You can always rely on a group of preteens to remind you how much you have to learn…

As most of you will already know, my daughter wants to be a professional cricketer.

From the age of four, it’s all she’s wanted to do. And, though I say so myself as a proud father, she happens to be rather good.

Nearly aged 12, Martha has played County Cricket for four years and accumulated an impressive collection of accolades along the way. Her dedication to the game is such that it inspired me to step properly into coaching myself… because apparently one full-time job was not quite enough!

I now coach at New Milton Cricket Club, and work on the Dorset County Cricket and Hampshire Pathways. Coaching young ladies with serious ambitions is proving to be both humbling and incredibly rewarding, and I am loving every minute of it.

Along the way, I have learned lessons that have shaped me as a coach and, inevitably, as a leader too. So I thought I’d take this opportunity to share a few of them…

See the individual before the player
When I look at a group of 12-year-old girls in matching club jumpers, I do not see a team sheet. I see eleven distinct personalities, each with her own strengths, insecurities and quirks.

That’s what I’ve come to love most about coaching at this age. My role is not to mould them into identical players. It is to recognise who they already are and help them grow to be the best version of themselves.

It’s not always easy, and I find myself continually adapting my approach. Some players need technical guidance, others reassurance. Some need calming words before they bat; others need me to ignite a competitive spark.

The most satisfying moments for me aren’t always the big wickets or the match-winning runs. They’re the small, almost invisible breakthroughs that most people probably won’t notice. Like the girl who used to avoid the ball now volunteering to field in a key position, or the once fiery batter who used to throw down her bat in frustration now walking off with composure, already thinking about what she’ll adjust in the next innings.

Those quiet shifts matter because they signal growth. And watching them unfold over time is one of the great privileges of coaching.

Champion their ambition
I am absolutely convinced that some of the girls I coach could go a very long way in the game. And it is my job is to help them believe it too.
A couple of years ago, my wife and I took Martha to New Zealand to follow the England women’s cricket team on their tour of the country. We had a fantastic time, and it was a real privilege to see the women’s game celebrated on such a global stage.

Martha even had an impromptu cricket coaching session with Lydia Greenaway, Katey Martin and Kat Sciver-Brunt. I was bowled over (pun intended) by their engagement and generosity. It was amazing to watch how they all gathered around a young girl, simply wanting her to learn from their life’s mastery.

What struck me most was not their technical advice, but the spirit in which it was given. They made excellence feel accessible. They made ambition feel normal.

I returned home from that trip even more determined to create that same sense of possibility for the girls I coach. When young players see what is achievable, their ceiling shifts and they gain the confidence to raise their own expectations.

As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I never want the people I work with, on or off the pitch, to shrink their aspirations to fit their current circumstances.

Respect the detail of the game
Cricket is gloriously intricate, and young players deserve a coach who honours that complexity.

There is nuance in everything – from angles and footwork to wrist position and tempo. Even the weather gets a say, as I’m sure anyone who has attempted to explain Duckworth-Lewis to a confused group of pre-teens during a rain delay will appreciate!

You cannot bluff your way through cricket coaching. The girls will spot it instantly and will happily remind you of your misstep for the rest of the session, as I found out to my detriment during the early days!

If I ask a bowler to adjust her seam position to gain more control, I must be able to explain why it matters. If we are defending a tight total in the final over, I need to have thought carefully about field placement, match temperament and who is ready for that moment.

Preparation earns trust. When the girls know that I have considered the fine margins, they are more willing to focus on theirs.

Turn setbacks into strength
It was the former Sri Lankan cricketer and now Dorset resident, Kumar Sangakkara, who said: “Nobody can be perfect in cricket. Everybody makes mistakes. It is important to learn from your mistakes and correct them.”

This is the mindset I try to instil in the young people I coach. Errors are not a sign of failure; they are an opportunity for growth. Admittedly, this isn’t always easy to articulate in the immediate aftermath of a painful dismissal or a dropped catch. Consoling a tearful 12-year-old who feels she has cost her team the game requires patience and perspective.

The true measure of character is not found in avoiding setbacks but in the response that follows them – a lesson that cricket offers both repeatedly and generously!

Last year, my U13 young ladies played in the Vitality Cup T20 National Semifinal. They sadly lost that game and missed out on the opportunity to play at Lord’s in the final. It was a hard knock, but I really do believe that learning from losing makes you stronger. Bring on this year’s tournament!

So there they are.

Those are just some of the lessons I have taken to heart from the past few years as a cricket coach. I continue to learn them every week, usually from girls half my height and twice as honest.

And it just so happens that those same lessons tend to be the foundations of effective leadership and resilient organisations too…