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JOIN NOWTeaching a 9-year old to be braver when batting
Hi there. I need help coaching a 9 year old not to be scared of the ball. The kid has a sound technique but steps away while batting. Any Tips?
Nick Gall-TomassenAdministrator, England
ANSWERS
Neville YoungCoach, Australia
A lot of training with a softer ball. I seem to remember that at that age most kids were wary of being hit by a cricket ball. It`s only when you are confident in your shots and footwork that you should be introduced to a harder ball and delivered from children of similar age.
Not too many adults coped well with balls delivered from the height of Joel Garner and kids find it difficult to cope with the bounce of cricket ball thrown down by an adult. If you are using throwdowns to the kid, do it while you are in a kneeling position.
Get a heap of tennis balls (or similar soft balls) and replicate the deliveries that cause the child to step away and keep doing it until he can do it correctly every time, without stepping away. You can then introduce the harder ball.
Or wait for him to get older and bigger.
