We were desperately looking forward to this 2 day course at Portsmouth & Southsea CC for a number of reasons. The local newspaper had given the course a fantastic write up and the club were backing us to deliver having had a bad experience with a rival company the previous year. When we turned up at Portsmouth & Southsea CC it felt a little like we were making a hospital visit with the club being located in the heart of the St. James campus and it was pleasing to see 3 members of the club sweeping away the leaves that had fallen on the net area. Two of the ‘gardeners’, Matt Benfield and Rob Jacobs were helping us for the two days and it must be said, were fantastic with the kids and both have huge potential as cricket coaches.

The parents arrived with the fantastic news that the forecast for day two was horrendous and wondering if we had a backup plan if it rained. Once the register was taken, all 23 lads were on board with gleaming LCA Cricket Coaching T-shirts and Caps and the cones set out like Gatwick airport runway, we began our warm ups. The youngsters were run into the ground by Matt and Rob and the older lads got off lightly with Browny’s finest partner fielding drill. The day then ran on with both groups rotating round the various stations laid on covering all disciplines of the game in detailed fashion. Before lunch, the intensity of the course – which is something always highlighted as important at the start of the courses – was fantastic. As usual, lunch had an impact of everyone and tiredness kicked in leaving the afternoon session a little bit of a challenge for the coaches. Nevertheless, drills took place appropriately and the day ended with great success.

The nights sleep was hampered by the forecast for the south of england so wide awake at 6am, I got up to see a blanket of grey sky above Southampton and puddles developing in the street. We made our way over to P & S CC to be welcomed by a cloudy but dry cricket ground. This allowed us to begin the day and luckily finish the day without a drop – it must have been the only place in Hampshire to have been like it, hospitals do bring luck after all! The day was a mix of intense drill based activities and competitive games putting into practice the skills learned over the previous 8 hours coaching. Once again, it was fantastic to see all the lads having improved in one way or another and most importantly with smiles on their faces as they went about the job of beating each other in various games including pavillion cricket, the off-side and on-side games.

Many thanks to all the coaches and to Portsmouth & Southsea CC for allowing us to use their fantasic, DRY facilities. We are already looking forward to our return next year.