by Jordan Parker, Sport Quarterly contributor

While Reeze Telling was coaching the provincial cricket team, he realized what Nova Scotians were really missing was an introduction to the sport.

The Eastern Cricket Academy was birthed from his need to provide smaller camps for the public to learn about and continue playing the game Telling loved.

“I had been approached by parents many times about getting something together for youth to play cricket. Doing this academy will foster inclusion and provide opportunities for immigrants to come enjoy the sport they love,” he said.

“Individuals from South Africa, Australia, India, Bangladesh and more grew up playing cricket in the street, and with this academy they can share their connection through sport.”

Telling is from South Africa, but has been in the country for years. He consistently saw a gap and need for cricket to be developed in the area.

“Our next Canadian cricket star could be in Halifax, and the only way to know is to grow the game and make it stronger. This academy will create a pathway for kids to enjoy and get good at this game,” he said.

“There are vast youth cricketing academies in Toronto and B.C., and parents wanted me to start one in Halifax. I thought it was a really great idea. It’s been in the process since early October, and it’s really coming along.”

Right now, Telling is running the academy on his own, using his experience as a professional in the sport and as a coach.

“I’ll be lending my experience, and I’m a certified coach through Cricket Canada. But I can’t wait to grow the sport and bring volunteers and coaches in. No sport can run without them,” he said.

“There was a dire need to make this happen here. It become a space to develop a love of the sport. We don’t get money from the government and don’t have sponsors yet, but we are working on it. To do more here, I know we need more.”

The upcoming winter program, designed for smaller groups, is focused on teaching basic skills and fostering holistic development. Telling wants to bring people in, nurture their love of the game and bring players together.

“At the end of the day, smaller groups will help kids learn more. If you’re trying to teach a big group of kids, it’ll be more difficult to instill knowledge. I also only have so much time to teach, so we want to emphasize developing skill sets,” he said.

“We will have teams of 15-16 kids for this, and I’m really excited to help them practice and become better cricket players.”

Telling has seen how much sports can impact the lives of youth and wants cricket to do the same thing in Nova Scotia.

“I was able to reach new heights with this sport, and it’s always been an integral part of my life. It taught me personal development, team play, and leadership and sportsmanship,” he said.

“Passing on my knowledge and helping academy-goers to discover their love of the game and better themselves is important to me.”

The academy is set to start Jan. 13 and Telling is happy with the support he has received.

“The response has been huge and right now I have 15 to 20 kids registered. I’m hoping for 50 to go through this first winter program. Maybe we can also start a junior league in the summer if there’s interest. I’m also looking toward partnerships, sponsorships and more,” he said.

“I want an environment where we can enhance what we have and broaden our role in developing this sport. I am hoping to expand our reach, introduce more inclusive programming and further cement our role as a cornerstone for development of the sport in the province.”

To learn more about the academy, visit easterncricketacademy.ca.