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In early 2014, Cricket Ireland launched the Cricket Ireland Coaches’ Association (CICA) across all unions, for the first time giving coaches the opportunity to be part of a local and national network of coaches and coach development opportunities.
The aim of CICA is to help provide specific and relevant support and guidance to coaches in Ireland, helping to raise the profile of coaches in Ireland, and improve standards by promoting and developing a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Before 2014 there was no formal organisation to support coaches, (although previously some coaches had joined the ECBCA) and the introduction of CICA has been a big success during the season, with over 250 coaches joining up to avail of benefits such as a quarterly newsletter, liability insurance and coaching resources through the ECB and ICC Europe. There is also the start of a coaching relationship with O’Neills who through their website are now providing an excellent coaching clothing range.

Part of the appeal for having a national coaches association was also to help with provincial unions running their own localised coach associations, through informal support and the provision of specialists to deliver. A review of this provision has occurred, and CICA are now committed to delivering 8 CICA workshops (2 per union) in 2015 – in addition to any workshops delivered by the local union CA.

Membership to the national association automatically gives you membership to your provincial association, and will help you to access coaching courses, professional development seminars and various other initiatives aimed at improving coaching and encouraging continued learning. Importantly, the provincial associations are run by its members, meaning each region can focus on what is most important in that area.

Stephen Moreton, cricket Ireland’s coach development officer said; “It has been great to see the numbers of coaches join up, and avail of the benefits. The feedback we have received is that the communication is improving, which is really important to understand the needs of club coaches, in particular. We have also listened to Provincial Unions around their needs for Coach Development, and have bespoke support in place in the NCU, NWCU and Leinster. As with anything new though, there is room for improvement, so in 2015, we hope to increase the offering for members – the first National Conference (10/11 April) will be held in DCU, which is really exciting, we are delivering more workshops with National Players and Coaches, and we would also like to support Munster to develop a solution that works for them – the biggest learning for me, is that each union is unique and therefore our approach also needs to be.”

Joining CICA is easy, and is done directly through Cricket Ireland. Any person who holds a coaching award from ‘Welcome to Coaching’ or higher is welcome to join, providing you have a current police check (Access NI/Garda Vetting/CRB).

Membership is open to all, with complete beginner, advanced and everyone in between supported and welcome. Cost of membership is just £35 / €42, and application forms are available here.

To join return a completed form to coached@cricketireland.ie, or by post to Cricket Ireland, Coaching Department, Unit 22, Grattan Business Park, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17. Payment can be made either by cheque, over the phone by card, or by Direct Debit (NI).

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