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ricket NSW has announced the launch of its first elite coaching apprenticeship program for women with the support of Cricket Australia.

The program hopes to ensure the coaching development of women in cricket is on track with the expanding competitions and success of women’s cricket in Australia.

For the initial launch of the program, Cricket NSW has selected Sarah Aley, Lisa Griffith, and Hannah Trethewy for the first program, which comes off Cricket NSW becoming the first state organisation to create a head of female cricket and head of coaching development positions.

Discussing the new program, Cricket NSW head of female cricket, Leah Poulton, said: “There have never been more opportunities for women and girls to play cricket.”

“More than 30% of players at all levels and ages participating in cricket are now female.

“It’s important we create opportunities for women to contribute to our sport in a range of roles.

“The development of more female coaches, umpires, and administrators is an important next step and can only enrich our great game.

“I’m thrilled to have Hannah, Sarah and Lisa as part of our coaching team.

“All three are wonderful role models.

“Their energy and knowledge will be a great asset to our programs,” she said.

The program will serve as a ten-month internship with presentations, webinars, field-based learning and observations and networking opportunities with other high performance sports and elite coaches, according to Cricket NSW head of coach development, David Moore.

Recently retired Sydney Sixers Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) player, Sarah Aley, told Sporting News coaching was always a goal for her once her playing career was over.

“It’s sort of something I’ve always been involved [in],” Aley said.

“Early on in my playing career, I got involved as a means of income.

“But then it evolved from there to working within the pathways across the female program and having the opportunity to be head coach and assistant coach of NSW U15 team that was successful in a couple of years.

“I got the bug from that and people saw that and had an interest in me in that position.

“I went on and got a level three coaching certificate some years ago and it’s just now that I’ve stopped having my playing career as a priority that I can now focus on the coaching side.

“I want to try and work out whether I want to be a head coach and whether it’s a Big Bash side or a state side.

“But I also want to work out where my strengths lie, to see if I can fit into different programs and see where I can help out and be effective.

“If that turns out to be an assistant role, it’s an assistant role.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to work that out.

“Potentially the opportunity might arise to move into the male teams and that’s something I don’t want to pigeonhole myself in.

“I’m a cricket coach, not a women’s cricket coach,” she said.