分类： sports

In a significant move to bolster cricket development at the grassroots level, the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA) partnered with Cricket West Indies (CWI) to conduct an intensive Foundation Coaching Course this week. The program successfully trained over 40 physical education instructors and active cricketers in fundamental coaching methodologies.

The workshop featured extensive hands-on practical sessions directed by CWI Coaching Educators Brendon Ramlal and Keshava Ramphal. They were assisted by a team of local coaching experts, including John Eugene, Head Coach of the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre, alongside accomplished instructors Alton Crafton, Keith Charlery, Craig Emmanuel, and Donald Dave Albert.

Held on January 19th and 20th, the event attracted more than 30 physical education teachers on its inaugural day, followed by 17 players from the High Performance Centre on the subsequent day. Each day’s agenda included a five-hour interactive practical component from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., enabling attendees to implement skills acquired through prior online modules. This format fostered peer collaboration and provided opportunities for direct, personalized feedback from the leading educators.

The overarching objective of this initiative is to empower these newly certified coaches to return to their respective schools and local communities to introduce the sport’s fundamentals to young, aspiring athletes. This effort aligns with the SLNCA’s recent expansion of youth competitions, including the introduction of an Under-13 tournament last year and an announced plan by SLNCA President Wayne Auguste to establish an Under-10 cricket league, signaling a clear strategic focus on early-age participation.

“Cultivating quality players fundamentally starts with cultivating quality coaches,” stated Auguste. “This foundation course for physical education teachers represents a strategic investment in the very bedrock of our grassroots and school cricket ecosystem. By arming our educators with the proper tools, knowledge, and coaching frameworks, we are fortifying the foundation of our player development pathways. This ensures that young cricketers throughout Saint Lucia benefit from consistent, high-caliber instruction from their initial exposure to the sport. This initiative is a testament to SLNCA’s dedication to sustainable development and achieving long-term, high-performance success.”

This foundational course is a cornerstone of SLNCA’s broader strategic goals to certify a roster of credentialed coaches, solidify its performance pathways for regional and international team selection, and actively promote comprehensive player development across all tiers. Through investing in the training and up-skilling of educators, the association aims to establish a sustainable pipeline of talented coaches and athletes prepared to achieve excellence on local, regional, and global platforms.

Jamaica-based Saint Lucian athlete Denzel Phillips is revolutionizing perceptions of track and field excellence through his extraordinary throwing capabilities. The 19-year-old prodigy, who transitions from sprinting to becoming one of Saint Lucia’s most promising field athletes, has embarked on a record-breaking spree targeting both the CARIFTA Games and global junior competitions.

In a remarkable demonstration of skill, Phillips shattered a 32-year-old national discus record last December during the Tyser-Mills Classics in Spanish Town, Jamaica. On Saint Lucia’s National Day (December 13), he launched the 2kg discus to an impressive 48.79 meters, demolishing Ricky Deligny’s 1992 benchmark of 45.20m set at Barbados’ National Stadium. Astonishingly, this achievement marked Phillips’ inaugural attempt with the heavier implement typically reserved for senior competitions.

The bespectacled thrower maintained composed professionalism about his feat, revealing to St. Lucia Times: “I did expect the record. In training, I constantly throw way past that. I was actually a little disappointed I only came out with 48m.”

Phillips’ momentum continued into the new year with another record-breaking performance on January 17 at Kingston’s Ashenheim Stadium. During the World Class Development Meet, he surpassed his previous junior national best in the Under-20 shot put, hurling the 6kg metal ball 16.33m to claim top honors.

The athlete’s ascent began in 2023 when as an Under-17 competitor, he secured dual silver medals in throwing events at the CARIFTA Games in The Bahamas, becoming Saint Lucia’s first discus medalist. His excellence continued at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, where he earned twin bronze medals—the first Saint Lucian to achieve multiple medals at the competition.

Despite finishing fourth in both events during the 2025 season, Phillips has refined his mentality for his final junior year. With the World Under-20 Championships scheduled for August 5-9 in Oregon, United States, his training intensity has reached new heights. “I want to make sure I get it perfect,” Phillips emphasized, “and make sure every training session counts.”

Currently preparing for the upcoming regional season, Phillips has set ambitious targets of 58 meters in discus and 18 meters in shot put for the CARIFTA Games in Grenada this April. His performances have begun attracting university recruitment attention, though the athlete prefers to keep his collegiate decisions private for now.

As Phillips continues to elevate Saint Lucia’s presence in field events, his journey represents both personal ambition and national pride, potentially inspiring a new generation of Caribbean throwers to pursue international excellence.