A situation analysis of the competitive schools based cricket coaching programmes at u/19 level in the Gauteng province

M.Phil. (Sport Management)The purpose of this study was to investigate the management of cricket coaching programmes at u/19 level in the Gauteng Province. Specifically, this study attempted to determine the current situation regarding management of coaching programmes and the delivery of in-school driven programmes in the province. Data was collected from schools offering cricket as a sport from both the Gauteng Lions and Northerns Cricket Union franchises. There were 10 schools in the Northerns franchise and 14 first-team players from these schools were selected as respondents. There were 10 schools in the Gauteng Lions franchise and 14 first-team players from these schools were selected as respondents. The managers and coaches were selected to respond to a questionnaire as their portfolios make them the foremost sources of information regarding programmes, and they could locate records containing relevant information. Executive committee members from the boards of Gauteng Lions and Northerns Cricket Union were also questionnaire respondents as their primary role is the implementation of policies. Chairpersons of the high schools committees were also respondents and an official from Cricket South Africa (CSA) participated. A total of 324 (n=324) questionnaires were distributed 162 (n=162) to the Gauteng Lions franchise and 162 (n=162) to the Northerns franchise. One questionnaire was sent to CSA, making a grand total of 325 (n=325) questionnaires. From the 162 questionnaires submitted to Northerns, only 111 (n=111) respondents returned their questionnaires; these 111 participants comprised of white (n=70), black (n=25), coloured (n=10), indians (n=2) and chinese (n=4). From the 162 questionnaires submitted to the Gauteng Lions franchise (162), the 96 respondents who returned their questionnaires were white (n=44), black (n=30), coloured (n=12), indians (n=9) and 1 chinese (n=1). The results revealed that the majority of players involved in u/19 programmes come from the white population group. The results revealed that the Gauteng Lions participate in inter-provincial weeks with a very small number of players that have caps at u/19 level (5.2%) and this reduces their chances of being selected to represent the SA u/19 team. Both franchises indicated financial challenges, but the Gauteng Lions have even bigger challenges ..