Devon Cricket’s Club and Community Coaches have been hard at work in 2018/19 with almost 10,000 children exposed to cricket across the County in over 100 primary schools.
For the first time there was a Club and Community Coach in the North of the County with James Kemp taking on the role supporting clubs and visiting schools from Barnstaple to Braunton and Sampford Peverell.
Jonny Varcoe took over from Alex Jopling in the West and hit the ground running in a patch he knows well, forming strong relationships with clubs and the West Devon Youth League as well as delivering in schools across the region.
Sophie Whitlock continued her good work in the East covering Exeter out to Culmstock and Seaton with everything in between.
Schools delivery, funded by Chance to Shine (a national cricket charity), ranged from a 6 week ‘full schools programme’ to a one day ‘roadshow’ all aimed at inspiring the next generation of club cricketers. 85 teachers attended formal cricket CPD to enable them to independently teach cricket in their curriculum, whilst every school was given access to schemes of work and resources for teaching cricket through the Chance to Shine portal (anyone can sign up here - teachers.chancetoshine.org).
In the spring term attention turned to the third year of the ECB All Stars Cricket Programme. The coaches delivered assemblies, taster sessions and festivals to thousands of 5-8 year olds, signposting them to their local All Stars Centre. Their delivery, along with the hard work of clubs themselves, contributed to the 1450 children who took up the programme this year across 51 centres. The summer term rounded off a busy academic year with plenty of schools coaching as well as regional and County Kwik Cricket Festivals.
Further to the hundreds of hours of schools delivery, coaches have supported club coach education, summer camps and have met with local clubs in their areas to offer support.
On the back of a fantastic summer for cricket, and as we look forward to the 2020 season, clubs are encouraged to get in touch with their local Club and Community Coach to discuss how they can best work together on areas such as:
- Club school links – delivery of cricket in local schools
- School to Club transition – e.g. school festival held at the club
- All Stars Cricket – promotion and support
- Junior section development
- Women and girls support
- General club support and advice
Please use the details below to contact the appropriate coach or member of staff for your club:
North Devon Club & Community Coach - James Kemp 
James, who is originally from Oxford, is our first North Devon Club and Community Coach.
He also works on the Youth Development Programme in North Devon and has supported County Age Group at U11s and U12s.
He plays his cricket at Braunton CC.
james.kemp@devoncricket.co.uk
07944 330934
West Devon Club & Community Coach - Jonny Varcoe
Jonny hails from Plymouth and has played cricket in the area all his life.
He also works on the Youth Development Programme in the West and sits on the West Devon Youth League committee.
Jonny captains Plymouth CC and has been influential in the success of their junior section.
jonny.varcoe@devoncricket.co.uk
07376 250987
East Devon Club & Community Coach – Damian Price
After two years in post Sophie has moved on from coaching and has been replaced by Damian Price.
Damian has done schools, disability and youth development work for the Somerset Cricket Board.
He represented Devon through the County age groups and set up the junior section at his home club of Ilton.
damian.price@devoncricket.co.uk
07948 751676
South Devon
There is currently no full time member of coaching staff in the South of the County, though this is something Devon Cricket are striving to reinstate. For club support in the South please contact Clubs and Prgrammes Manager Alex Jopling.
alex.jopling@devoncricket.co.uk
01392 262509
Schools Support
For all other schools, competition and teachers training support please contact the Devon Cricket Office.
info@devoncricket.co.uk
01392 262509
