The past few weeks have been miserable for women’s cricket in the West Indies. Perhaps the lowest point was the under-19 girls losing to Rwanda, a non-traditional cricketing country. But this is closely followed by the Senior team losing a number of matches around the world. For a team that won the World Cup in 2016, it reflects how the sport has changed over that period.
Cricket is often regarded as a leader among sports in the region and the West Indies’ decline in stature may be indicative of what is to come for other sports. With the exception of athletics, most other sports are struggling to maintain their position on the world stage. It is time to consider and appreciate where we are and where the world stands.
Talent is no longer the secret to success. Nor, for that matter, are hours of repetitive training without deep analysis of technique and biomechanics. This is where we are at risk – continuing to do things the same way.
Sport is now about talent identification, talent development and analysis. Trainers are much more tech savvy and scientifically aware.
So let’s consider the sports in the region for a start.
Cricket has rapidly slipped from a team that was not only world champions, but the most admired in the world, to become a footnote in any discussion of cricket. Jamaica reached the World Cup finals 25 years ago and Trinidad and Tobago 13 years ago. Since then, the two have struggled to maintain absolute dominance in the region as well, as the smaller islands are beating them with more regularity. Jamaica’s netball team, undisputedly in the top three for decades, struggles to break into that category now. And this is also reflected in other sports.
Outside the region, countries begin talent searches as early as age nine, setting up academies that facilitate sports and academic programs that allow children to study while enhancing their sporting talent. The scientific analysis in the technique is matched with personalized age-specific training schedules that pay attention to the needs of that age, gender and body type. Nutritional support is provided and specialist medical management is provided. And just as important, they employ trainers who are well educated in modern training methods.
These coaches are well trained in the specifics of the sport, the needs of the athlete at each stage of their development and most importantly, are able to access and assess the support specialists available: sports scientists, data analysts, sports doctors , sports physiotherapists. , psychologists and nutritionists. Trainers are as much people and resource managers as they are technical specialists. While this was only available to the most elite athletes in the past, it has now spread to the most basic level in almost all sports around the world in those serious countries about the sport.
Unfortunately, we struggle to find this caliber of coach in the region. It has not gone unnoticed that the West Indies’ two appearances at the FIFA World Cup were campaigns under foreign coaches. There is nothing wrong with that. But the absence of any domestic coach emerging as a legacy of those campaigns is worrying. This is reflected in the small number of top coaches in cricket, or any other sport for that matter.
We have stuck to mediocrity in the production of our coaches; both in their academic development and in their technical development. While most countries have highly educated trainers who master modern coaching methods, we are only beginning to produce a handful of trainers who even have a full first degree, let alone any further qualifications.
As a Jamaican, I am immensely proud of our success in athletics. As a West Indian, I marvel at how small countries have excelled at the highest level. But if we consider success, there are a few things to consider. In Jamaica, for example, there are many “traditional” track schools that win local competitions. Yet they are disproportionately represented in our medals at major athletics events, with most champions coming from lesser-known schools. In fact, if we take away success in national and regional competitions, the number of Jamaican coaches who have stamped their dominance on the world stage can be counted on one hand. Of course, these are some of the best trainers in the world, but they are regardless of the system, not the products. Most have not even attended any of the sports education colleges in the region. They are simply geniuses.
However, talented young athletes may not have access to these top-level coaches until they leave high school. Until then, they are at the mercy of their high school coaches, not all of whom are adept at or have access to modern training methods. So early talent management and advancement is hindered, contrary to what is happening around the world.
As we bask in our phenomenal sporting success, be aware that the gap between those who catch up with modern training practices and those who don’t is progressively widening. Cricket is playing catch up and has to start from a very low level. The catch-up game is affecting all other sports. Our great running talent allows those not wiped out by injury or poor training to catch up to our best coaches when they should be way ahead of where they are. But how many of them are left behind?
While regional cooperation in improving sport is to be commended, it is imperative that we also pay attention to improving our skills and practices so that the best athletes encounter the best development pathways as quickly as possible. be possible.
If we continue to do things the same way, all sports may continue to decline as cricket has declined.
Sport Pulse and Sport Matters are bi-weekly columns highlighting developments affecting sports. We look forward to your continued readership.
Dr Akshai Mansingh is Dean, Faculty of Sport, UWI. He can be reached at [email protected]
