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CICA Coaching Conference 2025

INSPIRE & engage

Top-class guests – not to be missed!

Whether you’re looking to meet other coaches or learn something new, this year’s conference ticks all the boxes.

Learn about the hot topic of Skill Acquisition from Phil Kearney; expand your knowledge of communication in meetings from David Sharkey; hear and see all of the latest trends in fielding and plenty more.

Register now and you can avail of our early-bird offer to receive a 10% discount with the code EARLYBIRD.

The Conference details...

The Cricket Ireland Coaches Association is hosting its 2025 Coaching Conference as follows:

  • Date: 8 November 2025 (starts 9am, finishes 5.30pm)
  • Venue: Marino Institute of Education, Conference Centre, Griffith Avenue, Dublin, Dublin, D09 R232
  • Registrations: bookings are open until 8 November at this link
  • Organiser: Stephen Maxwell - stephen.maxwell@cricketireland.ie
Meet some of our speakers...
Phil Kearney
Skills Acquisition X

Phil Kearney is the Course Leader for the MSc Applied Sports Coaching at the University of Limerick.

A Fellow of the Higher Education Authority, his teaching and research centres on the domain of skill acquisition, particularly as it relates to youth sport.

A regular contributor to RTÉ Brainstorm, Phil is a member of the Gaelic Athletic Association’s Player & Coach Development Advisory Group and is on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Motor Learning and Development and Perceptual and Motor Skills.

Phil is a co-founder of Movement and Skill Acquisition Ireland.

Cookie Patel
Bowled Over Limited

ECB Level 4 Master Cricket Coach. With over 30 years coaching experience, I have been fortunate enough to work with the following teams: Warwickshire CCC, Northamptonshire CCC, Derbyshire CCC, Worcestershire CCC, Essex CCC, England Women, RAF Cricket, Combined Services Cricket, Isle of Man & City Cricket Academy.

A Specialist Fielding Coach. As I completed my level 4 programme I became the first coach to achieve a Masters Degree (MSc) in Coaching Science with Gloucestershire University. My research looked at diving as a fielder.

There are not many coaches who have worked throughout the entire pathway, from inner city schools to a World Cup Final. I have enjoyed working in coach development where I led the national programme to develop tutors for the ECB, Cricket Ireland & West Indies Cricket and also supported tutors in Europe and Scotland.

David Sharkey
Polaris Teams

David Sharkey is a High Performance Communications Consultant. He works with players, coaches, teams and organisations to improve their engagement, learning and performances. 

He has recently conducted research on team meetings in sport; how meetings can align to match day. With a significant amount of time spent in them, meetings in sport have never been analysed until now. 

His work also includes ‘themeing’: identifying shared characteristics and presenting them in ways that resonate. 

David is known best for this extensive work in sport, empowering teams such as: Ronan O’Gara’s double Champions Cup Winners, Stade Rochelais; Irish Women’s Hockey; Australian Rugby Sevens; Arsenal Women; Port Adelaide (Aussie Rules); inter-county GAA with Dublin, Westmeath and Wexford and; British Rowing.

Details