Tampa Cricket League (TCL), founded in 2007, is one of the main organizers of Adult and Youth Cricket events in the Tampa Bay area. In September 2016, TCL kicked off its Youth Program with one single coach and a few students. Since then, the program has expanded, and as of today, there are 60+ participants enrolled in the program.
During January 2020, Tampa Cricket League hosted Level 1 and Level 2 coaching certification camps and practical training sessions for its coaches at Commissioner Al Higginbotham Fields in Seffner, Florida. Players from the Tampa Bay Sunrisers Women’s Cricket Club were also invited to participate in the camp. It is TCL’s vision to grow women’s cricket in the community.
TCL recently hosted a weekend-long training camp for the existing and new coaches with a youth player camp to keep up with the momentum and need for more trained coaches to adequately manage coaching and future training programs. Mr. Jatin Patel, renowned multi-sports coach and Cricket Hall of Fame inductee, facilitated the camp. Mr. Patel has pioneered cricket coaching and educational programs for schools in the USA.
The vision and experience that Mr. Jatin Patel brings to these coaching sessions are second to none. Having played the game with the stalwarts and considering his active involvement with many of the current breed of international cricketers, he is apt for training the next generation of coaches.
Jatin Patel also provided an opportunity for TCL to join hands with Sarasota International Cricket Club (SICC) and invited cricket legend Dr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, former West Indies captain, to the youth camp.
Mr. Jatin Patel shared his excellent understanding of the game, and legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul interacted with most of our youth players and coaches while providing corrective measures and technical tips.
The session was very interactive, and both Mr. Chanderpaul and Mr.Patel empowered all the attendees by sharing their immense knowledge of the game they acquired from their experience. All the sessions were conducted practically with bat and ball in hand, starting from the basics of the game, player engagement, and participation.
Nitheesh Shetty, TCL President, said, “Approximately 60 kids and parents joined hands to make the weekend event a successful one for cricket in the area, which is essential to inspire and motivate more youth players to pick up cricket. In addition, Chris Thakoorprasad, Vice President of SICC, provided valuable inputs to raise the standard of our facility and program.”