Lack of coaching is one of the main reasons secondary school-leavers discontinue playing cricket.

Market research undertaken by New Zealand Cricket and presented in the annual report released today has revealed this fact and it is behind a significant push by NZC to lift the quantity and quality of coaches at all levels of the game.

NZC chairman Sir John Anderson said: "NZC is committed to producing highly-qualified and experienced coaches and providing a clear career path for those who harbour ambitions at first-class and national level.

"In practice, NZC is supportive of the six first-class coaching positions becoming full-time appointments and is moving to joint fund with major associations to establish these positions.

"A large number of coaches are already involved with national, zonal, regional and representative age-group teams during the summer season.

"Many see appointment to these teams as a stepping stone to higher honours.

"In response to demand a number of coaching workshops and coaching conferences were held across the country to provide these coaches with the 'tools' to progress to higher honours."

Numbers of coaches gaining certification during the year was significantly increased largely due to the introduction of three lower level introductory coaching courses through the MILO development programme.

More than 1000 parents and teachers completed the two-hour MILO have-a-go course which enabled them to lead the clinics in that scheme.

A further 494 completed a MILO Kiwi Cricket course designed for coaches at the next age-group level of seven and eight-year-olds playing Kiwi Cricket.

A third course for first-time coaches in the Getting Started in Cricket will be introduced this summer.

© CricInfo