Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
As the summer winds down, and the preparation for 2011 starts, I'm trying to think what I can do better in terms of developing cricketers over the winter, particularly in terms of boosting their individual, independent knowledge of the game.
What I am contemplating is spending the next term putting together a little booklet (32 pages or so, I imagine) called "Essential Cricket", or something along those lines, covering the technical fundamentals and basics that every cricketer should know. I don't want to go into detail with wicketkeeping or bowling of any kind - the details I want to include are the things that everybody should expect to use during a match. I'd then like to add a few little bits of colour/interest/story that you would hope young players would know but usually don't e.g. the ten ways of getting out.
The purpose of this thread is to get suggestions for both sections - technical and general - so that I can plan and produce it between now and Christmas - we have an after-school "cricket club" at which I'll take some photographs of technical demonstrations this term, before giving the booklet out to my squads come January.
Technical
Batting: Stance
Batting: Grip and Backswing
Batting: Forward Defence
Batting: Front Foot Drive
Batting: Backing Up and Running
Fielding: Ready Positions / The Myth of Walking In
Fielding: Close Catching
Fielding: High Catching
Fielding: Attacking the Ball (underarm throw)
Fielding: Long Barrier
Fielding: Overarm Throw
Fielding: Backing Up
Fielding: Positions (not sure how to take this captaincy-wise yet)
General
Ten ways of getting out
Ten Test Nations
^ Really rather short of ideas on this section - mainly cause I've only just come up with it. Help!
What I am contemplating is spending the next term putting together a little booklet (32 pages or so, I imagine) called "Essential Cricket", or something along those lines, covering the technical fundamentals and basics that every cricketer should know. I don't want to go into detail with wicketkeeping or bowling of any kind - the details I want to include are the things that everybody should expect to use during a match. I'd then like to add a few little bits of colour/interest/story that you would hope young players would know but usually don't e.g. the ten ways of getting out.
The purpose of this thread is to get suggestions for both sections - technical and general - so that I can plan and produce it between now and Christmas - we have an after-school "cricket club" at which I'll take some photographs of technical demonstrations this term, before giving the booklet out to my squads come January.
Technical
Batting: Stance
Batting: Grip and Backswing
Batting: Forward Defence
Batting: Front Foot Drive
Batting: Backing Up and Running
Fielding: Ready Positions / The Myth of Walking In
Fielding: Close Catching
Fielding: High Catching
Fielding: Attacking the Ball (underarm throw)
Fielding: Long Barrier
Fielding: Overarm Throw
Fielding: Backing Up
Fielding: Positions (not sure how to take this captaincy-wise yet)
General
Ten ways of getting out
Ten Test Nations
^ Really rather short of ideas on this section - mainly cause I've only just come up with it. Help!