The inaugural Queensland Cricket High-Performance Coaching Symposium, held in partnership with Brisbane Boys’ College, proved to be an overwhelming success, selling out and drawing over 60 enthusiastic coaches. The two-day event together a diverse group of coaches eager to elevate their skills and knowledge in a high-performance cricket environment.
With planning already underway for next year’s event, the symposium has set a new standard for coach development in Queensland. The event’s success highlights the strong demand for advanced coaching education and the commitment of Queensland Cricket and Brisbane Boys’ College to foster a strong cricketing culture.
The symposium featured an impressive lineup of guest speakers, including renowned psychologist Andy Longley, former Queensland and Australian cricket coach John Buchanan, high-performance coach developer Matt Wilkie, and Baseball power hitting and fielding expert Shayne Watson. In addition, Queensland Cricket’s own High-Performance staff, Charles Evans, Wade Townsend, and Joe Dawes, shared their expertise, making the event a rich learning experience for all attendees.
Participants were treated to a series of engaging and insightful sessions, both practical and theoretical. Topics covered included leadership, performance mindset, coach development, pathways, performing under pressure, and creating high-performance teams. These sessions were designed to provide attendees with valuable strategies and insights to elevate their coaching capabilities.
Queensland Cricket Senior Coaching Talent Specialist and Coach Development Lead, Sam Ward, expressed his excitement about the success of the event.
“We had a wide range of coaches from different levels of the game attend, so not only were the practical and theoretical sessions helpful with each participant’s development, but the network in which they were able to build post the event will go a long way in supporting their ongoing growth” Ward said.
Paul Woodford, Brisbane Boys’ College’s Director of Cricket, echoed these sentiments, highlighting.
“This event has been a few years in the making, particularly with the College and Queensland Cricket sharing similar coaching philosophies,” he said.
He continued “Executing an amazing event that looked to bridge the gap between the representative and high-performance accreditation levels is a great accomplishment and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Queensland Cricket in future”
The event also included practical workshops focusing on batting, bowling, fielding, and physical conditioning, allowing attendees to gain hands-on experience and practical skills directly applicable to their coaching practice. However a standout feature of the symposium was the exclusive networking dinner on the first day, which provided attendees with the opportunity to connect with fellow coaches, Queensland players, and industry experts in a relaxed and informal setting.
With tickets selling out and participants already looking forward to next year, the inaugural Queensland Cricket High-Performance Coaching Symposium has laid a strong foundation for future events, promising continued growth and development for coaches at all levels.