Cricket NSW: Playing Smart

By Primary Communication
Monday 21 January, 2008

Undergoing examination at Sport Knowledge Australia’s Athlete Career Development Advanced Programme in February will be the remarkable off-field achievements of Cricket NSW whose forward-thinking management is producing a crop of players eminently well-equipped to deal with life after sport.

Of a current squad of 28 players, Cricket NSW has mentored, and financially supported, 12 through to university graduation with six more expected to join the graduates’ list by end of this year. Others have been directed into vocational training programmes, work experience situations and job placement.

The NSW model, initiated and developed in 2003 by Player Welfare Manager Tony Lewis, was subsequently adopted by Cricket Australia and its state associations in 2006.

Despite its demonstrable success, the ‘work or study’ values promoted by Lewis are sometimes a hard sell to early school-leavers with eyes only for a pro contract, a spot in the Blues, and ultimately a Baggy Green cap.

“They like to chase the dream, but they have to be realistic too,” says Lewis. “It is very difficult to be a professional cricketer – only 11 play for Australia and only 11 play for New South Wales.

“The last thing a young player wants to hear about is a ‘retirement plan’, but from the day that they are offered a contract with NSW, we prepare them for life after cricket. All young players have to either earn or learn; it is a compulsory part of being a professional player in the SpeedBlitz Blues.

“We start by looking at what they need education-wise, or through work experience, and begin mapping out a career and welfare plan which runs concurrently with their playing and training commitments.

“We try and have the plan in action and near completion before a player makes his first-class debut. Greater emphasis is placed on pursuing a career or education while a player is on the periphery. But, the plan will also take a backwards step while playing commitments are heavy.”

A study on the Cricket NSW programme will be presented by Tony Lewis during Sport Knowledge Australia’s three-day live-in course (Athlete & Career Development Advanced Programme) at the Mercure Hotel in Melbourne from 27-29 February.

The comprehensive programme, designed to increase the knowledge and skills of athlete welfare and career development managers, features a series of workshops with a focus on higher order athlete development management. It will cover the role of the player development manager; the identification and influencing of key stakeholders; counselling strategies; dealing with distractions and deviations; athlete identity; and current and future issues in athlete and career development and management.

Presenters are drawn from specialised areas of the sport industry and include General Manager of Player Development for the AFL’s Players’ Association, Steve Alessio and Deidre Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie University Sport and Recreation.

Presenters;
Tony Lewis, Player Welfare Manager, Cricket NSW
Jacqui Louder, Psychologist, APSMC and OPSMC
Steve Alessio, General Manager – Player Development, Australian Football League Players Association
Deidre Anderson , Chief Executive Officer, Macquarie University Sport and Recreation
Paul Dillon, Media Liaison Manager, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
David Parkin, Lecturer, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
Dr Frank Pyke, former Executive Director, Victorian Institute of Sport
Glenn Warry, Managing Director, Beyond Talent

For more information on the programme, please visit http://www.sportedu.org/product_pwa01.asp.


Elite Sport Education Calendar Launches in Melbourne

Sport Knowledge Australia (SKA) commences its 2008 professional education calendar in Melbourne next month with the three day live-in Athlete & Career Development Advanced Programme – one in a series of five cutting edge courses based in the world’s ‘sport event capital’. Featuring renowned academic and industry presenters, the courses offer in depth analysis of topics including player welfare, facility management, customer service and elite coaching. In cooperation with the FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix, SKA will also deliver Event Host 08 (11-16 March) – an international conference for industry leaders.

ATTENTION EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: For enquiries regarding interviews with Tony Lewis, or other presenters contact – Primary Communication – Liz Herbert, Mobile: 0407 234 221 Tel:+61 2 9212 3888.