COACHING : 3C approach to Mental Toughness

1. Competitive

Mentally tough cricketers will find a way to win in most situations: They use bad breaks or bad luck as a driving force for harder work, increased determination or heightened focus.

Normal people use a bad break as a reason to give up.

Paul Collingwood is a great example of someone's competitive drive bringing the best performances out of him when under the biggest pressure.

Challenge our players about this by asking "What do you do when something goes wrong in your cricket?" Help them learn which choice to make that works for them.

2. Confident

"Every time I see myself stepping out on the golf course, I see myself as favourite". Tiger Woods

Does this translate into how your players feel at the end of your mark or walking out to bat?

If not, then using visualisation to create images in your mind of your successful performances, with the colours and sounds turned up will help to build your confidence ahead of performance.

Pelé - one of the greatest footballers of all time - used to lie on the floor in the changing room before every game. He would close his eyes picturing his finest moments making them as real and bright as possible. The only difference game on game was that he would scrub the opponents from those historical games out of the picture and substitute that days opponents into the mental DVD in his head.

Pelé would see his best performance destroying the upcoming opposition.

Now, that's great confidence prep!

How can we learn from Pelés' example?

3. Control

Ultimately, the biggest battle is not against the ball, nor our opponent. It is against ourselves. Those who manage themselves better often achieve more.

Nick Compton (Somerset and England batter) is a big advocate of being in charge of his emotions ahead of every innings and every ball that he faces. He has developed calming techniques that he uses ahead of batting and whilst in the middle.

His question to young players is

"are you (emotionally) ready to bat?"

I taught Graeme Smith very little in his time at Somerset, he taught me far more! Yet one of the things that his Somerset team worked on ahead of their T20 Cup winning year in 2005 was "belly breathing".

We focused on using this breathing technique to calm ourselves after a hard run 2 or 3 so that we could control the body and mind ahead of the next crucial delivery.

It worked a treat.

Teach your players to breathe into their stomach rather than chest cavity. Place your hand on your tummy so you can see it rise and fall. Notice what sensations you have running through your body, calmness and control are restored.

Belly breathing is a skill; the more you practice the better you will get at it and the quicker the effect in the middle when emotional and physical control is required.

 

 

If You Must Have A Net, Make It Accountable

Nets. Cuh.

 

It's a brilliant idea to practice in a net, but it's poorly done 66% of the time. If you are not getting better, what's the point of dragging your carcass to practice in the first place?

 

The problem is that when you are practising in a standard net there is nothing on the outcome. If you get out as a batsman you can just have another go. Where is the incentive to improve? It's the same for bowlers who get a shoeing from some hacker who wouldn't last 5 minutes in a match.

 

Yet, how many times have you gone to nets, had your bowl, had your few minutes in the net and finished with "12 needed off the last 6"?

 

You see, the difference between "having a hit" and working under pressure to improve your game is the difference between avoiding getting worse and improving.

 

It's really that dramatic to your game.

 

So, let's sort it out with one simple word.

 

Accountability

The place of nets

 

Even in these modern days of small sided games, middle practice, technical drills and so on, there is still a place for the humble net.

 

You just need to keep it there with the leash of accountability.

 

There are three basic reasons to have a traditional bowler vs. batter net:

 

    Improving shot selection (or, picking line and length)

    Cricket specific fitness

    Dealing with pressure

 

Your first job is to pick which horse to ride.

 

Simply by agreeing the reason for a net you will be ahead of 70% of your peers (at least). You just made your nets accountable.

 

Want to take it up another notch and hit the top 1% instead?

 

Tweak the sessions to match the goal.

Review, review, review

 

The underlying principle is to keep practice deliberate; in other words, to create a loop of practice, review, adapt, practice. This is proven to be the fastest way to learn new skills.

 

The big change from traditional netting is the need to review.

 

The good news is that you need to do very little to analyse your practice in nets. It simply takes a few minutes after each session to think about things.

 

For example, if you are using nets improve your shot selection, you can take a few moments when you get home that evening to journal how you did. Did watching the ball closely work better for you, or do you prefer to take in the whole picture?

 

Overtime you spot trends of what is working, and what you can discard. You have created your loop.

 

To go up another step, use PV/VIDEO to see how many balls you played correctly, and how many you misjudged. A coach is useful here, but you can easily do it yourself. Track this over time to watch your percentage shoot up.

 

Again, simple review is enough to make a difference to your game by transforming nets, but you can get even better by making the feedback even more instant and the practice even more accountable.

Nets for shot selection

 

We know from research into elite batsmen that facing bowlers improves your ability to quickly pick up line and length. So, nets are ideal.

 

As we already discussed, using video will allow you to set a benchmark. If you chose the right shot 22% the first net, aim to increase that number by the end of your 5th, 10th and so on.

 

Sometimes you will go backwards, but as long as the overall trend is up, you know you are on the right track.

 

There is little you need to change in the session, but things that will help are:

 

    Review your stance technique regularly to make sure you are still, balanced and with your eyes level.

    Ask bowlers to bowl in overs, to give your more time to pick up clues from the action without worrying about big variations in the ball (like a spinner and a fast bowler).

    Use match scenarios in your mind as this will influence the shot you play. At the death you might hit a length ball, in a long game you might defend. Stick to this for the whole session.

    Select shots based on your strengths. Save experimentation for throw downs or bowling machines and bring new methods to nets when you are confident.

    Experiment with where you look and what works for you.

 

After the session, review. I can't stress that enough!

Nets for fitness

 

You can use nets to improve your capacity to work and stay focused for longer periods, like you would in a match. This is difficult in the normal net situation as it is very different from game bowling or batting.

 

Once fitness is the goal you can make several changes to the structure of nets:

 

    Bowler's bowl in pairs in overs. Rotate out of the net and do some fielding drills between overs. Bowl for a little more than your usual spell then call it a day.

    Batsmen bat with running for longer periods than the usual 10 minutes. Aim to get at least half an hour (if not more) if you can. Then use running games, and BATEX to better simulate match specific running.

    Batsmen can also rotate in an out of the "fitness" nets in pairs, building in a consequence for losing a wicket. The waiting batsmen can do fitness drills in pads or technical drills.

    Try this setup.

 

Fitness requires less review time, but don't rely on magic happening by itself. Track your fitness with testing. This may be as simple as noticing you have more gas in the tank when playing games, or as complex as proper test protocols.

Nets for dealing with pressure

 

This is the biggie, because nets are so often a matter of going through the motions.

 

Pressure change all that.

 

It's best for batsmen who want to get work in while also understanding the pressure of losing your wicket. However, bowlers can equally benefit from understanding how to deal with a big hitting batsman or bowling the last over of the game with 5 needed to win.

 

You can add pressure in a number of ways:

 

    When you are out you are out. Or, use a points system to be a bit less severe.

    Put a wicketkeeper and perhaps a close fielder in the net (if there is room).

    Set match situations for the bowler and the batsmen. Use PitchVision to track results. To build up the pressure, only give a few seconds to think abut the scenario before the next ball is bowled.

    Keep league tables of net performances to grow competition between bowlers and batsmen.

    Change "last 6" to "intention 12"

 

Yet again, all this is for very little unless you review after the session.

 

How did you respond? How can you better learn to clear the mental noise? How do you get back to "ready" quickly?

 

Like picking pine and length, and fitness, mental toughness can be improved with the right focus in nets and with the right post training review.

 

Imagine finally making them useful and not hoping a quick net will do voodoo magic on your game.

 

If You Must Have A Net, Make It Accountable

Nets. Cuh.

 

It's a brilliant idea to practice in a net, but it's poorly done 66% of the time. If you are not getting better, what's the point of dragging your carcass to practice in the first place?

 

The problem is that when you are practising in a standard net there is nothing on the outcome. If you get out as a batsman you can just have another go. Where is the incentive to improve? It's the same for bowlers who get a shoeing from some hacker who wouldn't last 5 minutes in a match.

 

Yet, how many times have you gone to nets, had your bowl, had your few minutes in the net and finished with "12 needed off the last 6"?

 

You see, the difference between "having a hit" and working under pressure to improve your game is the difference between avoiding getting worse and improving.

 

It's really that dramatic to your game.

 

So, let's sort it out with one simple word.

 

Accountability

The place of nets

 

Even in these modern days of small sided games, middle practice, technical drills and so on, there is still a place for the humble net.

 

You just need to keep it there with the leash of accountability.

 

There are three basic reasons to have a traditional bowler vs. batter net:

 

    Improving shot selection (or, picking line and length)

    Cricket specific fitness

    Dealing with pressure

 

Your first job is to pick which horse to ride.

 

Simply by agreeing the reason for a net you will be ahead of 70% of your peers (at least). You just made your nets accountable.

 

Want to take it up another notch and hit the top 1% instead?

 

Tweak the sessions to match the goal.

Review, review, review

 

The underlying principle is to keep practice deliberate; in other words, to create a loop of practice, review, adapt, practice. This is proven to be the fastest way to learn new skills.

 

The big change from traditional netting is the need to review.

 

The good news is that you need to do very little to analyse your practice in nets. It simply takes a few minutes after each session to think about things.

 

For example, if you are using nets improve your shot selection, you can take a few moments when you get home that evening to journal how you did. Did watching the ball closely work better for you, or do you prefer to take in the whole picture?

 

Overtime you spot trends of what is working, and what you can discard. You have created your loop.

 

To go up another step, use PV/VIDEO to see how many balls you played correctly, and how many you misjudged. A coach is useful here, but you can easily do it yourself. Track this over time to watch your percentage shoot up.

 

Again, simple review is enough to make a difference to your game by transforming nets, but you can get even better by making the feedback even more instant and the practice even more accountable.

Nets for shot selection

 

We know from research into elite batsmen that facing bowlers improves your ability to quickly pick up line and length. So, nets are ideal.

 

As we already discussed, using video will allow you to set a benchmark. If you chose the right shot 22% the first net, aim to increase that number by the end of your 5th, 10th and so on.

 

Sometimes you will go backwards, but as long as the overall trend is up, you know you are on the right track.

 

There is little you need to change in the session, but things that will help are:

 

    Review your stance technique regularly to make sure you are still, balanced and with your eyes level.

    Ask bowlers to bowl in overs, to give your more time to pick up clues from the action without worrying about big variations in the ball (like a spinner and a fast bowler).

    Use match scenarios in your mind as this will influence the shot you play. At the death you might hit a length ball, in a long game you might defend. Stick to this for the whole session.

    Select shots based on your strengths. Save experimentation for throw downs or bowling machines and bring new methods to nets when you are confident.

    Experiment with where you look and what works for you.

 

After the session, review. I can't stress that enough!

Nets for fitness

 

You can use nets to improve your capacity to work and stay focused for longer periods, like you would in a match. This is difficult in the normal net situation as it is very different from game bowling or batting.

 

Once fitness is the goal you can make several changes to the structure of nets:

 

    Bowler's bowl in pairs in overs. Rotate out of the net and do some fielding drills between overs. Bowl for a little more than your usual spell then call it a day.

    Batsmen bat with running for longer periods than the usual 10 minutes. Aim to get at least half an hour (if not more) if you can. Then use running games, and BATEX to better simulate match specific running.

    Batsmen can also rotate in an out of the "fitness" nets in pairs, building in a consequence for losing a wicket. The waiting batsmen can do fitness drills in pads or technical drills.

    Try this setup.

 

Fitness requires less review time, but don't rely on magic happening by itself. Track your fitness with testing. This may be as simple as noticing you have more gas in the tank when playing games, or as complex as proper test protocols.

Nets for dealing with pressure

 

This is the biggie, because nets are so often a matter of going through the motions.

 

Pressure change all that.

 

It's best for batsmen who want to get work in while also understanding the pressure of losing your wicket. However, bowlers can equally benefit from understanding how to deal with a big hitting batsman or bowling the last over of the game with 5 needed to win.

 

You can add pressure in a number of ways:

 

    When you are out you are out. Or, use a points system to be a bit less severe.

    Put a wicketkeeper and perhaps a close fielder in the net (if there is room).

    Set match situations for the bowler and the batsmen. Use PitchVision to track results. To build up the pressure, only give a few seconds to think abut the scenario before the next ball is bowled.

    Keep league tables of net performances to grow competition between bowlers and batsmen.

    Change "last 6" to "intention 12"

 

Yet again, all this is for very little unless you review after the session.

 

How did you respond? How can you better learn to clear the mental noise? How do you get back to "ready" quickly?

 

Like picking pine and length, and fitness, mental toughness can be improved with the right focus in nets and with the right post training review.

 

Imagine finally making them useful and not hoping a quick net will do voodoo magic on your game.

 

Here's the Most Powerful Tool in Your Coaching Toolbox

Can the way you speak turn players into positive "doers"?

 

Attention to detail in the language we use as coaches is important as we strive for perfection. Not only is what we deliver vital, but also, how we choose to deliver it.

 

Simply, language will help cricketers achieve what you - and they - would like.

 

Here's a simple example.

 

Your star fast bowler is having a nightmare. Instead of taking wickets he is repeatedly firing the ball down the leg side. At break in play you get a moment to speak to him.

 

What do you say?

 

    "Don't bowl any more leg side wides."

 

Or how about:

 

    "Keep focusing on that off stump channel."

 

Simply by saying the same thing in two different ways, you can create a different mindset and outcome.

 

This applies to all cricket skills. Another example is in nets.

 

One of your batsmen unsuccessfully takes an almighty swing at the spinner. It's ugly, it's out of context, it reveals a lack of focus. it's so wrong you don't know where to start. So you say,

 

    "Come on, stop slogging."

 

We hear it all the time don’t we?

 

I know I have said it. I'm sure you have too. Ask yourself though, is it the right choice of words?

 

You could rephrase your advice,

 

"Try and be more selective next time. Get a little closer to the ball and keep your eyes on it through to contact to hold your shape next time you get a chance to take him on."

 

You're trying to achieve a positive outcome: Better shot selection, more accurate bowling, the list goes on.

 

So, use words that encompass what you want to achieve, not what you don't want happen.

 

I'm sure you're aware of the simple exercise where someone says, "don’t think of a pink elephant". What do you do? Of course, the first thing you think of is pink elephants.

 

Modern psychologists call this visualisation. We know this has influence success.

 

"Don't bowl any more leg side wides", immediately conjures up the image of the ball slipping past the batters pads and beyond leg stump.

 

"Keep focusing on that off stump channel", creates the more positive image of what we want to achieve.

 

Both sentences are alluding to the same principle, but one is likely to create imagery that is much more positive than the other.

 

How can you check yourself?

 

Try recording one of your sessions and assess your language. It's tough to watch yourself, but it's worthwhile to pick up on the language you use.

 

Do you reinforce positive themes throughout, or does an unintentional lack of positive words create negative imagery, all despite the best of intentions?

 

A simple change to how you speak can send your player's skills soaring. Certainly worth a try!

 

COACHING : Cricket Mental Training: Laws Of Mental Training

A little history first, when I first started studying cricket coaching I came across a wonderful book by Frank Dick called 'Sports Training Principles', I whole heartedly recommend it to cricket and sports coaches as a foundation study for coaching.

In Frank's book are the physical 'Laws of Training', in my search of Sports Psychology, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Sports Hypnosis for the answers to questions that the cricketer's minds would throw up, I realised that these 'Laws' are as applicable to the mind as they are to the body.

In fact, as there is no separation between the mind and the body, they are both extensions and expressions of the brain, this makes complete sense.

The Laws Of Mental Training

Points to Remember: The brain is a connection machine, it hard wires everything.

All brains are unique, no two are the same, they wire things in an individual, personal way.

The brain is a goal setting mechanism, it is designed to seek and achieve goals.

---

1.Specificity : The brain adapts to a specific stressor or stimulus, the stressor is where we place our attention mentally and physically, how long we place it there for (duration and frequency) and the type of emotion we attach to it.

e.g. Batter A has got out to the same bowler in the same way several times, by edging to the keeper.

He doesn't want it to happen again, yet he doesn't know how to not think about it.

He runs through the previous dismissals in his mind, over and over.

What he doesn't understand is that his subconscious mind doesn't know that he doesn't want it to happen again.

The subconscious mind doesn't know that the goal is to score runs against this bowler, the only information it is being fed is the previous negative performances.

His subconscious is wiring these negative experiences deeper and deeper into the brain.

This negative imagery, how to get out to this bowler, will run on automatic pilot next time he goes out to bat against this bowler.

Batter B has had the same problem against this bowler.

He though, chooses a new goal, he writes down what he wants to make happen. He designs a new, more effective strategy, makes minor technical adjustments and practices it.

He focuses on what he wants to make happen, rather than on what he doesn't want to happen.

He breaks this down into bite sized chunks, he then uses positive visualization and imagery and practices running this through in his mind.

He supplements this with simulating the strategy and technical changes in actual physical practice.

Double the focus of attention.

He does this twice a day.

---

2. Overload : As we pay more attention to the stressor, through focus and work (the thoughts and actions), the brain adapts relative to the heightening of the stressor.

For Batter A, he is paying attention to what he doesn't want to happen, he keeps runnning his negative visualization and imagery script.

In fact he is struggling to stop this negative 'mental movie' from running.

For Batter B, his 'overload' ( paying attention to specific thoughts) is running through his positive visualization and imagery script twice a day for ten minutes.

---

3. Adaptation :

Adapatation is the physical change that is made in the brain by paying attention to a stressor/ stimulus (a thought or a movement) on a regular basis.

This is called plasticity or neural plasticity, it is the plastic ability of the brain to re-wire itself.

This is a relatively recent discovery, the amazing thing is that it is not age related, the brain continues to create new wiring and programs so long as it is stimulated.

For cricketers, you can keep updating your game plans and learning for better performance throughout your careers.

This new wiring begins to show after 24 hours, the more the attention is focused on the stimulus/stressor the deeper the connections are made.

---

4 . Reversibility:

Reversibility happens when the amount of attention we pay to a thought is reduced over time.

The adaptation brought about by the training load (how often/ frequency) will gradually weaken as we pay less attention to it, this is known as neural pruning.

Keeping the brain fit and functioning optimally is a case of 'Use it or Lose it', the neural wiring needs to have its circuits fired regularly to keep them working effectively.

 

 

COACHING : What Kids Taught This Old Dog Over the Summer

Each year I undertake a review of the team performance; the effectiveness of the programme and my effectiveness as a coach. I think reviews are vital for the players and for myself if we are to develop.

So, what have I learnt this year?

Create opportunities for youngsters

The U18 National Finals day was played at the beautiful Arundel Castle ground. Spin bowlers have dominated proceedings in the last few finals days that have been held at the venue. There was a need for a 3rd spin option.

We gave a debut in the semi-final to a 14 year old off spinner.

This raised a few eyebrows amongst observers. Tom is a good bowler, yet his biggest asset is his maturity and ability to read a game of cricket. He is incredibly aware of what is going on around him. I had every faith in him to perform.

Tom took 5-20 in the semi to secure a place in the final.

Even though we ended up losing the final to an excellent Woodhouse Grove School team, the experience galvanised my view on creating opportunity and helped build another stepping stone on Tom's promising development path.

Opportunity knocked for Tom and he took it with both hands.

Perception trumps reality

The first half of the season was tricky. We lost a load of matches in a row. Most worryingly, we kept making the same mistakes.

During one game I asked a 15 year old - David Scott - to give me his views on why this was happening.

He spoke for about 15 minutes and kept stating that we were fearful of making mistakes, hesitant, and lacking confidence.

I asked him what I could do to shift our thinking and our performance.

'Scotty' told me that I should spend more time telling the individual players what they are doing right rather than what they were doing wrong. My perception told me that I was doing that anyway, but his reality challenged that perception.

I reflected on the feedback and decided to make a concerted effort to draw out more positives in our performances, to spend more time with each individual when doing this and to sustain this approach for 2 weeks.

I could then assess the subsequent results in terms of player behaviours, decision making and performance.

As a result of David's feedback the team started to make decisions more quickly and effectively, the runs started to flow, the spirit started to rise and the results started to turn. The team progressed through the National Cup rounds against some excellent teams and ended up at finals day.

When was the last time you asked a 15 year old his opinion on how you can get better as a coach?

David challenged my coaching in the same way as I challenge his cricket. I just hope that my influence on him is as strong as his influence on my performance this year.

 

 

FIELDING : Take More Catches

If you want to get better at catching, get random.

Catches can come any time in the field, so having a time set aside for catching during practice is less realistic for your attention skills.

So, build in more randomness by having the coach, captain or your batting buddy hit you a catch randomly throughout the session.

Of course it needs to be safe: So make sure your feeder has your full attention. But it could happen anytime. You might be bowling. Perhaps you are walking out of the net after a bat. Maybe you are doing a ground fielding drill.

This will hone your ability to quickly focus on a catch, even when you are thinking about other things.

Want a progression?

Do the same thing with unexpected situations. Instead of a catch, your feeder asks you "how do you change your approach if the bowler bowls a foot outside off stump with a 7-2 field?". Just as if you were in the middle on your own, you need to quickly come up with a solution.

Give it a go and let me know how it works!

 

 

BOWLING : Use a Coin to Stop Bowling No Balls

Want to stop bowling no balls?

It's a horrible problem because no one has sympathy for you. It's almost like people think you are doing it on purpose. The captain gives you the stink-eye every time and you feel terrible.

Worse, the more you think about it, the harder it gets to bowl well.

So, even when you do stay being the line, you bowl like a drain anyway.

Let's put an end to the pain. Today.

All you need a coin. You choose the amount.

Hit the target

I'm sure you know the phrase "bowling on a sixpence" to illustrate a very accurate bowler. In modern days the sixpence is gone, but you can still use the idea. It's just not the ball you need to land on the coin.

The method - first brought to light by coach John Harmer - involves you landing your foot on the coin.

Here is the process:

First, mark your run up as normal, placing a coin on the popping crease. Run in and aim to land your front foot on the coin.

It's difficult.

Second, move the coin to the bowling crease. Run up and try to land your back foot on the coin.

How much easier is that?

A lot.

Finally, take the coin away and focus on landing your back foot level with the stumps (the same place as the coin was).

You will find it easier to judge yet your front foot does not cross the line.

Cement the skill

Now you have a reliable method, you need to make it second nature. That is because in the heat of a game you have a lot more to think about than where your back foot lands.

You need the new method to become automatic "muscle memory".

So, every time you bowl in nets, make sure you are bowling legal deliveries.

• Outdoor nets, mark and come off your full run up.
• Indoor nets, use a single shortened run up that is also marked. Always use the same one wherever you are.

Have a coach, or fellow player, monitor your foot and track your results over time. If you see the no balls dropping away with no reduction in pace, line or length, you are onto a good thing. Keep going until it's second nature (it might take 30 or more net sessions so stay patient).

If it helps, give yourself an external incentive: If you bowl a no ball, do some press ups. If you go a whole session without an infraction, buy yourself some new bowling boots. However, bear in mind that you won't have this in games so you need the muscle memory more than the motivation.

The coin is your start point, but the real goal of less no balls takes a little more work. It's worth it when you send the stumps cartwheeling and the umpire keeps that arm down.

 

 

How to Stop Young Players Leaving Cricket Forever

I'm sure you recognise this frustration.

You have a talented youngster. He starts missing training sessions. At first he still comes to matches, but more often he is injured, or has a migraine. After a while the parents stop returning your calls and texts altogether.

What's happening to these players? Can you put it down to the modern obsession with Xboxes and iPads and curse technology?

Perhaps.

But what if it's closer to home: The focus on results on the pitch?

For younger cricketers, the experience is about much more than runs, wickets and winners. And when you understand this context, you can easily adjust to retain more players in the game for longer.

That's the message from Dr. Martin Toms, Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching and University of Birmingham. When I caught up with Martin for a chat over Skype recently he revealed some of the things he had discovered about young players in cricket.

"There is a tendency for us to forget that cricket is not all about performance on the pitch, for young people it is all about experience in the environment, and the process of learning and engaging."

"The best clubs engage young people and attract them to come back week after week. Kids are very good at de-selecting things they do not enjoy or clubs that do not offer a good experience."

Playing vs. winning

For some, this is a hard pill to swallow.

Many coaches, senior players, and administrators are progressive in their approach, but many subscribe to the "it's the way I was brought up and it did me no harm" ideal. Winning is the priority. "participation" is code for being a tree-hugger and cricket is about results because we keep score.

But does it have to be a zero sum game?

Even the most woolly liberal involved in cricket agrees that competition is important. Even the most staunch win-at-all-costs coach agrees that the more people playing, the better. So, there is a balance to be had:

"Cricket is not about the results, but about the process of gaining the results. At every age the focus must be upon learning, development and enjoyment. If a team loses, the children lose interest and fall away from the game. If they are engaged in an environment that supports participation and development where the result is important then the kids will stay."

"Remember that if people drop out, they are unlikely to seek a cricket experience from anywhere ever again."

In other words, to keep kids you need to understand what motivates them; and not the club, the coach, or the Chairman.

Build a family club

All this talk of "engaging environments" sounds great, you might say, but what is the practical part, and how does a recreational team put these high-falutin' ideas into action?

There is no need to start singing kumbaya round the campfire, making the game easier or changing the coaching system. It's simpler than that.

Build a family club.

"Ensure there is a family environment or community where young players can develop social as well as cricketing skills. There is a key need for all the adults at a club to similarly engage in this process. As clubs are centrally to our sporting community, the more you can engage (in whatever way is possible at your club) the parents and young people in what goes on, the more likely they are to return and get involved in the club as they get older."

Here are some practical ways to do exactly that:

• Start a youth committee. Give them a voice that is heard throughout the club.
• Encourage parents to take a role in the club: Sponsor, umpire, score, mentor, committee, picking up a pint of milk. Most importantly, support the child.
• Focus on opportunity over numbers. Keep squads small and coach numbers high so everyone gets to play games and train in fun ways.
• Cross train. Give kids the opportunity to engage in other sports. Coach players in other activities, particularly hand-eye co-ordination related where talent transfer can occur. Remember that - regardless of the ability of the child - he or she needs to be coached and supported in a way that will allow them to choose whether they want to specialise in the game when they are in their mid teens.
• Use practice that involves games and engagement. Avoid net sessions where taking turns in an unreal situation causes boredom to all.

"If you understand what young people and their parents want - and match that to what you are offering - then that sense of empowerment is excellent."

It should become the ethos of the club to ensure you better understand young players, as well as understand the expectations of parents, coaches and the club. A positive environment is developed by understanding your ‘cast’ of coaches and club officials, as they are all characters involved in one dynamic family club. Imagine the club was your own family, and think about how you would go about trying to make a change to that dynamic family unit.

Reflect often

By going through a process of reflection you can achieve this family atmosphere.

"As top sports coaching academics point out: '10 year of coaching without reflection is 1 year of coaching repeated 10 times'. As an academic who set up and delivers on the Masters in Sports Coaching at the University of Birmingham, one of my greatest pleasures is to see how this one simple quote has had an effect on every coach I have spoken to."

One of the best examples Martin gave was a session held at a cricket club for all of the junior coaches.

They assessed each other and allowed everyone to work out the best person for each role. This worked magnificently, as they suddenly realised that people were only doing the job/age group that they were doing because they felt they ought to. Like a team, it is about identifying an individual's strengths and ensuring they are used as much as possible.

An excellent coach of 9 year olds may not make an excellent coach with the 16 year olds and vice versa. So a coach must identify where they see their own strengths.

And the last word, well, I will leave that to Martin:

"Developing cricketers is not significantly about technique or tactics, as much as attitude and opportunity within clubs. Obviously, junior cricket requires a level of coaching that means a young player can learn and improve, but the wider context of this is that it is the wider experience of the game and engagement with it that reflects ‘the good and the bad’ of the game."

"Ultimately the good club will retain young players and the bad club will lose them (and sadly they will probably be lost to the game). If we want to see the survival of the grass roots game in the future we must ensure we coach for the person first, the sport second and our club last."

How will these ideas change the way you are involved in cricket?

 

 

BATTING : How to Teach Beginner Cricketers to Play Straight

Picture the scene, you are coaching a group of keen 9-11 year old players.

You tell a 10 year old to drive, and you ask him to demonstrate the shot. He shadows it perfectly. Excellent.

You do some drills with a tennis ball and, with a little effort, he hits it back straight. Now we are talking!

You finish the session with a soft ball game: He swipes at the first half volley and tries to put it over square leg.

Sigh.

Back to the drawing board: If only they listened! If only you had more time! If only there more more coaches for one to one attention!

It's frustrating but you are not alone. It happens to every coach. It's your job to use your skills teach him or her to translate the shadow to the drill and finally to the open game situation. Remember; that's not easy and it's a test to your skill as a coach as well as the cricketer's ability to learn.

What's rewarding is when a kids does get it right. That makes all the pain worthwhile.

You are watching the match, your girl is batting and gets a half volley. Instead of hacking at it and getting out she executes a checked drive between the bowler and mid on. You smile to yourself and clap in satisfaction. It feels better than if you had hit that ball yourself.

Here is how you can get much more of that warm feeling and much less of that frustrated one.

Groove drives in the warm up

Grooving is boring to kids because there is no competition. Yet it's also a very fast way to build up muscle memory.

So, find a balance and count grooving as part of the warm up.

Use tennis balls and partners and focus on one or two technical points. Hit a few balls and move on quickly. If you want to do a little more grooving work, you can transition into a challenge such as hitting a target area 10 times in a row.

 

How long you spend here will depend on the time you have and the tolerance of your beginners. However, 15 minutes for a warm up and grooving in an hour session has worked well for me.

Of course, repetition is good but you also never want to hear those dreaded words "oh, not this one again".

So, there are plenty of batting drills with a technical focus that you can use to prevent boredom: one hand drills, the flamingo drill, quick-fire batting and plenty more. (See Gary Palmer's work for more details of these drills.)

Make feeds realistic

As we know, technical muscle memory is only a third of batting skill. You also need to spot line and length and decide to play the drive. That means you need to help your players develop these elements right from the start as well.

The ideal way of doing this is for a bowler of the same age to deliver drivable balls. Which is impossible.

You can simulate bowling instead:

• Bowling machine (with shorter legs for younger players)
• Throwdowns/bowldowns from the coach or other reliable feeder

That way you can more balls in the right place to drive, but also factor in picking line and length. To also add shot selection you can throw in the odd ball that is not there for the drive.

Neither is perfect, but at least it gets the player thinking about the other two thirds of batting.

Focus here less on the process of the shot (high elbow, etc.) and more on the outcome such as where the ball went. It's in this part of the process that you can give players a little more room to work things out rather than copy "perfect" methods that might not work for them.

Reward straight shots in games

In a group setting, it's not easy to do realistic feeds to large numbers of players, so you can integrate the feeds into a small sided game where everyone else fields while waiting for a bat.

Then you can bias the games towards rewarding the drives. Here is an idea from coach Andrew Beaven:

"Play a game where the only scoring strokes allowed are in the V, and the players will start to adapt. Even if the bowling is a little wayward, batters will be encouraged to adjust their position at the crease (side-to-side) if they are to hit wider deliveries straight back past the bowler.

"Then move sway from the negative restriction ('you can only score if you hit straight') to positive reinforcement ('double runs for all straight hits' or 'boundaries only if you hit it past the bowler')."

Of course mistakes will be made, and a good idea is to track players scores over a few sessions to see improvements.

Most of all: Have fun!

This has been a dive into deep waters, but let's not forget beginners are motivated by having fun above all else. So keep it light, short and make sure everyone is moving as much as posisble.

For me a key way to do this is to not make driving a "technique" but an "outcome". In other words, let players see how straight shots work better in the long run, then help them learn when to play them so they can work out the rest themselves. If it's fun, it sticks.

It's a challenge to which most will rise if you have the patience and the fun elements.

 

 

Quick Tip: There are No "Typical" Conditions

England is all out green top seamers. India is all about spinning dust bowls. We know the story.

Except, how often is it true?

I know here UK that conditions vary a huge amount: May might be for seamers but July is for batsmen and August is for spinners.

Already this season I have played home games where the ball has seamed and swung everywhere but not got above the shins, while later in the year our reliable medium pacer is bowling bouncers.

So, there are no "typical" conditions.

Good players are capable of developing skills in all weathers and on all wickets. You have a role as a spinner on a featherbed, and you have a role as a batter on a pitch that's turning square.

Many players will use imperfect conditions as an excuse, but I say you should see it as a chance to shine when the odds are against you.

Because that is what good players do.

 

 

Take Singles to Spin Like Kohli with These Drills

Have you ever wondered how the best players of spin seem to score off almost every ball that they face?

Players such as AB DeVilliers, Virat Kohli and Hashim Amla rarely face two balls in a row unless they score a boundary. The board keeps ticking over with little or no risk.

The these players have mastered single options to never get tied down even against high quality spin.

Here are the things you can work on to up your rotation skills:

Single down the ground

This is a vital shot as most limited over cricket against spin is played with either one, or both straight men back on the fence. The ability to "beat the bowler" on either side is crucial.

Kohli has learnt that to beat the bowler on deliveries landing anywhere from back of a length to half volley.

Hitting straight singles drill

Many players set up drills where they strike the ball between two goals either side of the anticipated reach of the bowler. Simple use of cones will help to increase a batter's precision. As the skill develops, the goal can be made smaller and smaller to build confidence.

Remember, that the goal on the bowler's side of the wicket will be slightly smaller than the batters side. This is because excellent players of singles down the ground use the non-striker as a blocker to prevent the bowler from cutting the ball off.

To progress this drill, make note of the goal widths and the numbers of balls faced vs. the number of balls that go into each goal. This way, the practice is measurable and the data will support any player's confidence and competence development.

You can also change the thrower for a bowler. This way a bowler can practice fielding off of their own bowling as well as the batters developing their skills.

Single offside drop

This is a low risk option, which often causes the fielding side to argue and bicker when played regularly against them.

Michael Clarke is magnificent at this. He either plays forward with the intention of dead batting it just beyond the keeper's reach into the vacant space just in front of square on the off side or he pushes back off his left foot into leg stump and nudges the ball into the same area off the back foot.

The keeper and fielders all converge on the same ball and the batters complete a simple run.

To practice this, lay out 2 semi circles of cones on the off side of the stumps from the batting stumps end. One circle is 5 metres in radius, the larger one 8 metres in radius.

The intention of the drill is to hit deep cover and deep mid off with hard hit shots, yet when the ball goes into defensive lengths, the batter is asked to find a way of manoeuvring the ball into the "void" between the two circles.

If the ball is hit too hard and goes through both circles, then the fielders on the one have a chance of completing a run out. If the ball doesn’t reach the first circle, then the keeper will have a run out opportunity also.

Having control of pace off the bat is as important as being able to find a gap when rotating strike against spin.

As a progression, put a keeper in place and she can practice hunting the ball in these areas and throws at the stumps. The batters can practice calling, the judgement of a run and sprinting in competition with the keeper.

It's competitive and fun. Soon you will see your players taking these types of runs and completing keeper led run outs.

 

 

BATTING : Score More Runs With These 2 Tweaks to Nets

Runs are the currency we value the most. So how do we go about improving how many runs we can score?

There are two simple ways:

Either improve our ability to hit the ball with a range of shots, improve our ability to run, or both.

While the ratio and the necessity for developing batting skills to developing running fitness isn't 1:1, both deserve their own focus in training sessions.

The ability to run faster, turn faster, and run for longer, is something that gets included in many a junior session, but very rarely do you see this discipline make the transition into senior cricket. It's understandable: running shuttles is boring and a whole lot of hard work.

So let's look at the options of how we can make running fun again.

First of all I think it's key that your players understand the relationship between running and runs.

It seems obvious, but not it's obvious enough to get most people involving it in their routine! So, reinforcing the notion that the there are two elements to scoring; hitting the ball, and galloping between the wickets, reminds a few of a basic principle.

Once you have players bought into the idea, integrate a relevant running element into training that is enjoyable, and fits within the time frame.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

Isolated running

Set up a net scenario with a separate wicket nearby in a safe position away from the firing line (2 cones 20 yards apart will do). Have batsmen in pairs with one batting while the other is away from the net in the made up separate wicket.

While his partner has a hit, set up a running schedule for the non facing batsman to complete

• Easy: sprint 1, walk 1, sprint 2, walk 1, sprint 1
• Intermediate: sprint 1, walk 1, sprint 2, walk 1, sprint 2, walk 1, sprint 1
• Advanced: sprint 1, walk 1, sprint 2, walk 1, sprint 3, walk 1, sprint 2, walk 1, sprint 1

On completion of the running schedule the player gets his bat, swapping with the batsman who have been in the live net.

This can be repeated as many times as is realistic for duration of the session and the fitness level of the batsmen involved. You can make it competitive by timing the two players, with the winning earning and extra batting slot, while the loser has to repeat an extra course of running.

Results based running

Set up a net scenario with 2 batsmen. This time, rather than having a preset running schedule, the running done is based on the shots played. Shots are graded into different levels of execution:

• good contact, or a well judged leave allows the striking batsman to stay on strike
• poor contact results in a single being sprinted
• a play and miss, or half chance, results in a three being sprinted
• a wicket results in a 5 being ran

After each shot the coach can call the runs.

The benefit of runs being based on quality of contact - as opposed to projected runs scored - is that as time passes, players will realise that maintaining focus and playing match realistic shots is the priority rather than whacking the ball out of the park.

You can accompany the process with a run chase, ensuring that players still remain positive throughout, rather than going into their shell and playing negatively.

At the later stages of the season, nets are becoming a little stale for some, so take your team back to basics, think about what scoring runs means, and how they're gained, and look at employing a running plan into you nets