Former Canadian National Women’s
cricketer Monali Patel has been accredited
as an ICC Coach Master Instructor. Monali
was of nine new females the ICC has introduced
to its network of Coach Master Educators, and
who will oversee the development of Tutors and
cricket coaches worldwide through its Training
and Education programme. The appointments
followed a week-long course hosted in Dubai,
UAE.
The week saw a total of ten new ICC Coach
Master Educators join forces with the existing
global network of 16 to undertake theory and
practical workshops in preparation for the
release of the ICC Coaching Course Level 2, a
resource set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Master Educators represent the top tier in the
workforce hierarchy that supports the delivery
of coach education programmes in ICC Member
nations. They are responsible for training and
accrediting ICC Tutors – while Tutors themselves
deliver courses to accredit prospective coaches,
umpires and pitch curators.
The new cohort of ICC Coach Master Educators
hail from both traditional and emerging cricket
nations, including the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Qatar, South Africa, and the Americas
including Canada. Greater coverage of coach
education expertise across the ICC’s five regions
supports one of its key strategic ambitions of
transformative growth in participation, and the
improved female representation responds to
upward global trends in the number of women
and girls playing the sport.
Re f l e c t i ng on i nc r e a s i ng fema l e
representation among the ICC’s coaching
networks, former Canada international
cricketer and newly qualified ICC Coach
Master Educator in the Americas, Monali
Patel, commented, “There has historically been
an under-representation of females in coaching,
so to see so many women involved in this programme is inspirational. This course
will only improve the number of role models available to women and girls.
“There are so many ways to get involved in the game, and it’s important that
female cricket lovers understand that coaching is an increasingly accessible avenue
for them to consider.
“With more female coaches in operation around the world, another outcome of
this programme is that we are going to see more women and girls playing cricket.”
The ICC Coaching Course Level 2 is set to be the latest resource made available
to global learners following the success of existing courses on the ICC’s coach
education pathway.
More resources are set to be released in the coming months, including the first-ever ICC Umpire Foundation Certificate, an introductory course designed to provide aspiring Match Officials with the confidence and knowledge to officiate games at club level.
These courses will form part of the ICC’s growing collection of education offerings, aiming to equip Member nations with the resources and workforce necessary to train and accredit more coaches, umpires and pitch curators since the launch of the ICC Training and Education programme in 2021.
There is currently a select group of about 25 ICC Master Educators from around the globe. Each ICC region has approximately 4 to 5. Monali along with three other Master Educators in the Americas will be responsible for running future coach educator and certification programs in the region.
In order to secure the post Monali had to apply and meet the set criteria. The application process’ final completion stage was for her to attend and pass the Master Educator Level 2 course in Dubai, which was held during the second week of May.
Now that she has become fully qualified as an ICC Master Educator, Monali’s personal goal is to play a pivotal role in the constructing of coaching pathways for interested Canadians., and for others in the rest of the Americas as well. The ICC’s eventual goal is to have well rounded coaches growing the sport from the grassroots level up with a significant focus on junior girls and boys.
Monali feels that having a woman in this position will, hopefully, empower more girls to become actively interested in pursuing
cricket careers while realizing and fully appreciating that there is a whole world out there for them to strive towards. She also hopes
for her new role to have a direct and positive effect on Canadian Women’s cricket which she passionately believes can with a little
guidance reach entirely new heights.
Monali’s schedule within the next few months will have her in Alberta to facilitate an ICC Level 1 Coaching Course, That will be
followed almost immediately by a trip to Mexico in June to facilitate an ICC Level 1 Facilitator Course. Back home here in Canada
she’s also scheduled to host a Level 2 Coaching Course in November. Monali is also already in talks with the ME’s in the US to help
run a few of their courses as they have over 600 people waiting in practical assessments.
Seems as though our very first ever Canadian Female ICC Master Educator will now be very busy over the next few months.
Breaking new ground and making waves as she goes about her duties! Way to Go Monali! We are all so very proud of you.