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Q. How did you become involved in coaching?
A.
RP. I first started coaching whilst I was in my 6th year at Galashiels Academy. Graeme Murdoch came forward with an opportunity for members of the higher PE class to coach after school clubs at various primary schools in Galashiels and I really enjoyed it so took it upon myself to pursue a career in coaching.
GO. An opportunity arose at the start of the 2008 at the club to assist coaching Under 11s and Under 13s which I enjoyed and my involvement has just widened since then. That season I also was Assistant coach at the Sports Academy, which was my path to more serious coaching.
Q. You have recently taken your UKCC Level 1. How did you find this and how has in helped you with your coaching?
A.
RP. The UKCC Level 1, qualifies you to become an assistant coach to a more qualified coach than yourself and I found it really helpful for coming up with ideas to help the head coach during session. It is mainly geared towards games and introducing lesser experienced players to the game. This opportunity arose from Cricket Scotland and through our jobs as apprentices.
GO. It was good to finally get onto the first step of the coaching ladder. The level one course honed in on how to coach and how to coach safely. Going through this award made me determined to get my level two award as well.
Q. Your next step after your UKCC Level 1 is the Level 2, when do you expect to do this and do you know what is involved in the course?
A.
RP. We do our Level 2 badge in October which gives us a huge responsibility as coaches as Becoming a Level 2 coach means becoming a qualified head coach and becoming entrusted with leading your own sessions. It is expected that the Level 2 award will bring with it more technical work than the level 1 and that there will be more work on an individual’s batting, bowling and fielding.
GO. I believe there is a level two course at the end of the season and that the course focuses on the technical side of the game more, which I'm look forward too.
Q. The two of you are employed as SVQ Cricket Apprentices. What does his involve and what is expected of you?
A.
RP. As apprentices and assistant coaches, we spend a lot of our time with the borders cricket development officer, Neil Cameron. We mostly assist him in sessions but also do work away from the bats, balls and stumps by studying how we can improve cricket in the borders and how we can get more people involved in the game.
GO. It involves a lot of coaching in schools and clubs in the region as well as attending college days. It is not merely limited to cricket though I have just completed my level one coaching in Football and do some rugby refereeing too.
Q.Who are your role models in sport/coaching?
A.
RP. In a cricketing sense, my role model is Australian batsman Michael Clarke due to way he bats and the shots he plays, he is a real pleasure to watch and after meeting him I found him to be a true gentleman. Out with cricket id have to say a great role model is Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, the flare he brings to the game is immense and he is easily one of the top players in world football just now. In a coaching sense I can’t look much further than Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United. The fact that he has spent so much time at 1 club and the list of trophies he has won speaks for itself.
GO. My dad has always had a major influence on my cricket. From a young age I have wanted to follow in his footsteps as a player and now hopefully as a coach too. My first coach in the South Junior system, Alan Croser, also had a lasting impact on my cricket and guys like Stevie Halls, Dave Hancock, Alan Niven and Neil Crooks in the Gala side have always pushed me to succeed and pointed me in the right direction.
Q. Are you both still playing cricket? Do you think getting involved in coaching at an early age will help you become a better player?
A.
RP. Definitely, as a player you are always looking to improve and becoming a coach means that you have all the tools at your disposal to help yourself become a better player. When you are teaching kids you are telling them the rights and wrongs and sooner or later you learn so much that you can elaborate it into your own game. If you are doing something wrong in the game, then you, as a coach, have to knowledge to correct this.
GO. Yes, in a way but I try to keep both separate and play like a player should and coach like a coach should.
Q. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years time, what would you like to be doing?
A.
RP. Hopefully in the future I become a highly qualified coach in any sport and work with the best athletes I can. When i set out on this job, I was told of the opportunities that were ahead of if I were to stay committed and a lot of those opportunities do not happen to a lot of people so I am very grateful for the people who have got me to where I am now and hopefully I can carry on in the right direction.
GO. I hope to have graduated from University, be playing National League Cricket with Gala CC and coaching in some sort of capacity.
Q. What advice would you give any youngster looking to get involved in coaching?
A.
RP. Stay committed!! If you go for it 100% and stick your neck out then you will get noticed and get given opportunities. Also, get involved with any qualifications through workshops that may be on the go e.g. First Aid, Child Protection, Safeguarding and Protecting Children. The more qualifications and certificates you have, the more people are going to want you to coach their group.
GO. I would advise any young aspiring coaches to get involved. Approach a club, do the appropriate courses and enjoy it.
Q. Were you involved with any Leaders Awards at school? If so which one? Did they help you get involved in coaching?
A.
GO. I never did the leaders award as such but I did do the Queens Badge award and the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award. The Queens Badge had quite a focus on Leadership and involved charity work and working with youngsters. I’d definitely say it has helped my ability to coach.
Q. As a cricket coach you will be working a lot with younger children, is this a challenge for you?
A.
RP. No, when I was offered this job I was fully aware that I would be working with younger children. For the most part they are well behaved. Also, as a coach you love to see progression in young athletes and that is what you get when you start off coaching athletes at a younger age.
GO. At times it can be challenging but most of the time it is great fun.
Q. What are your ambitions in sport/coaching?
A.
RP. My ambitions in coaching are to get to the highest level I possibly can and work with the best athletes in the country whether this is in cricket or any sport.
GO. With any luck I can move to the next level both as a player and as a coach. From a coaching perspective I always look to give youngsters enjoyment from the game and teach them good sportsmanship. From a playing point of view hopefully we can have another successful season at Gala CC. |
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