Devon's SKY Sports Young Coach of 2012, Frances Lausen, travelled to the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough to spend the day with a number of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s coaches. The Sky Sports Coach awards were launched in 2007 as a way of recognising people who have made a significant contribution to coaching and is run by the ECB Coaches Association. The Young Coach of the Year is awarded to coaches who are 25 or under. The National Winner will receive their Awards at the bienial ECBCA Conference at Warwick University in January.
The 18-year-old has been coaching for three years and recently completed her Level 2 coach qualification. She is currently the assistant coach of Tarka Girls. Tarka Girls, which was founded and is run by North Devon District Youth Association and Jan Witheridge, has played a significant role in promoting cricket for girls in North Devon. In June, the Under 11 side won the Lady Taverners U11 competition in Devon, and many girls have gone on to represent Devon at all age groups. Lausen – a left-handed batsman - first started playing for Hatherleigh Ladies when she was nine. Three years later she made her debut for Devon U13 Girls and since then has represented Devon at U15, U17 and senior levels. Frances is currently at Cardiff University studying Economics. |