COACHING : Science of Development 2

1. Science of Development In analysing the dismissal of a batsman, the reason for the dismissal falls into one of 4 categories.

1. Shot selection = Was the player concentrating? Did he play an appropriate shot to the delivery? Did he show sound and quick judgement? (This is the most common form of dismissal.

2. Shot execution = Was the shot properly executed? Was it executed with appropriate timing?

3. Technical Deficiency = Was there a gross motor skill error in shot production or shot preparation?

4. Quality of opponents skill execution = Did the batsman simply get a good ball?

By studying modes of dismissal, you may find a specific area needed for overall development of the player. It might be simply shot selection problem, that the player is not concentrating intensely on every ball. It might also be a problem with the execution of a particular shot. Sometimes it may just be that the opposition was too good or the batsman was unlucky but this is definitely the least common.

Once the coach has identified where the problems lie, he can then work with the athlete to improve this. The player himself is a great source of feedback, however the coach must realize that players often have a clouded perception of their own performance. So it is important to listen to the player’s opinion but be firm in what you perceive as areas of needed improvement.

How to design a drill

I strongly encourage all coaches to keep their own exercise book of various drills. When you attend coaching courses/sessions note the drills that you see for later reference. However good coaches design their own drills. When designing a drill answer the following questions;

What skill is the drill targeting & how?

What energy pathway is it using?

How long is the drill?

Designing a drill is very satisfying as a coach. Try to observe as many coaches as possible to give you new ideas about drills.