An Hour of Professionalism Makes All the Difference to Your Cricket Club
This is a guest article from club cricketer Mat Savage
Never underestimate investment in time over money at club level.
Professional cricketers are becoming ever more professional in their approach to the game; and it is hard to ignore the commitment and drive given by the players and their coaches.
Amateur clubs don’t hold the budget to invest the training aids and coaches used by the pros; but most amateur players can afford to invest a little extra time developing their game.
As vice-captain of our 1st XI I wanted to impact on our off field commitments to the game, so over the past few weeks a handful of the youngsters in our firsts and myself have been using our nets and artificial wicket to warm up and drill some techniques for an hour before every game.
This youthful enthusiasm quickly rubbed off on some of the older players who now value these pre game sessions; and their performances now reflect their willingness to work.
Our structure for these sessions is simple; and the pure intention of them is to get our muscle memory in gear and iron out any technical issues we have noticed in our recent games.
The batsman work on particular shots in nets with throw downs, the bowlers bowl with full run ups to no batsman and then everyone works on fielding drills at the end.
This is no ECB Development camp. It’s is not about the level of ability of individuals; the levels the club plays at or even the physical act of warming up.
It’s about the simple idea that no matter what level you play at, only positives can come from player motivation to improve; and if one player’s motivation reflects into the whole team, then together that team has the foundation to progress.
So I urge you, if there is one thing your club adopts for the next season, it is to invest an hour before each game implementing these drills.
You will be rewarded.
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Comments
That's something we have introduced this year as well. We don't have permanent nets at our ground so we can't have a full practice, but we now ask people to arrive half an hour earlier than last year, and we split up and take it in turns doing focussed fielding drills - slip cradle, close catching, throwing at stumps, ground fielding, etc while the opposition arrive. Half of the time they're already mentally beaten before we've even tossed up!
Then when we find out if we're fielding, the bowlers go out with a couple of balls and bowl to each other (the spinners) or to the keeper (the quicks) on the strips next to the wicket. 6 -12 balls each is all it takes to make a big difference.
Exactly AB, you should see the faces of the opposition if you arrive at THEIR ground and begin warming up before they do!
Specialising into specific fielding areas help alot.
If you know who your slips, gully, cover fielders are you can use specific drills to watm them up.
We also do whole team warm ups before the toss, but it doesnt have the same impact as broke down specialisms.
Try adding pressure situations to each drill to improve performance.
For example we use a 'Mongs End' of the line for people who drop catches
Interesting article idea - going away from hitting the ball up for everyone to take turns in catching and going towards specialised stations...
Couldn't agree more with you Mat! I play for a local village side and we can't afford anything like nets or even slip cradles. However halfway through this season we were at a game too early so all decided to change and had a bit of a fielding session. It not only helped us with our actual fielding but team morale for that game and the rest of the season was increased.
These were all basic drills like throwing at the stumps or chasing the ball and throwing whilst turning, but it is something I am looking at continuing next season and hopefully for many seasons after that.
Not sure if this may be posted twice, but I can't see it above so Ill give it another go.
Yes, our club has decided that hitting the ball up in the air doesn't simulate how the ball travels in the game. Most catches in the deep are well hit and flat, or mistimes and aerial; rather than timed straight up.
We still use this drill, but do not concerntrate our time on it.
Our latest one is a bounce-back net set at 45 degrees to a corden. A feeder fires tha ball into the net and the 45 degree angle is perfect for 2nd slip around to point. Its the closest thing ive found to simulating a sliced/edged shot at power. (its my new fave)
It's never going to happen, but one thing I would like to see a lot more of is for cricketers to use baseball gloves to play catch and warm up their arms properly before games. Start 10 yards apart and gradually move back to 40 yards. The standard of throwing would improve so fast. Trying to throw the ball in flat from the boundary without properly warming up your arm is the quickest route to a dead elbow or something more dramatic like a torn rotator cuff.
I also am thinking of dividing the players at our club into specialist catchers, infielders or outfielders, and give them specific drills that I think would help their fielding. It might get them thinking about their fielding a little more, give them something to focus on and be proud of, and dramatically increase the overall standard and committment in the field as a result.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised if you do go for that AB.
Defining peoples' roles within the side will strengthen them individualy and overall your side.
Identifying people with good pace over the ground and good arms will save you valuable singles for balls hit past the in-field. People with agility and reactions will also save you boundaries if they can cut the ball off and may even lead to run outs.
Think rugby line-outs; everyone knows their role and what is expecated of them.
The thing is it never really happens like that during a game - one minute a guy can be fielding at point and the next ball a left-hander is on strike and he is dropped back to deep square leg.
But I might perhaps compromise: Everyone will be expected to be able to field in the ring - but then half will also focus on the close catching positions and the other half on boundary fielding.
With most league games starting @ 2pm even if you have to travel there is definitely time to do some team building warm up as you describe Matt. It never ceases to amaze me that some league cricketers simply turn up, smoke a fag and then go out to play. It's a bit like a bowler not marking his run up or a batsman not bothering to take any sort of guard these are fundamentals we were taught years ago when we all first started playing and are still very valid today. One other tip to look out for is most of the really good cricketing magazines eg Wisden or Spin regularly have articles devoted to training techniques that the pro's use - it might just be something as simple as how you stand at the crease or how you pick the bat up but these articles are typically written or contributed to by professional players so there is definitely a lot of merit in trying to learn from them.
Alan, I think you're right. The pros have obviously developed these drills for a reason.
I also think that these reluctant players would also get involved if they would just simply give it a go once.
Cricket dominates people's weekend, so they must love the game.; and drills/warming up is a fun part of the overall game, so Im sure if they would just give it a go theyt would also enjoy it
AB, specialising too much may also complicate things so I think your structure of half and half will able you to identify those areas of specialism you require.
Could you let us know how your team responds to this new premise?
I will. I persuaded everyone to end nets half an hour early last winter to do some fielding drills, and once we got to summer the jump in enthusiasm for fielding was incredible. Hopefully giving people more specific tasks will only increase this keenness for next season.
Normally, we do catches over varying distances - from 2 yards up to about 20 yards - ground fielding, throwing to the keeper, and throwing at the stumps. Because its a low narrow sports hall, we can't really do any high catches or outfielding until we go outside again.
I agree with MAtt about 'Roles'. At a certain level, men are pack-animals; and like a pack, they operate in perfect team work when everyone knows their role; and feel motivated about their performance even if the role is a small one as long as they know is 'theirs' to own and deliver.
I think the challenge for most clubs is to ensure the better players and captains leave room for fringe players to take ownership of something within in the team - whether a batting spot, a fielding postiion a bowling change, a job in warm ups, a job in on-field chatter.. something to make you feel you own something within the team.
Theres nothing worse than being a fringe player and being bounced down at 6-7-8-9 depending on which blow-in is playing that week, or being given 2 'charity' overs towards the end of the match when it doesnt matter and there's no meaning to the overs except 'giving you a turn'... its more demoralising long term than not getting a bat orbowl now and then - but knowing you have having a fixed spot for a fixed situation.
Roles mean that fielders work harder for the team longer and dont end up feeling theyre there making up the numbers so that the club 'stalwarts' can bat and bowl all day for their own pleasure. Really, the first thing a new captain should do is establish what roles exist and reassure people they still have them, and find out who is being marginalised without a role and bring them into the team circle.