Fielding - Throwing and Backing Up

DESCRIPTION

Players split up between 3 cones (at aproximately Extra Cover, Wide Mid On and Short Fine Leg)

1. Ball is rolled out from the coach towards extra cover, a under arm throw at the 'bowlers' stumps.

2. The front person at Wide Mid On backs up the underarm throw and throws the ball at the 'batsmans' stumps 

3. Short Fine Leg runs around to back up the throw before returning the ball to the coach.

COACHING POINTS

Coaching Points for Throwing Overarm and underarm –

We are only focusing on the throwing action in this section rather than the collection of the ball prior to the throw.

1. Body Position / Stance – You need to get into a nice LOW and BALANCED position
2. Feet Position – Feet Should be in line with your intended target
3. Front Arm / Elbow – You should at least line your front elbow up with your intended target or you can point your front finger at your target.
4. Throwing arm – Your hand should always be above you elbow when throwing; The movement of your arm should be at a high speed and be fluent throughout. Once you have released the ball you need to follow through with your throwing arm to beyond your front hip.  
5. Where to aim? – If you are going for a run out with a direct hit then you should always aim at the bottom of the middle stump. This is because it gives you the most amount of error where you still may hit the stumps. If you are throwing over the stumps then you are trying to hit the area directly above the stumps no more than around 2 feet over the stumps. 

Coaching Points for Picking the Ball Up –

There are 3 different types of ball pick up in cricket: One Handed, Two Handed and Long Barrier.

1. One / Two Handed Pick Up: The Approach – As you approach the ball you should be in a low and balanced position.
2. One Handed Pick Up: Foot Placement – for the one handed pick up the front foot should be next to the ball  
3. Two Handed Pick Up: Foot Placement – The front foot again should be next to the ball however is it very important that the BACK FOOT IS BEHIND YOUR HANDS, this is due to the two handed pick up being used to ‘harder’ hit shots and In positions where a miss field could lead to extra runs.
4. One / Two Handed Pick Up: Hand Positions – Both in one and two handed fingers should be pointed down at the point of pickup this is so there is a reduced chance of a miss field and also an injury.
5. The Long Barrier: Getting in Line – This is used when you have more time and there is no chance of a run out. For the long barrier it is important that you get in line with where the ball will be early (however do not go down until you are 100% sure you are behind the ball).
6. The Long Barrier: Body Position – You should be side on so that you have a large area to stop the ball. You should have your right foot forward with your left knee resting against the back of your right heel. THERE SHOULD BE NO GAP BETWEEN KNEE AND FOOT. You should pick the ball up in front of your knee (in the centre of your barrier).