PANAJI: Goa Cricket Association (GCA) provided a fresh impetus to its coaching education initiative during the times of Covid-19 pandemic, by conducting ‘Level 1’ course for coaches for the first time. GCA has also planned a concerted focus on developing its human resources and creating employment opportunities.
In all 16 coaches participated, in the course that was held on ‘online’ mode from December 7 to 12 Dec; and physically on October 8 at GCA Academy at Porvorim.
Faculties from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) – Apurva Desai, K. Jeshwant and Murlidhar R. – conducted the course.
Elaborating on the future plan, GCA President, Suraj Lotlikar said: “The Managing Committee has designed a roadmap to engage our players after retirement and keep them close to the game, which they play over the years; and help them to generate employment opportunities in the same field of their liking.”
Not only former cricketers but Physical Education teachers among others, will also be able to seek guidance from the state cricket governing body.
“GCA plans to create many more such L1, L2 coaches, umpires, video-analyst, match referees, physios; thereby creating a resource bank, which can be used by GCA as per the requirement. GCA also plans to give ‘Level O’ coaching support to the PE Teachers of participating schools at GCA Tournament in order to have uniformity in coaching,” added Lotlikar.
The GCA president is confident that this endeavour will “surely bear the fruits in coming years to produce some good cricketers across the state.”
GCA Secretary, Vipul Phadke disclosed that coaches developed by the Association’s coaching education drive supported by BCCI, will be posted all over Goa at the taluka cricket centres soon.
“I would like to thank the BCCI and NCA faculty for the entire Level 1 programme. This is the first time-ever when GCA has given an opportunity to 16 young players to try out the Level 1 (course) exam. The players who clear this exam, will be very soon absorbed by GCA and will be posted at various taluka-level cricket centres that will be started by us in the coming months,” revealed Phadke.
“Having NCA-certified coaches in our centres will be a huge advantage for the budding cricketers. Their Level 1 training and experience will be a great asset to mould our junior players and give them a strong foundation,” added Phadke.
