(see c50016 & c50016b for more info)
Rules of the practice
1. Each player has 8-10 feeds, then all rotate clockwise.
2. Give groups 2-3 coaching points to work on.
3. Have about 3-4 rounds each (depending on time limit).
4. For the first round of 8-10 play every other shot with the top hand only (to show the importance of the top hand).
5. Make the last round competitive: try to survive all 8-10 feeds without getting out. If you're out, change round.
6. On the practice round, players get another feed if one goes wide. On the competitive round, have 8-10 feeds whether players leave the ball or play and miss.
7. If a player deliberately plays an attacking shot he loses that round of 8-10 feeds. (Be strict on this point - safety.)
Don't set up groups too close to one another - think safety! Coach positions himself where he can monitor all groups safely.
August is when seasons are decided, and most club games are lost chasing rather than setting. Give your batters a framework for the chase and you win the close ones.
Green July pitches and a shiny Dukes mean the ball is talking. Here is how to coach your batters to survive the moving ball, trust their defence, and cash in once the shine has gone.
A bowling change can dismantle a partnership, halt a run surge, or hand the match back to the batting side. This article explores how modern captains use match phases, matchup data, and rhythm signals to time their changes, with a practical framework coaches can use to develop tactical thinking in young captains at club and age-group level.