Former England cricketers train youngsters
Three former England cricketers passed on some of their skills in a cricket master class organised by Sky Sports Living for Sport in partnership with the Professional Cricketer's Association at Lord's.
The cricketers helping out during the day included Nick Knight, Dean Headley and Gladstone Small.
Over 30 youngsters between the ages of 12 and 15 from three schools across London got the chance to train with the players in a special coaching session.
Schools attending on the day were John Kelly Boys' Technology College (Brent), Kingsbury High Pupil Referral Unit (Kingsbury) and Albany School (Hornchurch).
Former England player and Sky Sports commentator Nick Knight comments:
"It's great to be able to support this kind of project. Sky Sports Living for Sport helps youngsters that might not otherwise get the opportunity to fulfil their potential."
Video Transcript
Coach:
We're losing 1-0 at the moment but there's still two Tests to go.
Narrator: Ok so maybe the Test side aren't providing the inspiration right now, but with a couple of former Internationals on hand, it's hope cricket can make a difference in the lives of these school children.
Coach: And away you go.
Narrator: Over 30 youngsters considered at risk of optiing out of school life attended a coaching session at Lord's as part of the Sky Living For Sport project. Working with the Youth Sports Trust, it's hoped participation in a variety of activities can provide an incentive to succeed.
Gladstone Small: Learn to communicate, learn to mix, learn to win, learn to lose, learn how to handle that. So it's all about using sport as a hub to get youngsters to engage with each other.
Woman: This opportunity will give them experience to try anything in life, if they're given an opportunity that they've got the confidence to try it even though they're not top cricketers or top sportsmen and it will just help their confidence in life.
Narrator: And the figures back up that thinking. The most recent evaluations found that, 75% of children on the scheme showed improved attitude to school staff, pver 70% improved their behaviour around school, and a similar number show an increase in confidence and self-esteem. For these kids, it's also improved their cricket.
Pro: They've loved it, we've kept it quite simple, we've got mixed abilities here, some have played and will just want their confidence building, some have never played so they've enjoyed learning the techniques, hopefully they go on to join a club or do something extra.
Student 1: I never used to be interested in the past but doing this has really opened my eyes.
Student 2: I know some tactics now and I can show some people and maybe teach them, it was really good.
Interviewer: Do you think you'll play it again?
Student 3: Yeah definitely, I'm going to see if I can join the school team.
Narrator: Now in it's 5th year the Living For Sport project has helped over 17,000 children and maybe now a couple of school cricket teams too. Roger Clarke, Sky Sports.