AN educational resource, designed and developed by a Worcester-based company is to be rolled out to cricket coaches and school teachers nationwide as part of a major new initiative.

Originally developed eight years ago by Tacklesport (Consultancy) Ltd for the English Cricket Board (ECB) to use across secondary schools in England and Wales, Howzat! has been upgraded and redesigned by the company to tie in with the launch of the new national curriculum.

More than 1,300 copies of the resource have already been circulated to qualified cricket coaches working within the Cricket Foundation’s Chance To Shine programme. Ultimately it will offer teachers and coaches a combination of 670,000 different games and practices to choose from.

Howzat! will be rolled out to 1,000 cricket coaches and 1,000 school teachers a year.

Speaking at the launch, Giles Clarke, ECB chairman, said: “The redesign and re-launch of Howzat! shows our unwavering commitment to producing quality cricket coaching in schools and meeting the needs of pupils and teachers.

“The legacy of Howzat! will be significant in aiding the production of both quality cricketers and healthy children over the coming years.”

Howzat! has been accredited by the Association of Physical Education. It underpins the Working in Schools training provided for qualified cricket coaches and cricket training for teachers to help ensure that cricket is fully integrated into the curriculum.

The resource is given to any teacher or coach who completes an entry level coaching course.

Andrew Cushing, managing director of Worcester-based Tacklesport, said: “This is a major step forward in our work with Governing Bodies of Sport. It signifies a determination by the ECB to move forward and to embrace a modern and updated approach to delivery of sport at all levels.

“It adds to our work with the Youth Sport Trust and other NGBs such as England Basketball and the Rugby Football League in providing multimedia resources that enable teachers and coaches to deliver sports teaching and coaching in an active, purposeful, enjoyable and safe way.”