Folkestone Cricket Academy 2021

Folkestone Cricket Club have identified there is a need to help promote our Juniors to Senior cricket and have found a pathway to this in the form of starting a Junior Academy.
FCC will be funding this Academy through our very successful recent Crowdfunding campaign.

12-15 year olds pathway to senior cricket.

Giving our best juniors the skills required to not just play senior cricket but to contribute and dominate. Graduates of this program should have the confidence and ambition to forge a path to the top of the club.

Day to day running

Josh Bryen, Roy Downey and an overseas player will organise the running and coaching aspects.

Roy is a Qualified ECB Level 2 Coach. During his time playing for FCC he was part of the team that won the Premier League in 1989 and was awarded Kent League Player of the Year in 1996. Roy also coached Folkestone 1st X1 to Premier 2-day Championship in 2001 and Folkestone 2nds to two successive championships.
Roy says “he has seen many young, very talented cricketers fall by the wayside because of a poor attitude. The Academy wants to help youngsters have a mature and level headed approach to our wonderful game.”

Josh is also a Qualified ECB Level 2 Coach and is currently Master of Cricket and Hockey at Duke of York’s Military School. He is an ex Australian International Fastpitch player, International Softball Congress All World 1st Team Player 1999 and Queensland Country Cricket member at the Australian Championships 2003. Josh has played 1st X1 cricket for FCC from 2003 until the present time.
Josh says “the aim is to help players understand their strengths and weaknesses which allows them to become the player they want to be. At that point, the possibilities are endless.”

Both Roy and Josh feel it is an opportunity for them to really have an impact and impose their professional approach to the game. They will work out goals and stepping stones to keep some accountability.

Proposed Program Timeline

The Junior Academy would run 10 x 1.5 hour sessions commencing Friday May 14th through to Friday 23rd July.

Roy and Josh will attend the first Junior training session (for the appropriate age groups) to start the initial assessments. They would work in the background and would be there in an assessment capacity, making sure the selection process was carried out with accuracy and transparency. These steps will be taken very seriously so that you, Parents and Guardians are able to see the process taking place.

They would aim to select 10 to 12 players from all club juniors currently aged 12 to 15.

The Academy would aim to run alongside but separate to the usual Junior sessions. The expectation would be that Academy players attend their usual training session as well.
Academy players will receive sponsored kit that they can wear with pride and promote the FCC Junior Academy culture.

Goals of the Academy

When planning a player’s pathway, the Junior Academy will keep 3 goals in mind as follows:

• Have a positive Cricket experience
  Creating an environment where cricket is enjoyable and players have a sense of achievement.
• Progress to perform at their best
  Providing players with the opportunity to develop their individual cricket skills and build skill sets required for adult cricket transition.
• Be motivated to join the senior cricket community
  Awareness, confidence and enthusiasm to pursue the cricket pathway leading to first team representation.

TRIAL/ASSESSMENT DAY

The Head Coach and one other Lead Coach will be present on the day of the selection process. There may be a session with a County Cricketer.

1 x 3 hour trial outside at Three Hills Sports on Sunday 9th May 10.00 am – 1.00 pm.

It is key that the Academy can justify and give every trialist a fair attempt at making the squad. With preseason assessment by the coaches, and a 3 hour assessment day, appropriate feedback and justification for both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be given. It is important to note that goal setting and targets for those that miss out is just as valuable as it is for the Academy players.

A Report card/Assessment wheel will be provided for each player that attends the trial.

There will be an expectation of commitment from each child that is selected for the Junior Academy.

All the above will be subject to Covid 19 restrictions.