Saint Lucia’s cricket development landscape has received a significant boost following the successful completion of an intensive coaching certification program. The recently concluded training initiative, organized through a collaborative effort between the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association and Cricket West Indies (CWI), has equipped over 40 physical education instructors and players from the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre with advanced coaching methodologies.
The comprehensive hands-on sessions conducted at Mindoo Phillip Park represent a strategic implementation of CWI’s broader vision to revitalize cricket at the foundational level. Brendan Ramlal, CWI Project Officer and Coach Developer, emphasized the program’s far-reaching implications, noting that thousands of children across Saint Lucia will now benefit from improved technical instruction in cricket fundamentals.
“This initiative forms a crucial component of Cricket West Indies’ strategic blueprint to reintegrate cricket into educational institutions and community settings,” Ramlal explained. “Our physical education teachers represent invaluable assets—they maintain direct access to student populations and possess the capacity to identify emerging talent during formative development stages.”
The curriculum emphasized player-centered coaching approaches, prioritizing implicit enjoyment and engagement while teaching technical fundamentals. Participants gained expertise in introducing cricket basics through activities designed to maximize participation and skill acquisition for both male and female prospects.
The timing of this training aligns strategically with Saint Lucia’s expanding youth cricket infrastructure. The upcoming national inter-district Under-13 tournament scheduled for 2025, coupled with the established Republic Bank Five For Fun program, provides immediate implementation opportunities for the newly certified coaches.
Craig Emmanuel, Chairman of the SLCHPC Board of Directors, highlighted the complementary nature of integrating active players into developmental pathways. While acknowledging differences between foundation courses and high-performance clinics, Emmanuel stressed the importance of creating cohesive progression routes for athletes aspiring to competitive excellence.
Through support from National Lotteries and the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport, the High Performance Centre aims to systematically strengthen Saint Lucia’s cricket pipeline by enhancing coaching resources and creating sustainable talent identification mechanisms.