Academy Program 2010-2011

Bruce Edgar joins Gordon coaching team as Junior Academy Coach and Green Shield Coach

The Gordon Club is pleased to announce the addition of Bruce Edgar, former New Zealand Test opening batsman to our Academy coaching team. (see profile below)

As a further upgrade to our well established Academy the club has decided to split our operations into two groups with an Under 16 Junior Academy coached by Bruce Edgar and managed by Michael Falk and an Under 21 Senior Academy coached by Mark O’Neill and managed by Geoff Hickman. Steve Smith, Matt Nicholson, Beau Casson and Ed Howitt will also continue their coaching services for the club and be involved in both the Under 16’s and Under 21’s.

The club now have five coaches with extensive first class and Test match experience coaching our junior members, which confirms the Club’s continued commitment to our young cricketers.

This exciting new development will allow us to extend our Academy program and provide high quality coaching and mentoring to all of our Academy members.

The Under 16 Academy will kick off the 2010-11 season with sessions in July and prospective players are invited to send in an application form to trial for an Academy position. A link to the Under 16 Application form can be found below.

When the Green Shield selection period rolls around, the Under 16 Academy will be split into a Green Shield Squad and the balance of the Under 16 Squad (13 and 14 year olds not in GS squad). This squad will continue to get specialised coaching from the Gordon coaching staff at their own sessions. 

For the benefit of prospective Academy members we have enclosed a draft program for the season. A link to the Under 16 program is at the bottom of the story

While the dates in July/August for the trials are confirmed, the final dates and venues of the sessions after August are still to be finalised. The sessions and matches are confirmed in principal we just need to firm up available grounds and practice facilities closer to the summer starting.

The Under 16 program will include:

• 4 net sessions trials in July/August
• Net sessions during September, October and November
• A fitness assessment by a qualified fitness instructor and individualised programs provided
• Mentoring sessions on goal setting, attitude and techniques
• High level strategy session run by Bruce Edgar and Matt Nicholson called “The First Hour”
• Under 16 Academy members training with full grade club in addition to individual sessions

The Under 21 program has also been upgraded with the addition of an in-house intense coaching weekend at the Narrabeen Institute of sport facility. This will be pre-season and will be by invitation.

The Under 21 Academy will take a different approach to the timing of our sessions this season with more of an emphasis on building up to the Poidevin Gray matches. This will enable the Academy members to prepare with the club in the early pre-season and then have their own specialist sessions as the PG matches approach.

The Under 21 program will include:

• Fitness assessment in June
• Weekend pre-season communication session
• On going Tuesday night sessions with First Grade squad
• Level 1 coaching course for all under 21 members
• Practice T20 match against First Grade

The Under 21 Academy members will be invited to train under Mark O’Neill and the First Grade Squad to give those in the Academy not in First Grade the opportunity of being directly involved in the elite level of Grade cricket.

The Under 21 Academy will also have the services of Matt Nicholson, Beau Casson, Steve Smith, Bruce Edgar and Ed Howitt for specialist sessions.

The Under 21 squad is by invitation only, however the Academy committee is very pleased to welcome new players for consideration. Fell free to contact us with your background and we will be in touch.   

To view the Under 16 Application form…click here…

To view Under 16 Draft program…click here…

To view Under 21 Draft Program…click here…

Profile of Bruce Edgar

Bruce Edgar was a classic left-hand opening batsman with a very straight technique who played 39 Tests and 64 One day internationals for New Zealand from 1978 to 1986. Bruce is now living in the Gordon district and has established himself as one of the country’s highly skilled cricket coaches not only specialising in technique, but also very keen to imparting his knowledge on the various strategic approaches to the game that can sometimes get lost in net sessions.

Bruce had the “fortune” of playing his Test cricket during the West Indies “reign of terror” and opened the batting on several occasions against the legendary Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding and Joel Garner. He therefore knows a bit about batting under pressure and scoring runs in difficult conditions.

Bruce scored his highest Test score of 161 against Australia in Auckland in 1982 to help his country to a drawn series of one Test all.

Bruce also scored a century in a One Day International against Australia, however this has been classified as “the most overlooked century of all time” as he was at the other end of the wicket on 102 not out when Trevor Chappell delivered the infamous underarm ball to Brian McKecknie in February 1981. One might say that incident is more talked about that Bruce’s fine innings.

Bruce also played 175 First Class matches and was well known for his opening partnerships with fellow left hander John Wright.

Bruce will be Head Coach of our Under 16 Academy, and will also be assisting with the Under 21 Academy coaching.

Bruce’s Career record is shown below

The GDCC warmly welcomes Bruce to our team and we look forward to his substantial input during the season.

Academy Committee

Peter Horwitz, our Academy sponsor, who is also a Level 3 coach, will be joining the committee and will be more directly involved in the Academy planning and activities.

With the two operating divisions of the Academy, there will be two committees that will report to Paul Stephenson as Academy Coordinator. The committees are as follows:

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