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TORTOLA — Four coaches from the U.S. Virgin Islands and 10 from the British Virgin Islands recently completed a Cricket West Indies refresher course at A.O. Shirely Grounds on Tortola. Instructor Brendon Ramlal, who was joined by fellow instructor Keshava Ramphal, told The Daily News that CWI started the courses in March in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, and the British Virgin Islands is one of four Leeward Islands territories visited. The BVI course was held earlier this month. Ramlal said they are working with local territorial cricket boards to create a “sustainable pathway” for coaches as they endeavor to rebuild cricket in the region. The program took place in a three phases, starting with an online child protection course, which is mandatory, an ICC foundation course online, and after completing those two certificate programs, CWI had a one day practical course, giving coaches the best information “to go out and really impact primary schools, communities and grassroots programs wherever they see fit in terms of getting cricket off the ground in the BVI and the USVI,” Ramlal said. Bromell Andrew, from St. Thomas, said that the course was very informative and opened his eyes to new ways to coaching cricket. “Seeing that we are just about to start kiddies cricket on St. Thomas and St. Croix, we were looking forward to coming and when we got there, the coaches who were there with me, their eyes were opened to a lot of things as well,” Andrew said of the group, which also included Bernard Douglas, Clifford Walwyn and Rudolph Chapman. He said they are also players, in addition to being coaches, and the course will help them perform better on the pitch. James Ramprashad, also a FIFA certified BVI soccer referee, commended the BVI Cricket Association for investing in personnel who will ultimately train and develop cricket in schools. He also praised the manner in which CWI presented the course. “The course in itself was very well put together and you got to see how simple, simple adjustments can trigger persons learning, the way in which you deliver, the way in which you speak, the way in which you present. Simple things that you would overlook is very key and important,” Ramprashad said. BVICA president Richard Francis said that they are in a better position than where they were a few months ago in regard to having more kids involved in cricket and having better-trained personnel. “We are at the planning stages to resume our weekend kiddies sessions, with the sessions at Ciboney School on Virgin Gorda and Cedar School on Tortola,” he said. “As it relates to the government component, we are in active discussions with the Ministry of Education through the Youth Affairs and Sports Department on getting cricket in the schools. The conversations have been very fulfilling and are at the stage where, given the fact that we have these additional persons trained, it has put us in a better position to be accepted in the schools.” Andrew said that cricket on St. Thomas was dormant following Hurricane Irma, but they’re planning to start a Saturday morning program in late November or early December.
