Langley lays Foundation for a career in coaching
HAVING been a player in the under13 Newcastle Marleybone Cricket Club Foundation Hub squad in 2014 and 2015, then the under-15 squad in 2016 and 2017, Joel Langley has now become involved in the MCCF Hub programme as a coach.
A pupil at Killingworth’s Bailey Green Primary and George Stephenson Community High Schools, Langley arrived at Backworth Cricket Club via the Chance to Shine programme delivered at his school.
As a talented but raw junior player at club level, he was nominated for county trials by his club coaches.
After not being selected for the Northumberland county squad, Langley was invited to be part of the inaugural Newcastle MCCF Under13 Hub squad.
He remained part of it for a further three seasons, going on to become captain of the under-15s in their fixtures in 2017.
He earned various further pathway representative opportunities along the way – being selected for several full county fixtures.
The Hub programme provided Langley with additional opportunities to play and access high-quality coaching which otherwise was not available to him.
Opportunities for cricket within his secondary school were limited, with softball competitions his only opportunity to play cricket in school.
The environment created by the Hub squad, with all members being of a higher ability level than most club players, meant Langley was able to enhance his game and be challenged above and beyond the level he could be in the club’s junior environment.
He said: “By playing with stronger players from different clubs, I have improved my game by training with them and trying to meet their high standards.”
As a 13-year-old, he began playing regular senior cricket at his club and took remarkable figures of 8-3 in a third XI fixture in 2015.
He found himself opening the batting for the first XI by the age of 15, performing respectably and recording a high score of 99.
In 2016, Langley was part of the under-15 squad which had the opportunity to undertake a Cricket Activators course to further its players’ development.
Upon completion of the course, he immediately started volunteering in his club environment by assisting coaches with under-nine and under11 sessions at the club, while also volunteering at All Stars sessions once the programme got under way in 2017.
He went on to complete an All Stars Young Activators course and took a prominent role working under the lead activator at the club in running a programme for 53 children in 2018.
Langley added: “Doing the activators course as part of the Hub programme has inspired me to help out with the coaching at my club and has helped me gain skills such as communication, teamwork, confidence and ability to speak in front of people.”
Also last year, Langley took his Coach Support Worker qualification.
Since gaining that qualification, he has volunteered as an assistant coach with the 2018-19 under-13 Newcastle Hub squad, tasked with leading small groups and running small activities during sessions.
The youngster intends to complete his Level Two qualification upon turning 17.
He said: “In the future I would like to continue coaching at club and hub level and eventually go on to a job in cricket coaching or teaching.”