COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD: NOMINATIONS REQUESTED!

We are delighted to announce the introduction of a new CL Coach of the Year Award which is being introduced and donated by Brian Kelleher (CL President & Director of Coaching) in memory of Noel Mahony and Vincent Savino.

This new Coaching Excellence trophy will be awarded on annual basis at the CL Awards Night & Gala Dinner. Fittingly, it will be called the Mahony Savino Coaching Cup.

BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
Noel Mahony and Vincent Savino were the pioneers of cricket coaching in Ireland. They were the first to take it upon themselves to travel to the UK to gain formal coaching qualifications.

In addition to using this knowledge to coach generations of Irish cricketers, they also trained many others to become coaches and subsequently coach developers.

Their coaching philosophy was based on a holistic approach to the players they coached - in keeping with the old adage that good coaches coach players, but great coaches coach people. Their aim was to make every player the best they could be, regardless of the level of their ability.

They ensured that enjoyment and fun were to the fore in everything they did and emphasised the importance of ensuring maximum involvement and participation of everyone to support learning & development.

CITATION
The Mahony Savino Trophy will be awarded to a coach whose coaching most closely aligns with the coaching philosophy of the two coaches after whom the award is named.

It is open to coaches at all levels and those who work with players at all ages and abilities, both male and female.

• The recipient will have demonstrated a commitment to best practice in cricket coaching.
• They will be a role model for their players, ensuring that they uphold the spirit of cricket.
• They will treat all players equally, with fairness, respect and dignity.
• They will show commitment to good planning thereby allowing all players to learn and develop at their own pace and in their own way. Above all they will run sessions that are safe and enjoyable.

Nominations can be made by a club or by an individual, outlining (in simple bullet-point form or via a one-pager) why the proposed person is worthy of the Award.

The winner will be decided by a Cricket Leinster appointed committee with wide coaching experience and expertise, chaired by the CL Director of Coaching (Brian Kelleher).

The award winner will be announced at the CL Awards Night & Gala Dinner in January.

Nominations should be sent to the following address:

philip.smith@cricketleinster.ie

The deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday 23rd October.