Heaven wants sports psychologist for senior men’s team

Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), says he will be looking to engage the services of a sports psychologist to work with the national senior team.

Heaven, who was re-elected on Thursday to serve a third term as head of the JCA, told The Sunday Gleaner that his administration would be taking steps to ensure that Jamaica becomes the most dominant cricketing nation in the region, and having a sports psychologist is one of the ways that they are planning to improve the team.

“Our players are physically fit and strong, but we need to balance that physical fitness with mental fitness as well, and so I am looking at the possibility of engaging a sports psychologist,” said Heaven.

“Maybe not on a full-time basis because affordability may be an issue, but someone to help us with the mental side of our game so that our players can be mentally ready and mentally alert to take on whatever challenges that are thrown at them,” said Heaven, who defeated Mark Neita 62-37 to retain his post at Thursday’s annual general meeting.

The veteran sports administrator added that getting the sports psychologist would be very high on his agenda at the association’s next board meeting.

“The game has changed and we have to look at ways and means to address the changes that are taking place over a period of time. I am making reference to the support system around them, the resources, and the personnel,” the JCA president said.