KentCricketAcademy&EmergingPlayerProgramme

AnnualPerformancePlan2018

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Vision

3. YearlyPlan

4. Playerselectionanddevelopment

5. ReviewoftheAcademyProgramme

6. Academyrollofhonour

1. Introduction

Therearecurrently18ECBfundedcountyacademies.ThepurposeofthecountyacademysystemistodevelopplayerscapableofperformingatfirstclassandInternationallevel.Academyprogrammesareholisticintheirapproachanddeliverabalanceoftechnical,tactical,physical,mental,leadershipandlifestyleskills.Establishedin2003,theKentCricketAcademygivestalentedyoungcricketers,aged16–19,anopportunitytobenefitfromprofessionaltrainingandeducationwhilststillatschoolorcollege.TheAcademyaimstodevelophomegrownplayersandpreparethemforafutureintheprofessionalgame.Theintroductionofan‘associate’academyaimstoprovideadditionalsupportanddevelopmentopportunitiestoplayers,aged16–19,whohavethefuturepotentialtogainaplaceonthefullacademyprogramme.Theaimistoprovidegreateropportunityandvisibilitytoalargernumberofplayerswithinaneliteenvironment.Playersontheassociateprogrammewillalsobeabletoaccesshighqualitycoachingandsportssciencesupportthatincorporatesa'totallife'approach.Theywillalsohavetheopportunityatkeypointsthroughouttheyeartobemovedthroughtothefullacademyprogramme.TheEmergingPlayersProgramme(EPP)willprovideadditionalsupportanddevelopmentopportunitiestoplayersaged14–16andisacomprehensiveandstructuredprogrammedesignedtohelpyoungplayerswiththetransitionbetweenthecountyagegroupsquadsandouracademyprogrammes.

3. KentCricketAcademy-timeline

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Area Module1 Module2 Module3 Assessment Preparation PerformanceParentinductionandworkshops

Specialistskillssessions,includingvideoanalysis

Fundamentalmentalskills.1:1andgroupsessions

Meetingandmonitoringprogresswithschool

Individualgoalsetting

IndividualplayerreviewswithHighPerformanceDirector

Introductionofonlineplayermanagementsystem

AASEprogramme-introductionandmeetings

Physicalassessments

Professionalcricketinteraction

Transitiontogameawarenesssessions(allformats)

Overseasexperience

Academytrainingcamppriortothestartoftheseason

Individuallytailoredfitnessprogrammeandsupport

Lifestylepersonaldevelopmentprogramme(PCA)

Performancesquadtrainingandmatchprogramme

Academymatchprogramme

Gametoughnessreviewswithinmatchplay

Matchplaymonitoringbyselectors

4. Playerselectionanddevelopment

Thepurposeofthisdocumentistooutlinethesystematicandstructuredmethodofselectingplayers

ontotheKentCricketAcademyandEmergingPlayerprogramme(EPP).Thisistoensurethatthose

playersselectedaretheplayersmostlikelytodevelopintofirstclassqualitycricketerscapableof

winningmatchesforKentandEngland.

Principles:

Thefollowingprinciplesshouldapplytotheselectionofplayersontotheacademyprogrammes:

• CleardistinctionbetweenprocessesforKentCricketAcademyandEPPselectionandselectionof

KentPerformanceSquads

• KentCricketAcademyselectionbasedon‘demonstratedpotential’todevelopintoafirst-class

qualityplayeroverthenext5to8years

• SelectionontotheKentCricketAcademyisintendedtobehighlycompetitiveandchallengingin

ordertoencourageplayerstoaimhightogetintoand,remainintheprogrammethusdrivingup

standardsofpractice,preparationandperformanceacrossjuniorcricketinKent.

• Nofixedlimitonthenumberofplayersineachyear’scohort.Normallynomorethan12players

willbeselectedintoanyyear’scohort.Onoccasionthenumbermaybegreaterorlower

• Theintroductionofanassociateacademyaimstoprovideadditionalsupportanddevelopment

opportunitiestoplayerswhohavethefuturepotentialtogainaplaceonthefullacademy

programme.WhereappropriateassociateplayersmaybepromotedtotheAcademyprogramme

atanypointthroughouttheyear

• PlayersmaybedeselectedfromtheKentCricketAcademyiftheyfailtoachievetheircontinued

inclusioncriteria.De-selectionswillnormallybemadeinSeptemberannually.Followinga

performancereviewwiththeHigh-PerformanceDirectorpleasenotethatacademyplayersmay

bedeselectedandplacedontheassociateacademyprogrammeatanypointthroughoutthe

year.

Selectors:JasonWeaver,MattWalker,MinPatel,MarkDekker,NeilTaylor

Scouts/informationProviders:CountyPerformanceSquadHeadCoaches,ECBNationalLeadSkill

Coaches,ECBRegionalPerformanceManagers.

Criteria:

ThefollowingcriteriawillbeconsideredbytheselectorswhenselectingplayersfortheKentCricket

AcademyandEPPprogramme:

• ScoutingReports

• PerformanceStatistics

• Injurystatusandrisk

• Physicalcondition

Playerswillberankedaccordingtoscoutingreports,performancestatisticsandselectorsexperience

separatelyandincombination.AswellastheHigh-PerformanceDirectorundertakingvisitsand

observations,anumberofallocated‘scouts’willregularlyobserveandgatherinformationonplayers,

listedeitheronthelongorshortlists.

Thescoutsareinformationproviders,notdecisionmakersandtheydonotselectsquadsorplayers

forprogrammesbutwillberesponsibleforprovidingtheselectorswithinformationwhichwillenable

themtomakeeffectivedecisions.

Inidentifyingpotential,‘form’canbemisleadingandthissystematicprocessshouldpreventboth

goodandpoorformbeingmisinterpretedforpotential.Whilst,performancedatawillplayalargerole

inindicatingpotential,selectionontotheprogrammeshouldnotbeseensimplyasarewardfor

recentperformance,butasanindicatorofpotentialfutureperformance.

Coachesexperienceforidentifyingpotentialwillcontinuetoplayarolewithinselection,butitis

hopedthatthisprocesswillhelpgatherevidencetosupportsuchintuitionandwillallowforimproved

cross-checkingandvalidation.

ProposedAnnualTimetable:

Establishmentoflonglist–May

• Listofplayerstobeobservedduringthedomesticseasonestablished• Informationgatheredtoincludegeneralcommentsonskills,temperament,ambition,results

andpotential• Reviewofreports,actionplansandhistoricalperformancedata

ScoutViewing1-MaytoJune

• Nominatedscoutstoobserveplayersincountyagegroup,cluborschoolcricket• Furtherinformationtobegatheredfromcountyagegroupcoaches• Shortlistofplayerstobeobservedduringthesecondhalfoftheseasontobeestablished• Previouslynon-identifiedplayerscanbeaddedatthisstage

ScoutViewing2-JulytoSeptember

• Scoutstoobservetargetedplayersincountyagegrouporclubcricket• Furtherinformationtobegatheredfromcountyagegroupcoaches• Provisionalfinalsquadofplayersselected• Previouslynon-identifiedplayerscanbeaddedatthisstage• FinalSelection–endofSeptember• ScholarshipofferletterstobedistributedtoAcademy,associateacademyandEPPplayers

InductionProcess

ExitProcess

Phonecallandofferlettersenttoplayerand

parents

Individualplayerandparentsmeeting

Signedcontractsreturnedtoacceptoffer

Welcomemeetingfornewplayersandparents

Playerinformedatmidseasonreviewof

possiblenonselection

Endofseasonmeetingheldwithplayerand

parents

Informedofdecisionandsignpostedreentrypointsandareasfordevelopment

Formallettersenttoconfirmdecisionandwhatwasdiscussed

Whatarewelookingforinourplayers?Thetablesbelowrepresentasummaryofthe‘STAR’qualitiesthatwearelookingforandareaimingtodevelopinouracademyandEmergingPlayerProgrammes.The‘STAR’qualitiescoverskills,temperament,ambitionandresults.Thelistofqualitiesisdesignedtogivecoaches,players,parentsandscoutsguidanceonwhatwearelookingforandaimtodevelopwithinoureliteprogrammes.Wedonotwanttogivetheimpressionthatwearelookingforclonesandweseektoprovideguidelinesratherthanbeingoverlyprescriptive.Itwillberareforplayerstopossessallofthesequalitiesstartingtheprogramme,andthepurposeoftheEPPandAcademyprogrammesistodevelopthesequalitiesoveraperiodoftimewithinasupportiveenvironment.However,inordertoselectplayersfortheprogramme;thepotentialtodevelopthesequalitieswillbewhatwearelookingtoidentifyinourbestplayers,aswellaswhethertheyalreadypossesssomeofthem.Thefirsttablelistssomegeneralqualitiesthatwebelieveourbestplayersshouldpossessonentryintoaprogrammeandthetablesthatfollowdescribeeachskillsetandthecharacteristicsattachedtoeachskill.Inadditiontothecharacteristicslistedwewillalwaysencourageplayerstorespectthegameatalltimes,havefunandbecomethebesttheycanbeascricketersandaspeople

TheKentWay

• Playerswhowanttodeveloptheirskillstothebestthattheycanbe• Playerswhounderstandtheirgame• Playerswhohaveprideinthe‘Horse’• Playerswhohavefun,embracemistakesandarethinkingcricketers

AcademyandEPPplayers

Workethic:Isabletotakeownershipandresponsibilityfortheirowngame.UnderstandstheCOREvaluesassociatedwiththeenvironmentLearnability:Hasanevolvinggrowthmindsettowardsthegame.SeeksoutchallengingsituationsandisabletomaintaineffortsinadversesituationsSelf-confidenceandbelief:Possessesapositive(growth)mindsettowardstheirgame.HasanevolvingshieldofresiliencethatenablesthemtodealwithdifferentsetbacksanddisappointmentsontheirjourneySelf-awareness:Hasanevolvingappreciationofthemselvesasapersonandasacricketer.Isabletouseconstructivefeedbacktofacilitatepersonaldevelopment.Honesty:Isabletoreflectonperformancesinahonest/openmannerStayscalm:Isabletomanageandregulatetheiremotionsbothonandoffthefield.Isabletoretainapositivebodylanguagewhenhavingtodealwithdisappointmentandsetbacks.Concentration:Isabletomanageanddealwiththosedistractionspresentbothonandoffthefield.Multiskilledinbatting,bowling,fieldingorwicketkeepingwithtwooftheseskillsseenasspecialiststrengths.Aleadingplayeramongstpeers.Goodathleticpotential:Endurance,flexibility,strength,speedDiet:Eatsanddrinkshealthily/rehydratesandrecoversproperly.Balancedlifestyle:Hasinterestsoutsideofcricketandisabletoswitchofffromgame.Commitstoschool&collegework.DesiretoplaycricketforKent

TheKentWay:Batting

• Dynamic,skilledandsmartplayers• Positiveplayersinallaspectsoftheirgame• Clearmindedcricketerswithacontentedunderstandingoftheirgame• Playersthatwanttobechallenged

AcademyandEPPPlayers

Balance:Isabletoplayballfromabalancedposition.Excellentjudgementoflengthandisabletomakecorrectdecisions.Asetupthatallowsplayerstobestillatpointofreleaseandinanappropriatepositiontoplayball.Hastheabilitytomovequicklyintoposition–forwardsandback,quickfeetPlaysballundereyes:Isabletoplayballlateandmakecontactwithheadoverball.Attackvpace:hastheabilitytohitbadballfor4/6andmanipulateballintogaps.(Frontfootandbackfoot).Defencevpace–canleaveballeffectively,evadeandplaydefensivelywithastraightbat.(Frontfootandbackfoot).Attackv.spin-canhitbadballfor4/6andmanipulateballintogapsaswellasbeingabletousefeet.(Frontfootandbackfoot).Defencevspin–abletodefendcompetentlyagainstspinningball.(Frontfootandbackfoot).Gameawareness:adaptstodifferentsituations,bowlersandconditions.CanimplementaPlanB.Courage:playpositivelyintoughcircumstances–thiscouldbedefendingagainstspinwithclosefieldersaroundthebatonlastday.Runningbetweenwickets:judgesarunwell,runsaggressively,turnswell,positiveattitudetowardsrunning.Stamina:Isabletoplaylonginningsandmaintainenergylevelsthroughout.Performance:Hastheabilitytoplaymatchwinninginnings.Scoresrunsatahighaverage/hasgoodstrikerates/scoresindifficultsituations/dominatesweakbowlingattacks/convertstobigscoresregularly.

TheKentWay:PaceBowling

• Pace:Hastheabilitytogetcarry,bounceandhitsthebathard• Consistency,consistency,consistency• Amasterofvariation• Competitors

AcademyandEPPplayers

Hastheabilitytoputpressureonopposition.Safeconsistentrepeatableaction/technique.Pace–getscarryandbounceandhitsthebathard.Variations:Isableto“dosomethingwiththeball”intheairoroffthepitch.Aggressivemindsetandrealdesiretotakewickets.Corridorwidth:Allmovementsdirecttowardsatarget.-movingwithinashoulderwidthcorridorthroughoutaction.“Natural”–flowing,athleticmovement.Assessessituation–developsaplanaccordingtostageofthegame,battersandpitchconditions.Includingtheabilitytosetfields.Controloflineandlength:Hastheabilitytohitgoodareasconsistentlyandbowlstoafield/plan(Patience).Physicalattributes:Corestability,athleticism,flexibility,endurance,speed,strengthPerformance:Hastheabilitytobematchwinnerandtakeswicketsatalowstrikerate/takeswicketatalowaverage/hasagoodeconomyrateinshorterformatgame.

TheKentWay:SpinBowling

• Hastheabilitytospintheball• Controloflineandlength• Hastheabilitytobowlvariations• Competitors

AcademyandEPPPlayers

HastheabilitytoputpressureonoppositionAmountofspin:getsdifferenttypesofspin(curve,drop,side)withoptimumrevs.Controloflineandlength:Hastheabilitytohitgoodareasconsistentlyandbowlstoafieldplan.Saferepeatableaction.Allmovementsdirecttowardsatarget.Hasgoodalignment,base,circlesanddrive.Variations–abletobowlanalternativedeliveryconsistently.Patience–tobeabletotoilawayandworktoaplan.Assessessituation–developsaplanaccordingtostageofthegame,battersandpitchconditions,Cansetfieldsaccordinglyandunderstandsfielders‘angles’.Hastheabilitytovarypace,usecrease/bowloverandaroundwicket.Corridorwidth:Aimtokeepallbodypartsmovingwithinashoulderwidthcorridorthroughoutaction.FieldswelloffownbowlingPhysicalattributes:Flexibility,strengthandstaminaPerformance:Hastheabilitytobeamatchwinnerandtakeswicketsatlowaverage/takeswicketsatalowstrikerate/hasagoodeconomyrateinshorterformatgames.

TheKentWay:Wicketkeeping

• Catchestheballconsistently• Abilitytobealeaderinthefield

AcademyandEPPPlayers

Maintainslargecatchingarea.Fewerrors:Takeschances-catches&stumpings.Hastheabilitytomaintainstrongposture.Balance:Weightisonballsoffeetandeyesarelevelwhencatchingball.Footwork:Simplemethodthatallowskeepertogetinapositiontocatchtheballefficientlywithheadandhandsclosetogether.(Standingupandback)Sharpreflexes.Showspresenceonthefield.Abilitytobealeader:setsandmaintainsahigh‘tempo’/communicateswell/energetic/supportsteammatesDiving–abilitytogettoballsonoffsideandlegsidebydiving.‘Busy’aroundthestumpslookingforrunoutopportunitiesandtidyingthrowsAssessesconditionsandopposition:Dictatespositioningofclosefielders/knowswhentostanduptopacebowlersandanalysesbatsmantohelpbowlersplans.Physicalattributes:Agility,speed,powerandstamina.Hastheabilitytobatintop7ofacountyagegroupside.Performswellincountyagegroupsandleaguelevel.

TheKentWay:Fielding

• Playerswhohavethedesiretobethebestfieldertheycanbe• Regardfieldingasimportantasbattingandbowling• Tobeathleticinbodyandenergeticinmind

AcademyandEPPplayers

Observablestrength.Presenceonthefieldandputsoppositionunderpressure.Awarenessofallthatishappeningonthefield–‘readsthegame’(backingup/supportingteam-mates).Readyposition:getsintoaconsistentathleticsetpositionatpointofcontact.Hasaspecialistpositioninfield.Largecatchingarea:Abletocatchwithfingersdownandreversehands/reliableincloseandindeep.Underarmthrowanddivefrominfield–accurateandquickrelease.Overarmthrowingfrominfield&outfield–accuratefromthecircleandfromboundary.Physicalattributes:agility,speed,flexibility,staminaandstrength.Performance:Takeswicketsthroughcatchingandgroundfielding.Savesrunsinthefield.

5.ReviewoftheAcademyandEPPProgramme

GoodcommunicationbetweentheAcademyandEPPstaffhelpstodevelopapositiveandsupportiverelationshipthatenablestheplayerstoachievethebestoftheirability.Itisessentialthatwehavesystemsinplacetohelpusmaintaingoodcommunication.StaffMeetings:WeliketoconsultwiththestaffsothatwecangaintheirviewsabouttheAcademy.Wemayalsoneedtheirviewsonanynewdevelopmentsornewinitiatives.Toenableustoconsultwiththestaffregularlyweliketoarrangetomeetasagroupthreetimesperyearpreferablyinthelastweekofeachmodule.AnnualStaffSurvey:Wecompleteanannualseriesofconfidentialplayer,parentsandstaffsurveys.TheaimofthisinformationgatheringistoproduceareviewofthepastyearandreceivefeedbackwhichwehopewillhelpinfluencethedirectionwetaketheAcademyinthefuture.WeareverykeentohaveasmanystaffcompletethesurveyaspossiblesothatwegetabroadperspectivefromthoseindividualswhohavebeendirectlyinvolvedwiththeAcademyandEPPprogrammeovertheprevioustwelvemonths.

HPDPDW

Psych

S&C

Physio HeadCoach

AssistantCoach

SpecialistCoaches

Scouts

7.AcademyRollofHonourSincetheestablishmentoftheKentCricketAcademyin2003thefollowingKentagegroupplayershavemadetheirdebutsforKentseniorteams.

Name FirstClass List“A” Twenty20

JoeDenlySimonCusdenLydiaGreenwayJoannaWatts PaulDixeyJamesIlesAlexBlakeSamNortheast TomParsonsJamesGoodmanTamsinBeaumontMatthewColes WarrenLeeAdamBallChrisPiesley AdamRileyDanielBell-DrummondSamBillingsIvanThomasDeannaCooperAliceDavidsonRichardsFabianCowdreyNatashaFarrantGraceGibbsRyanDaviesHughBernardOliverRobinsonZakCrawley

200420042005200620082007201020092011201020112011201120122014201520162017

20042004200420072007200720072007200720072009200920102011201120112011201420082010201320122013201720172017

200420042005201020102008201020112012201320112015201120102013201320122015

SincetheestablishmentoftheKentCricketAcademyin2003thefollowingKentagegroupplayershavemadetheirdebutsforEnglandseniorteams.

Name Test One-day Twenty20

LydiaGreenwayJoannaWattsJoeDenlyTamsinBeaumontNatashaFarrantSamBillingsAliceDavidson-Richards

20032013

2003200520092009201320152018

200420092009201320152018