Cricket COACHING PLANS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 6

Cricket COACHING PLANS

Discussion By Committee

The coaching programme to be followed by the Canterbury Cricket. Association’s professional coach, M. J. Bear, in the New Year, was the main business dealt with at last evening’s meeting of the association's management committee.

The chairman of the coaching committee (Mr C. G. F. C. Hamilton), reporting on a meeting with Bear, said that in all but one instance Bear was very pleased with the progress being made and the attendance at’ the coaching periods. Bear was. however, very disappointed at the response from clubs for the Friday evening coaching period, the attendance at which had been very poor. The same did not apply to the subassociation and minor association olayers, many of whom travelled 50 miles to attend the courses, he said. From December 6 to December 24, Bear would coach in the South and Mid-Canterbury areas, but he would not now go to the West Coast and Buller associations’ districts this season, said Mr Hamilton. He had been in touch with both associations which agreed that the limited time available was not sufficient to cover all the ground.

Elaborating on a reference to the coaching of primary school boys made by Mr Hamilton, Mr J. S. McGuinness said there was no denying the keenness of these boys, or their promise, but Bear felt as he did, that many were too immature to “take in” all that he was coaching. The committee now proposed to extend the scheme a little next year, thereby making selection more competitive, and the nominations for the classes would be scrutinised more carefully to get boys who were a little more mature, he said.

The constant coaching at Hagley Park has had a deleterious effect on nets and net equipment, and the materials committee was authorised to buy four new nets at £lO 7s 6d each and four dozen balls.

In presenting the committee’s report, Mr A. E. L. Britton, said that 15 practice balls, valued about £3O, had been lost over the tops of the nets in the long grass. The following managers were appointed for Plunket Shield fixtures.—v. Otago, Mr C. G. Snooks; v. Auckland, Mr A. G. Williams; v. Northern Districts, Mr G. P. Dryden; northern tour, Mr J. T. Eltoft.