ECB Coaches Association links Hitting the Seam 39 | Page 18

GOING GREEN
Catching up with Omar and Chevanis Green (Chevy), the first brothers to
simultaneously complete the ECB Performance Coach (UKCC Level 3) course.
Where do you coach?
Omar: Spencer Cricket Club, which boasts arguably the biggest junior section in the UK, St Mary’s
Twickenham University Men, as well as being PE Coordinator at Forest Academy.
Chevy: I currently coach the Surrey Learning and Physical Disability squad and within the Surrey Performance
department supporting across different age groups. Working with players with a disability and the various
age groups at Surrey offers me a broader outlook on how each player’s individual needs and capabilities are
developed to achieve within a performance.
Why did you get into coaching?
Omar: Ever since I was little, sport has been a major part of my life. My dad and other coaches at Spencer
inspired me to become a coach. Seeing the impact my dad had on the players he coached and off the cricket
field was key. My desire to follow a path in sport came from two moments in my life.
At 14 when my art teacher tried to convince me to take the subject by asking “would you rather draw inside
or do sports in the rain?” I replied “sports in the rain, any day!”
Then a couple of years later I was bored working in a bank and dreaming of being outside and working within
sport.
Chevy: Initially I was inspired by my dad and other senior coaches at Spencer CC (too many to name) with
their challenging and fun approach to not only make better cricketers but shape boys, first into teenagers
and then into men. Along with my PE teachers at school, who I was heavily influenced by, I always knew I was
destined for a path helping others in sport whether that be through coaching or teaching – it is no surprise to
people who have grown up with me that I was a PE teacher and mentor before working in cricket
professionally for Surrey.
What was your key learning on the course?
Omar: Through interacting with the presenters and other coaches on the course I learnt a lot. I believe the
discussions that took place enabled all the coaches to gain something. When working with players you need
to understand the person and how they learn. The course taught me that as a coach you need to remain
open and adapt to the player’s needs. This will then allow you to align their needs with the needs of the team.
Lastly, you need to remember it is the player’s career, not yours!
Chevy: There is no set rule or approach for players you work with as every player responds to things
differently, whether that’s how they interpret an instruction given or the body position they get in to execute
a shot. The key is to understand what works best for your players individually and then enhance them to
improve as players and a team, through appropriate and skilful questioning and challenging.
Favourite moment on the course
Omar: There were a number of great moments and stories from the course. One being that I was able to
do this course with my brother. Secondly, when everyone was debating the nature or nurture paradox – I
am 65% in favour of the nature side. However, my favourite moment has to be seeing fellow candidate Paul
Collingwood getting a pair when facing a bobbling tennis ball from an underarm feed.
Chevy: Other than being on the course with my brother, when England fielding and batting coaches
combined to demonstrate a drill hitting tennis balls back past the bowler. You might have thought these two
would be nailed on to get this right but it seems a combined 120 Test match appearances does not guarantee
success on a wet Tuesday in November in Derby.
This interview first appeared in Inside Edge, the official ECB magazine for Performance and Elite Coaches, and
is reproduced with their permission.
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Hitting the Seam Issue 39