In the first of his exclusive column for iafrica.com, renowned cricket coach Ryan Maron takes a closer look at coaching in the country and how it can be improved.

Playing cricket at a school or club from a young age lays the foundation for a future career as a professional cricketer. The stepping stone that youth cricket provides is incalculable and determines how successful a young cricketer will be.

He is able to measure himself against his peers in school matches and improve his technique while doing so. If successful, he is then chosen to represent his province at a national week where he can measure his strength against the best in the country.

This process then continues if he is selected for a national age-group team to represent his country.

The question then crops up: Is this adequate preparation for a young cricketer to prepare himself to represent his country?

Schools cricket is played differently across the country. In the Western Cape, for example, the schools generally play 'time' cricket (which is basically declaration cricket with the option of a draw), whereas on the Highveld limited overs cricket is played (where an outright winner is always determined).

Which form of the game better prepares young cricketers for professional cricket?

Playing positively because if you do not score enough runs, you lose the game? Or, being more conservative and the team batting second drawing the game if they lose early wickets and can't chase the score?

The arguments for both sides of the coin are varied and all equally valid.

Cricketers need to learn to be positive as well as mentally tough in a situation where a loss can be averted.

What is Cricket South Africa's role?

Cricket South Africa is the obvious focal point for this debate. It has been suggested that the schools cricket calendar be synchronised to allow all forms of the game to be played by young cricketers (including 20/20 cricket).

This will allow the game to be better monitored and cricketers, with different skills, will come to the fore earlier.

Coaching courses can then be arranged for coaches to adequately prepare for each part of the season and hone their coaching skills as well.

This will serve to create a blueprint for youth cricket whereby specific skills are developed and this can then lead to better prepared cricketers. There are too many coaches with varied ideas on how to play the game and this leads to confusion amongst young cricketers on the best approach to the game.

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