She dedicates most of her Summer weekends to Bowral Cricket Club and does it happily in her own time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bowral juniors cricket coach, Jodi Cooper has a life entrenched in cricket and the passion for the game still burns as bright as it did when she was mates with some well-known cricketers in school.
"I went to school with Steve and Mark Waugh," Ms Cooper said.
"I mucked about with them on the oval, hitting a few balls through high school. I then followed their careers through state and then when they went on to play for Australia. The passion for cricket developed around the age of 10 when I was at school with those boys.
Read More: The Beryl Fitzgerald Cup results
Photos: Sports Gallery: May 18-19
"My two boys are cricketers, they play for Bowral Cricket Club and my husband also plays. So I really didn't have much choice (laughs)."
Ms Cooper is extremely proud of her club and as well as watching the kids she coaches, and has also has taken steps to advance her coaching.
"I've completed my level one coaching course," Ms Cooper said.
"I took on a young bunch of kids who hadn't played before and this year we won the grand final. I'm very dedicated to the club and the juniors."
Cooper does all this as a volunteer and the rewards are life-changing. "I love to watch the kids improve their game and forming friendships with the parents," Cooper said. "I've formed some great friendships and watching the kids play the game in the right spirit is very rewarding but the most rewarding part is watching them continually improve."