Link to Apply: https://www.cricketireland.ie/images/uploads/news_images/advert__job_spec_-_high_performance_spin_bowling_coach.pdf
BACKGROUND
Cricket Ireland is the governing body for the men’s and women’s game throughout Ireland, with ultimate responsibility for its national and international aspects. The future of Irish cricket is very bright given the growth of the sport driven by significant success on the international stage in the last fifteen years or so, leading to an unprecedented visibility for Irish cricket at home and abroad.
Our emergence as a sport of national significance is growing following the elevation of Cricket Ireland to ICC Full Membership and Test Status, along with entry into the sport’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) that now sees Ireland playing all three formats of the game at the highest level for the foreseeable future and both men’s and women’s.
Cricket Ireland’s Strategic Plan 2021-2023 is part of a two-stage approach designed to synchronise with the ICC funding cycle to ensure that resources will be available for a more expansive strategy from 2024 onwards – with the entire span of the period 2021-2031 shaped to deliver the overall vision to ‘Make Cricket Mainstream’ in Ireland.
ROLE AND PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
Cricket Ireland is seeking a full-time High Performance Spin Bowling Coach, to work primarily with the men’s performance squad, but also with spinners in the women’s performance squad and pathway players, initially on a three-year fixed-term contract. With a Men’s T20 World Cup and Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in 2024 there will be a priority focus on white ball cricket and some great opportunities to play on the world stage – although, with planning for a new Future Tours Programme underway, there will be a balance of focus and team development across all three formats with Test cricket part of the men’s programme for the next four years.
Cricket Ireland has developed an outdoor High Performance Centre in Dublin, which facilitates two Provincial Union performance coaching hubs, with other regional HP centres in Belfast and the North West.
CI HQ is based in North Dublin but similar to commensurate roles in the cricket world, the role demands a national brief across both sides of the border as well as significant time travelling overseas.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The High Performance Spin Bowling Coach will be responsible for supporting the National Men’s and Women’s Head Coaches in the preparation, development, and performance of the senior performance squads. They will also assist the development of Cricket Ireland’s Talent Pathway spin bowlers within the male and female player development programmes. This may include, but not limited to CI national youth team players, national academy players and inter-provincial/Super 3’s players and will be aimed primarily towards the CI player succession plan.
The position will assist in the identification of key spin bowling objectives that feed into player Individual Performance Plans (IPPs); and will be partly responsible for monitoring progress against these objectives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
IRELAND MEN’S SENIOR TEAM
- Assist the Ireland Men’s Head Coach with the planning and delivery of coaching programmes for training, preparation and playing, both on and off the field, for the men’s senior performance squad.
- Outside of Ireland’s International competition programme, assist the Provincial Union Head Coaches with the delivery of weekly coaching programmes for Ireland contracted and InterProvincial players.
- Provide hands-on technical spin bowling coaching expertise by conducting training sessions to ensure the highest level of player performance is achieved and maintained.
- Communicate and offer feedback to the Ireland Men’s Head Coach on players and their development.
- Input to the senior team coaching group in terms of planning for all senior player programmes.
- Support the Ireland Men’s Head Coach in undertaking reviews with men’s national contracted players.
- Perform and comply with all player/coach obligations described in the ICC Code of Conduct and Player’s Handbook which may be updated from time to time.
- Manage and oversee the effective use of the Athlete Management System, logging bowler workloads, uploading video content of spin bowlers, and inputting to IPP’s, ensuring detailed information for succession planning.
IRELAND WOMEN, IRELAND WOLVES and NATIONAL ACADEMY
- Support the National Academy and Talent Pathway programmes with regard to the men’s and women’s spin bowlers in the National Academy and Talent Pathway programmes.
- Assist the Ireland Wolves men’s team when available and as required by the Ireland Men’s Head Coach, which may involve camps and competition programmes both home and abroad.
- Report to the National Selectors as and when requested to do so by the Ireland Men’s or Women’s Head Coaches or National Selectors.
SPECIALIST COACHING
- Prepare and deliver specialist spin bowling programmes for not only the men’s team players but also the talent pathways.
- Undertake tour-specific scouting of opposition spin bowlers bowlers, employing the use of the Performance Analyst as required:
o Detailed analysis with Head Coach of prevailing conditions – heat, pitch, ground, climate, ball
o Detailed analysis of each spin bowler to be encountered
o Generic spin bowling plans for the team, per batsman
o Individual plans for each spin bowler
o Presentation to team if required
o Assist in preparation of spin bowling and scouting opposition spin bowling
- Undertake one-on-one coaching of identified players.
- Observe elite spin bowlers in elite competitions as advised by the Ireland Men’s and Women’s Head Coach, National Academy and Talent Pathway Manager.
- Develop and monitor spin bowling objectives and KPI’s for inclusion in Individual Performance Plans.
- Assist in scouting talented spin bowlers in cooperation with the Ireland Men’s and Women’s Head Coaches.
- Develop positive and strong working relationships, and work closely with other specialist coaches, Inter-Provincial Head Coaches and National Coaches.
- Provide specialist coaching drills and warm up support in the above environments.
- Apply and monitor accepted specialist skill guidelines to players IPPs.
- Apply safe bowling practices, identify and minimise risk factors for young spin bowlers.
- Work closely with the Strength and Conditioning coaches and Physiotherapists in applying appropriate principles relevant to safe spin bowling.
- In conjunction with the Coach Education Manager ensure consistent specialist coaching methods are being deployed throughout education courses and workshops, and from timeto time help deliver sessions on such courses or professional development.
- Provide measures for determining the success of team and individual player specialist skill-set programmes
- Act as a member of the CI Bowling Review Group, helping prepare video and notes on bowlers with suspect actions for the Group to consider.
RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT
- Establish a close working relationship with the performance support staff (head coaches, high performance director, team operations managers, performance analysts, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists and performance psychologists.
- Develop effective working relationships with the Inter-Provincial teams, drawing on the expertise and experience of head coaches from around the country, and supporting them.
- Foster positive relationships and regular communication with other coaches, players, administrators, and selectors.
- Any additional tasks as directed by the Ireland Men’s Head Coach or High Performance Director.
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Accomplished specialist coach with a track record of working with senior elite cricket teams, who can demonstrate sustained success in their coaching career
- Coached at first-class/list-A level
- Track record of success at first-class level achieved over an extended period of time.
- Hold a minimum ECB Level 3 Performance/Advanced Coach (or equivalent)
- Successful record in high performance planning and monitoring, as well as designing and implementing Individual Performance Plans and programmes in elite environments.
Desirable
- International coaching experience
- International playing experience
- Track record at international level achieved
- Hold a minimum ECB Level 4 Master Coach qualification (or equivalent)
- A Degree (or equivalent) in sport, sports science or coaching
- A strong working understanding of key technologies relevant to monitoring, tracking, measuring and analysing individual and team performance.
The selection panel reserves the right to take into consideration the Desirable Criteria during the short-listing process in the event that candidates fulfil the Essential Criteria
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- National Head Coaches (men’s & women’s)
- High Performance Director
- High Performance coaches
- International Teams Operations Manager
- Support staff: Team Operations Manager; Lead Performance Analyst; Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach; Lead Physiotherapist
- National Selector (men & women)
- Provincial Union Head Coaches
- National Academy and Performance Manager
- National Talent Pathway Manager
REMUNERATION
- The package will include a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, company car, healthcare, laptop and mobile phone.
PROCESS/KEY INFORMATION
- The closing date for applications will be Thursday 28th September 2023, 9am local time.
- Letters of application and full CVs should be sent by email to recruitment@cricketireland.ie and marked ‘HP Spin Coach’ and will be confidential. Please state where you saw the vacancy.
- For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Sam Lavery at Cricket.Jobs – by email at info@cricket.jobs
- Preliminary interviews will be held as soon as practicable after the closing date.
You must be eligible to work in the European Economic Area (EEA).
