The popular project was staged at four venues during the third term vacation and attracted a record number of youngsters.

Over 40 players attended clinics hosted in Century City, Parklands College, Kenridge Primary School and Curro Hermanus.

The three-day programme which catered for junior and senior players focused on a myriad of coaching drills.

“We had two coaches at every venue and it was great to see experienced guys like Ryan Van Niekerk and Ryan Cook get involved as well,” GKC Coach Garreth Van Hoesselin said.

“A lot of boys were new to the programme and that is great as it introduces players to GKC and grows our talent pool,” he added.

The small numbers at each venue allowed coaches to pay individual attention and get the most out of the players in a short space of time.

“It really gave us the opportunity to work on attention to detail. We put them through some hand-eye coordination drills and also gave them time in the nets for bowling and batting practice,” Van Hoesselin said.

“The feedback from players and parents has been phenomenal. This is a project which is growing at a rapid rate and it is something we are looking forward to running again in December and January,” he concluded.

The post GKC Holiday Clinics Grow Talent Pool appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

It follows an exciting launch at the school recently which saw 65 youngsters between the ages of 8-13 receive free coaching and mentoring.

Gary and Peter Kirsten were among the coaches running drills with the kids encompassing all elements of the game.

“We worked with kids in their age groups, going through fundamental techniques in batting and bowling,” GKC Coach Garreth Van Hoesselin said.

“We also had two coaches running fielding stations. In addition we added games to create a fun atmosphere. That is what the engagement was about and the kids really enjoyed it,” he added.

The relationship will also see GKC mentoring coaches at the school.

“Our Coach the Coach programme sees us advise, run sessions and assist with knowledge behind the game,” Van Hoesselin said.

Going forward GKC will host private and group coaching as well as some Sunday matches and net sessions.

“There has already been a fantastic response. We have already run eight sessions and we are looking forward to building a solid relationship at the school,” he concluded.

The post GKC hub at Kenridge Primary School appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

Andrie Steyn is looking forward to making her tournament debut at the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup which gets underway in England and Wales next month.

The 20-year-old opening batter announced her arrival on the international scene at the recently concluded Quadrangular Series which also involved Ireland, Zimbabwe and heavyweights India.

Steyn who worked extensively with Gary Kirsten Cricket Head Coach, Ryan Cook before the series scored a mammoth 226 runs at an average of 45.2 over the five games in Potchefstroom.

It was a groundbreaking series for the Durban born youngster who put together a sparkling 117 against Ireland for her maiden century.

In addition she also scored a brilliant 83 against a top Indian bowling attacking.

“The hundred was really special as it was my first. It was also a bit of a relief to finally get there,” Steyn said.

“I did feel though that my 83 was just as important. It was a challenging knock and one that I am proud of,” Steyn added.

According to Steyn who now lives in Bellville in the Western Cape her work with Cook prior to the series was invaluable.

“Ryan helped with my batting skills and mental side of the game. We worked on efficient training so your body reacts in the correct way,” Steyn explained.

She continued, “We also focused on batting for longer periods of time and that paid off.”Cook who is currently working as a fielding coach for the SA A team ahead of their tour to England was full of praise for Steyn.

“Working with Andrie has been very rewarding, she is a willing learner and her humble nature has helped grow and improve her game,” Cook said.

The runs came at the perfect time for Steyn who now shifts her focus to the World Cup.

“It is a dream come true for me,” she said.

“I think we have a great bunch of players. We just have to keep believing. We must back ourselves, we know we have a good chance of winning it,” Steyn concluded.

Image Credit Cricket South Africa

The post Sensational Steyn ready for world stage appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

The awards which aim to celebrate the best work off the field in the business of sport and showcase everything that is great about the South African sport industry made contact with the GKF to submit an entry.

The foundation which was formed just four years ago has made tremendous strides in the development of the game in township communities of Khayelitsha in the Western Cape.

“We are very excited to be nominated for this prestigious award. It is an honour,” Gary Kirsten beamed.

“We are hoping that it will showcase the work that the GK Foundation is doing,” he added.

Over the years the GKF has worked on various projects from net installations, coach development for our township cricket development initiative and planning South Africa’s first complete artificial cricket field.

“Our coaches have put in an enormous amount of work on the ground. We believe that we can make a positive and long lasting impact in township communities,” Kirsten concluded.

The post Gary Kirsten Foundation Nominated for Major Sports Award appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

“What a great experience given to kids! I really enjoyed coaching Neil, William and Aiden and I hope they are better cricketers for it.” commented GKC coach Jarryd Phillips.

“We are excited to sign up new private coaching players due to the success of these free sessions and look forward to meeting all of the players that have not yet redeemed their vouchers. Parents are encouraged to contact GKC to redeem their vouchers,” said GKC coaching director Ryan van Niekerk.

“The Sportsmans Warehouse sessions have been great fun for me, it has given me the opportunity to test myself as a coach. It was really rewarding to be able to help the kids develop their games in a short space of time. I’ve really enjoyed the different personalities, and I feed off their energy and enthusiasm,” said coach Kholi Matikinca.

The post GKC partners with Sportsmans Warehouse appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

“We had a great turnout during December and January especially with our Curro Hermanus clinic,” GKC Coach, Garreth von Hoesslin said.

“The coaches delivered quality programs for the cricketers. The feedback from the parents, boys and girls was exceptional and we had a lot of kids return to our January clinics from December. The clinics are there for players to ask questions and find out more about the game and their ability,” he explained.

The GKC will host their next open camp during the March and April Holidays.

The post Exciting School Holiday Clinics appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

Six more players have joined the Ryan Cook led programme which offers exclusive interactions with Kirsten and other top coaches as well as one-on-ones with world renowned professionals from a variety of different backgrounds.

“The players come from around the world so some opted to go home for the festive season while others decided to stay and enjoy the fruits of Cape Town,” Cook said.

The new boys in the camp have hit the ground running and will join the rest of the group as the programme now shifts towards a focus on the shorter formats of the game.

Limited Overs Focus

“This cycle is predominantly aimed at the limited overs formats of the game in which the ability to upskill to the modern game’s pace and expertise is of paramount importance,” Cook explained.

The team have already played their first competitive match against Stellenbosch University at Coetzenburg.

The programme also focuses on life-skills. Cook says the aim is not to just have these players leave as better cricketers but also better people.

“The players have been treated to the sights and sounds of the world class city of Cape Town and have already been up Lions Head and De Villiers Dam as part of their ‘Mountain Madness’ physical training and life experience,” Cook explained.

They have also contributed to the Gary Kirsten Foundation by coaching in Khayalitsha during the High Performance sessions on a Friday.

“It is always an enriching experience to see how willing these young players are to give their time and expertise to those less fortunate than themselves, Cook said.

The programme draws to an ends on the 28 February.

The post High Performance Academy Enters Exciting Second Phase appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

All seven Sportsmans Warehouse shops across the Western Cape handed out GKC Coaching Session vouchers when a minimum of R1500 was spent on cricket equipment.

100 of these vouchers were on offer and we are pleased to announce that they were all snapped up within the first week of the promotion.

Coaching sessions have already begun at GKC facilities across the province.

It is a chance to connect and give opportunities to players who have not had private coaching before.

We are also currently running a competition where a lucky school can win a team coaching session with Gary Kirsten and his team.

Entries have been flowing in at a great rate and are still open for those hoping to get a piece of the action.

GKC Activation at Tygervalley Store

More than 100 cricket lovers turned up for GKC’s activation at Tygervalley.

Gary Kirsten himself was on hand to lead a Batfast, fielding and bowling coaching session.

Youngsters were also treated to a signing session with the former Proteas batsman and coach.

The post GKC and Sportsmans Warehouse Cricket Day appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

With a number of promising young players in the region, GKC ran two high intensity holiday clinics during December and January.

Under the guidance of GKC Coach, Bradley Moses, 30 players between the ages of 8-13 got their first taste of private cricket coaching.

With a dire lack of high performance coaching in the Overberg region in the Western Cape, GKC is looking forward to establishing a central hub at the school.

“We know that there is huge potential in the area. Our first two clinics created interest and introduced youngsters to professional coaching,” Ryan van Niekerk, GKC Coaching Director said.

The project will be managed by GKC coach, Garreth Von Hoesslin. While Moses, a former provincial cricketer and CSA Level 2 coach will mentor the youngsters.

“We cater for kids of all abilities. From beginners to more established players. We are confident that a lot of these youngsters can go on to play junior provincial cricket,” van Niekerk said.

Now that a relationship has been established, GKC plan on hosting many more clinics during the course of the year.

The post GKC and Curro Hermanus Strike Winning Partnership appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.

The post A WPCA school league win for the Gary Kirsten Foundation appeared first on Gary Kirsten Cricket.