Coaching isn’t a job, but a passion
Being a cricket coach is a lot of hard work, but pays off in more ways than one.
Lionel Joubert (48) has been a cricket coach for close to 20 years and says it’s much more than just a job.
“Once it starts becoming a job, you have to stop immediately, because it’s supposed to be a passion,” he says.
A cricket coach teaches amateur players the rules of the game and coaches them in becoming skilled professionals.
There are four levels of coaching, starting with the most basic coaching in schools.
“The second level is where you coach at club and super league level, followed by national and international levels where it then becomes a full-time job,” he says.
To start off with this career, you need to study sports management at a university, as well as do part-time coaching for practical experience.
Joubert adds that you have to be able to handle all types of people as you sometimes have to deal with difficult individuals.
“You have to have a deep passion for sports and people to make this career a reality,” he says.
He says the best part of the job is to see someone excel from beginning to end and to know that you were part of the whole process of them becoming a cricket player.
Daniel Seha (20) is currently studying sport science and management at the University of Stellenbosch
He says while it is not for the faint-hearted and it takes a lot of hard work and long hours, it’s worth it in the end.
The course can be done in three years for an undergrad degree and in four years for a high performance sport qualification.
“The fourth year is basically only practical,” he says.
He adds course fees can cost anything from R35 000 to R40 000, although sport science may be a little more.
