objectives of what they want to achieve, and they're committed to achieving them then I think we're all heading in the right direction. It would be great to see Irish Cricket establish itself firmly on the international map long term, and if Pro Coach can help by playing a part in the development that would be great to see!"
Look out for future courses coming up with Pro Coach by visiting www.procricketcoachingacademy.com/venues/ireland.asp or to register your interest and receive information about coaching courses coming up via email, contact enquiries@procoachcricketacademy.com
You can also register free for the Pro Coach Junior Pro's Club where you can receive free coaching info, competitions, prizes and give aways, as well as regular interviews with first class and international cricketers. Just visit the above web address for details.
