Previous Coaching Tips

March 2010

Now the season has finished its a good time to go through a review of the season, evaluating your performance and identifying areas to develop for next season. Firstly, I recommend keeping a basic performance diary duriong the season, where you can record your stats, and note down any reasons for good or bad performance. This could include your focus on the day, preparation, game situation or an error you made in your batting (eg. premeditated a shot, shot selection, shot execution etc). If you did keep a diary look for any patterns. If you didnt keep one, get hold of your stats from your scorer or coach. Once you get your stats, look for any disparities in numbers between the different formats... i.e. 2-day games, 1-day games and T20. If there are any big difference in performance, try to evaluate why that would be. Think about your role in the team and how that may differ in various formats. Remember, the role you are given may not be always be your choice... you may not have had the opportunities you would have liked!

When doing reviews I like to identify strengths and weaknesses in the following areas:

  * Technical (eg bowling action, batting technique, throwing technique etc)
  * Tactical (playing spin, setting your own field, bowling variations, bowling to left handers, gapping the ball etc)
  * Mental (eg coping with pressure, confidence, gameplan, motivation etc)
  * Physical (eg aerobic fitness, speed, strength, agility, muscle balance, injury)

Commit these to paper, and then prioritise any weaknesses as areas to develop in the winter program, or preseason training. Remember to get advice from your coach, or an experienced player to help figure out an effective METHOD to develop these areas. Remember to reinforce the strengths you already have in your game by reinforcing it in the way you train or practice. Evaluate your progress during your training at how you are developing your areas that you have prioritised. If you are doing alot of fitness over the offseason, keep it interesting, by incorporating variety into your training.

January 2009

The use of a preliminary foot movement (or shuffle) by batsmen, can be a useful tool to get the body ready for quick movement under pressure. If the timing of the prelim' is done incorrectly, it can also present a number of problems for the batsman. I think the use of a prelim' is largely misunderstood by many players (and coaches!). A prelim movement can help players get ready for a quick movement once the ball is released, much like a tennis player getting ready to return a high-speed serve. Some research has indicated that most top-level players move their back foot first as part of, or the whole of their prelim' movement (back foot across, or back and across slightly towards off stump). The player will then press off that (repositioned) back foot to come forward, or push off the front foot and reposition the backfoot again in relation to the line of the ball to execute a backfoot shot. The other method often used by top players is to go back and across with the backfoot, and also then move the front foot also in the same manner, meaning a 1-2 movement where both feet are involved in the prelim'. Some players also use a forward press, whereby the front foot is the only foot to be moved forwards.

At this time of year, during preseaon, it is vital for any player to understand if they have a preliminary movement (be it natural or manufactured). The first thing to think about when considering a prelim' is WHY? It shouldnt be coached by default. Some players are more comfartable staying still, and reacting to the ball. This would seem the simplist approach. However, some players feel the need to use a prelim' to get tempo into their movement and to prepare to reaact quickly (especially to fast bowling).

Common Faults for a preliminary movement are:
  * Moving too late. You must finish the sequence of the prelim BEFORE the ball is released. Alastair Cook, the England opening batsmen is demonstrating this fault in the present series versus Sth Africa.
  * Moving too much. This can lead to being off-balance at the critical time. Kevin Pieterson moves alot but he is balanced and in a strong position at the critical moment.
  * Incorrect head position, being off balance. You must complete your prelim' in a balanced manner, able to move effiectively both forward and back.

Key Points:
  * I would recommend incorporating moving your back foot as the first or only part of the sequence
  * Make the prelim' as minimal movement as possible. Just enough to load up the muscles, ready to 'fire'.
  * Make sure you are still and balanced at the point of release
  * Practice it until it becomes natural, and automatic
  * Adjust your guard accordingly if necessary
  * Decide whether you are going to use the same prelim' if any against spin bowlers

January 2008

When playing spin bowling, it is important to have a game plan in place, and to have practiced this in the nets against a variety of spinners. When constructing a game plan, think about what strengths you possess as a batsman, for example: do you have quick footwork? do you possess strong horizontal bat strokes? are you good at deflecting the ball? From this you can probably come up with some obvious answers to what is your best method of scoring against spinners. I think its important to be able to use your feet to get to the pitch of the ball, AND also to know how to play the 'sweep' effectively. Then use the best option in a game depending on the spinner, and the pitch conditions. Both these shots will knock a spin bowler of their length, and put the pressure back on them, maybe creating some more boundary opportunities.

Some other considerations:
  * prioritise attack versus defense
  * look to turn the strike over
  * punish bad deliveries
  * be prepared to change your batting guard

November 2007

When facing the proposition of chasing down a large total in a 1-day match, it’s important to instil belief into the player’s mindset and emphasize a ‘cool head’ under pressure. Figure out, (with wickets in hand), what your batting line-up is capable of scoring in the final 10 overs, and then work backwards having a goal of where to be at 40 over mark. It’s important to have goals and targets to reach along the way, but they should be flexible, and don’t panic if you fall slightly behind.

Having quality right through your middle order certainly helps!

September 2007

At this time of the year, bowling workloads, particularly for fast bowlers should be a serious consideration for coaches and players. The coach’s aim should be to prepare their bowler(s) to be able to perform successfully during the season, both from a physical and skill perspective. This means monitoring a bowler’s workload ideally for at least 6-8 weeks before the season starts. The general rule is to start at a low intensity with a low volume of work, and to increase both the intensity and volume of work before the season starts. Start with a lower intensity by shortening the runup, and just going 60% effort in delivery stride. This is a good time to also focus on technical changes or refinement. It’s important to have a steady progressive approach, and to monitor any injury niggles that may occur. Talk to your athlete and get to know what makes them ‘tick’, listening for any concerns they may have.

August 2007

Developing a pre-ball batting routine

A pre-ball routine is a very effective way of creating an optimum level of concentration (or focus) for batting. Steve Waugh explains that he believes mental toughness for batting means being in the same mental state for each ball he faced, regardless of what happened the previous ball. Achieving this can be assisted by creating a pre-ball routine. Have the coach look at the mannerisms of the player between balls, and settle on something that is comfortable and meaningful to the player. Examples could incorporate any of the following: walking away - off the pitch, using key words/cues, remarking your guard, adjusting equipment. Controlling your breathing also helps, especially when you are nervous. Its up to the player whether they want to judge themselves or correct technique, the key is to relax between balls and have a 'clean slate' for the next ball. This enables you to focus on the critical factor at the right moment - the ball at the point of release. The same ideology can be used for bowlers.