In our relatively short time in Singapore, KINGS CLUB coaches have already delivered CCA, ECA and ACSIS cricket programmes at Dulwich International, St Joseph’s International Institution, Brighton College Singapore, XCL World Academy and Eton House.
Every school is different.
The age of the students, their previous exposure to cricket, facilities, programme objectives and the role cricket plays within the wider school calendar can vary considerably.
Our approach is therefore quite simple: understand what the school needs first, then build the programme around the students.
MAKING CRICKET ACCESSIBLE
One of our main objectives in school cricket is to make the game accessible to as many students as possible.
That means creating sessions where a child picking up a cricket bat for the first time can enjoy themselves alongside students who may already be playing regular school or club cricket.
Particularly at younger ages, we want sessions to involve plenty of movement.
Batting. Bowling. Catching. Throwing. Running. Games. Team Challenges.
There will always be cricket skills being developed underneath it, but students should first and foremost associate their ECA or CCA with being active, enjoying themselves and wanting to come back.
And we are always happy to encourage a bit of healthy competition.
Learning how to compete, win, lose, support teammates and try again is part of sport, and we think there is real value in allowing children to experience that in the right environment.
A UNIQUE PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY
As a third-party coaching provider, we often find that we occupy a slightly unique position within a student’s school week.
We are coaches rather than teachers, and the environment naturally feels different from the classroom.
That gives us an opportunity to create a space where students can move, compete, laugh, develop skills and express themselves through sport.
We take that responsibility seriously.
We want the cricket to be good, but we also want the students to look forward to seeing the coaches each week and to associate the programme with a positive part of their school day.
TAILORED TO EACH SCHOOL
Like much of what we do at KINGS CLUB, we do not believe in applying exactly the same programme everywhere.
Some schools may want a broad participation programme designed to introduce cricket to beginners.
Others may have established players and competitive ACSIS teams requiring more technical coaching, tactical development and match preparation.
Often, it is a combination of both.
We work with the school to understand those requirements and adapt the coaching accordingly.
Just as importantly, we value the relationships around the programme.
That means working closely with the school, building trust with the students and maintaining good communication with parents where appropriate.
Our aim is to become a reliable extension of the school’s sporting programme rather than simply an outside coach who arrives once a week.
Ultimately, we want students to enjoy cricket, improve at a level appropriate to them and leave each session wanting to play again.
That is the foundation of every KINGS CLUB school programme.