Lead Coach As Lead Coach, you will head up the coaching delivery standards in your team or age range and disseminate up to date knowledge and generic information to your group of players. You may also have a function within the club to work with more junior or assistant coaches or volunteers.

Ideally, you’ll need to be: A fully qualified and skilled coach able to work effectively with the team or age range you are assigned toWilling and able to work with other coaches as part of a teamKnowledgeable about cricket, both generally and locallyPossess an understanding of fundamental movement skills, specific cricket skill sets, tactics, game awareness, player development, strength and conditioning, psychology, nutrition and planningGood at team buildingAn excellent communicator and organiserFriendly, approachable and enthusiasticReliable and responsibleWilling to be Cricket Ireland Access NI/Garda Vetting checked

What you will probably do:Plan and lead sessions for your team or age groupOrganise and delegate tasks to the Assistant Coaches or Volunteers working with you in your teamDisseminate technical, tactical, physical, mental and lifestyle knowledge to your playersArrange fixtures, ground, umpires, scorers and catering for your teams where necessaryLiaise with other coaches at the club to ensure quality coaching is taking place to drive up standards in your club generallyLiaise with your club’s Coaching Coordinator, your local Provincial Union and the Cricket Ireland Coach Education Officer to maintain the best standards for your club and your players

How much time might it take?This role in most cases will take between 2-3 hours per week, mainly in the evenings and weekends, with additional time for matches. The higher the level of team you are working with may mean a greater time commitment.

What you should get out of it:The satisfaction of knowing that you and your coaching team is delivering to the best of their ability and that your players are succeeding at their own level and achieving their full potential will be intrinsically rewarding. You will not only have the respect of your club but also of other coaches and cricketers.

Benefits of volunteering:To learn new and develop existing skills through hands on experienceThe possibility of personal and professional development and/or trainingThe ability to explore different sorts of career or job opportunities in a voluntary capacityWorking with a variety of different people of different agesA chance to get out, have fun and meet some new people – enjoying the traditional social life that cricket clubs generateExperiencing new challengesSupporting your local community – putting something back into your community, personal satisfaction knowing you have helped othersThe possibility of a written/verbal referenceA brilliant CV booster