As a summer sport, the thought of playing cricket in the winter months isn’t the most appealing. The days are short, wet and cold – certainly not ideal for play, but players have to find some way of training in-between seasons.
While elite players fly around the world, playing cricket in beautiful locations around the world all year round, the normal amateur player doesn’t have that same luxury. Outdoor training is pretty much out of the question, which is why many clubs and coaches offer indoor nets sessions where players can work on their batting and bowling technique.
Nets
Working in the nets, or “netting”, has long been a favoured means of winter cricket training. Not only does it allow for batter and bowlers to continue to train at full velocity, but it also means that they can continue to train with the hard ball (as per ECB guidance, all players aged 10 and under should play with a soft ball).
Nets offer a controlled indoor environment for players of all ages and abilities to hone their craft not just during the winter, but on any unforgiving day. Training in the nets also allows for coaches to offer a one-to-one session where they can give extra attention to a player, focusing on key aspects of their game.
However, training in the nets – as good as it is – can be somewhat restrictive and repetitive. It doesn’t replicate what the game truly looks like and that could put some players off. As a coach, keep this in mind as you need to ensure that your players, especially those at the younger end of the spectrum, are enjoying the sessions. If they aren’t having fun, they aren’t going to want to come back.
Indoor Cricket
There are two forms of indoor cricket that can be played, depending on the venue and equipment available to you. One with a soft ball and the other with a hard ball.
The main rules of the soft ball game include 16 overs per side with each pair batting for four overs and every player bowling for two overs. Five runs are deducted from the batting team’s score for every wicket. This is a fast-paced form of the game that is great for juniors and those new to the sport, lasting roughly 90 minutes.
Hard ball indoor cricket’s rules more closely resemble those of the traditional outdoor game, with some key variations. Each six-person side bats for 12 overs with players restricted to bowling for a maximum of three overs each. Should a team lose five wickets within their overs, the last batsman continues with the batter fifth out staying at the wicket in a non-striking capacity.
The benefits of both forms of indoor cricket are the fact that they allow for players to continue to play competitive cricket in some form, but also because they continue to develop their understanding of the game. While batting and bowling in the nets will help to develop technique, playing the game helps to develop their cricket brain (i.e. when to attempt a run and when to hold, when to look for a run-out and how to set the field etc…).
Other skills improved by playing indoor cricket include:
- Catching
- Throwing
- Running
- Calling
- Chasing and setting a target
- Wicketkeeping
- Reactions in the field
- Manipulating ball into gaps
Don’t Be Afraid to Play Other Sports
Even though your team/group is centred around playing cricket, that doesn’t mean that you can’t dabble at playing other sports. Junior players are likely to be playing multiple sports anyway, and, because of this, they will already be developing transferable skills that they can utilise in cricket and any other sport they participate in.
One key skill is teamwork which can be developed by playing any other team sport, such as football, basketball and more. Mixing sessions up and playing other sports is a great way of keeping players interested and engaged, especially young players, as winter cricket training can feel a little repetitive – especially with the prospect of playing proper games so far away at this time.
Before you completely brush this idea off, consider how many times you have seen images of professional teams playing football in training. It’s good for teamwork and communication, but it’s also great for morale and enjoyment. You don’t have to base an entire cricket session around playing another sport, and neither should you, but it can be utilised as a warm-up and/or arrival activity.
After playing, make sure to ask questions of players about what skills they use while playing the different sport that can be transferred to cricket. There will be a lot!
Recognise Achievements to Keep Players Engaged and Interested
During the winter, cricket season can feel a long way off and it is during these months when players are most likely to drop away and lose interest. With no games to look forward to, many players – whatever their age – find it hard to find the motivation to train.
This is why achievements and development should be recognised, giving players something to aim for. Sessions can include various competitions geared towards all positions, such as:
- Most runs
- Most wickets
- Most catches
With competitions running every session, and the prospect of taking home a small trophy at the end of the day, this helps to keep players interested and motivated during the winter. When the new season rolls around, your players will be ready to hit the ground running after a productive winter.
Take a Break
You should not, and cannot, expect your players to continue all year round. They need a break and when the weather is too cold and wet to play, this is an ideal time to mark out a few weeks away from cricket and allow your players time to rest and recover – physically and mentally.
Junior players, especially, should have the amount of cricket they play managed so as not to cause injury and other long-term issues. It may seem as though they can keep going and going and going, but they must be given time off during the off-season.
A short break also re-energises their passion for the game as they will come back eager. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and you will reap the benefits in your first session after time away.
Here at Fen Regis Trophies, we have supplied awards and trophies for over 40 years and have been privileged to supply many children’s cricket trophies during that time. For more information on the range of awards and trophies we can offer, please send us a message via the contact page or give us a call on 01945 588100.