Mitchum departs for England Coaching Course today

By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ONE of the Federation’s best cricketers is about to become one of the nation’s best coaches, as Juni Mitchum departs for England today (July 4) to become a Level Three certified coach.

The Level Three Coaching Course conducted by the English Cricket Board consists of two parts: theory training and practicum. Mitchum completed his theory modules earlier this year and must now undergo three weeks of practicum with English cricketers before he can become fully certified.

“In terms of taking courses, this has been the most challenging I have undertaken as a coach. It has been a lot of sacrifice, but I relish it because it is something that I always wanted to achieve,” he told SKNVibes.

“Level Three is more about developing long term plans, developing plans for cricket players, profiling, setting realistic goals and how you deal with a team. It also deals with interacting with players on a one-on-one basis and finding the root cause of mistakes to correct them.”

Mitchum said that the extended stay in England to complete the Level Three course proved challenging because of the need for a visa extension and long term accommodations.

“Because of very good friends in England, especially Harold Williams who had worked with the ministry [of Sports] a few years before he went off to England, I was able to complete the course. He allowed me to stay with him while I was attending,” he said.

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While in England, Mitchum will coach players on a one-on-one basis and he will be assessed based upon his theory modules. If he successfully completes the course, the national cricketer will become the first Level Three certified coach in the Federation, and one of only a handful in the entire Caribbean.

“It will bring a lot to St. Kitts-Nevis because we will finally have someone who is certified to coach at that level. It will give me a great sense of knowledge to help the kids [of his cricket academy] and players further develop. I think it will make them feel more confident to have someone with a great deal of knowledge working with them,” Mitchum stated. 

The certification would also fulfill personal goals for him that he has spent a majority of his life working toward.

“[Coaching the national team] has been one of my goals, and would help me to give back to the country that has done so much for me. There are also a lot of opportunities outside, so this will help expand my horizons.”

Special thanks for helping Mitchum on the path to coaching certification since 2003 was given to Harold Williams, Lenny Lake, Jonathan Phillip, Shane Venner, Hans Richards and the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture.