Board neglecting the youngsters -- Clint
The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control desperately need to open their eyes to the importance of developing young cricketers to replenish the sport.
So said Bermuda Schools Sports Federation Administrator Clint Smith, who added that too much emphasis has been placed on participation in elite competition at the expense of the youth.
"(BCBC) need to take a long hard look at what drives the national programme.
Should those senior national, high profile competitions drive the programme or should overall development drive the programme?'' queried Smith during a recent interview following Bermuda's failure at the ICC tournament in Malaysia.
"In my opinion they're too focussed on a couple of high profile competitions while keeping blinders on and not looking at where the players are supposed to come from to take part in these competitions in years to come.
"For example, if they got in the World Cup, `Who were they going to play? What players were they going to have to put in that World Cup squad?''' It is a known fact that few other than the younger members of the current national squad are looked at as being ready for international competition at the senior level.
Smith implied this to be due to the constant shirking of responsibility by the national governing body with regard to those in the high school bracket, instead standing pat while expecting the schools themselves to initiate specialised training programmes.
However, Smith was adamant that schools not be seen as a farm system for cricket or any other sport, that their focus is education although various mediums such as sport can and are used to aid in the process.
"Instead of them sitting back saying, `Why don't the schools do this, why don't the schools do that' let's take a look at the big picture and say `Who is really responsible for the development and promotion of cricket? Is it the schools of the national governing body?' "One person in particular -- I won't name him -- has implied that the reason cricket is in the dilemma it is now is a lack of good cricket programmes in the schools, but who is really responsible for the demise or development of the game.
"And whoever that is or they are need to come up with a proactive initiative rather than sitting back, hoping that a few outstanding players are going to win major competitions by coming up with outstanding performances so they can then say `Well, what a wonderful programme we have'.'' Smith went on to note that no one from the board had approached the BSSF with any sort of proposal for entering the schools system as recommended by the Jim Woolridge-led restructuring committee.
The committee had suggested a reversion to a similar programme as used by the Shell Youth League several years ago before it folded, having clubs `adopt' schools and allow them use of their facility -- nets, pitch, etc. -- as well as provide expert instruction from current and past players.
However, again, it was said to be up to the board to draft and present concrete, viable plans for such.
"If they want to specifically develop cricket they have to show the initiative and come up with proposals, recommendations and wherever schools consider it reasonable they may choose to or may not choose to assist.
"I know that in the restructuring plans that Jim Woolridge and his committee had some positive ideas, but I don't see that the BCBC have acted on any of them at all.''