Fielding - Square of the Wicket (Offside)

DESCRIPTION

A Coach / Batsman sets up at the crease with fielders in the following positions

1. Keeper
2. Gully
3. Backward Point
4. Point
5. Cover Point
6. Cover

The ball is hit in the air 'through' the infield between gully and cover. The aim of the drill is to either catch the ball or stop the ball getting thruogh the infield.

Players should be walking in just before the feed. 

COACHING POINTS

Coaching Points for Low / Cover Catches –

For Cover catching it is important to ‘walk into the catch’ you do this by taking 4 – 5 paces then getting into a ‘set position’ – A good way to do this is to ‘jump’ a little and use the momentum of the jump make sure that you can spring left or right.

1. Feet should be comfortably placed approximately shoulder width apart (Maybe slightly wider).
2. Knees should be slightly bent… not so much that you are squatting but then low enough that you can spring to the left or to the right.
3. Your fingers should always be pointed either up or down with your little fingers (down) or thumbs and index fingers overlapping (up), the rest of your fingers should be spread out to cover the largest possible area.
4. Your Hands should be slightly out in front of your body so that you can bring the ball into your belly button after you have caught the ball (absorbing the pace of the ball).
5. Eyes and head should be level at all times (if the catch is coming straight at you) your eyes should always follow the ball even after first contact into your hands.
6. ALWAYS TRY AND USE 2 HANDS

Coaching Points for High Catches –

1. There are two main ways to take high catches the ‘English’ way (Fingers pointing ‘down’) and the ‘Australian’ way (Fingers pointing up)
2. The set up prior to the catch is very similar, the Feet should be comfortably placed approximately shoulder width apart (Maybe slightly wider).
3. It is more important that your knees be flexed for high catches because when you take the catch it is a good idea to absorb some of the pace off the ball by bending your knees on contact.
4. It is very important that you stand in the right place for these catches and get into position under the ball early so that you can then get into the correct position.
5. English (Fingers down method) – Your hands move up so they are in front of you chin, again the little fingers should be overlapped and your hands making the biggest target possible. As the ball comes down you let it go beyond the level of yours eyes and into your hands. You then absorb the pace of the ball by bringing your hands down into your chest.
6. Australian (Fingers up method) – Your hands are raised above your head so they are in line with the ball coming down (you should be able to see the ball through your hands), as the ball comes down and makes contact with your hands you absorb the pace of the ball by bringing your hands down to your shoulder as well as bending your knees.
7. Again you need to watch the ball constantly throughout the entire process
8. ALWAYS TRY AND USE 2 HANDS

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).