Role of a coach is wide-ranging

AS a man for all conditions, whose unflappable commitment to scoring runs never wavers, Crusaders cricket club member, Riaan Minnie, recognises the importance of mentorship and coaching being key to a player’s development. The 30-year-old, whose purple patch helped the club secure its fourth consecutive premier league title, has recently started his coaching centre, Point Sports Cricket, on Rinaldo Road.

Over a career that has spanned a decade, Minnie has played provincial (KZN B), county (Chobham) and club cricket. The Durban North resident, said part of the decision to open the training centre was to provide young cricketers with a chance to develop their game, both from a mental and skills point of view.

“As a coach you get to know each player idiosyncrasies and understand what they are about as characters and understand what they are about as cricketers. I can’t teach them how to play but what I can do is influence them in their attitudes towards what they do everyday. That’s what makes my job so much more interesting, it’s to add value to them as well as gain something from the players,” he said.

Minnie added though the role of the coach is wide-ranging, a big part of the game is to build a player’s confidence.

“The most rewarding thing is seeing individuals grow. When I was at a school, I didn’t have an opportunity like this and I feel this is my way of giving back. You need to get players in a place where they’re not below the line of complacency and not too far past being over confident,” he said.

The centre also has an outreach programme, where cricketers who bring in their old pads, bats and kits in for collection, which is then distributed to children in disadvantaged communities. “Ultimately the centre’s vision is to grow the talent pool and to make cricket a truly national sport,” he said.

For more information about Point Sports Cricket email pointsportscricket@gmail.com