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[DaanalSeed]

Hi,

I need some major help with my keeping. I'm finding that I drop the ball too often, that I miss the ball too often, and I miss the ball standing up to spinners, and I miss the ball because I moved where I thought the ball was going to go, not where it went.

http://mycricket.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/cricket/viewplayer.aspx?locx=PLY&playerID=258911&eID=499&entityID=499&seasonID=81

Go on this link, which is my personal stats page, to see what I'm talking about. I've played 5 games this season, all of them not so good on the keeping side.

The first game against Narre Warren, I didn't get any edges or anything, so no dismissals isn't a gripe. It's the extras I let through. 13 byes in that game.

Next game against Lyndale, I had a good game. Took a couple of catches, and let through only 5 byes.

Next game against Lyndale again, I got 1 dismissal, and I let through 11 byes, which is way too much.

Next game against Narre South, I let through 3 byes because the outfield was really slow, and they hit a 4, but it was counted as byes. I also dropped a 30 mph ball that was coming straight at my navel, and was a perfectly straightforward catch for anyone else.

Next game against Berwick Springs, I let through 10 byes, with no dismissals.

Gah! My keeping needs serious work. My coach says I don't move my feet, and that I snatch at the ball. Problem is, I can't move the first one because I don't consciously move my feet. Second is a bad habit that's been ingrained. I don't snatch at the ball when I'm fielding everywhere else, but with gloves on, I do.

Next problem is my batting. As you can see, I've gotten starts in every game, but I've gotten out due to a lapse in concentration, or something stupid.

The first game against Lyndale, I scored 16, and then a bowler with a weird action came on and I was bowled through the gate.

Next game against Lyndale, I scored 19, but then I drove at a half volley well outside off stump, and I edged it back onto my stumps.

Next game against Narre South, I should of scored 30-odd, but the outfield was really slow, so I got nothing for my shots. Only scored 9. I kept hitting the ball in the air, and after 7 chances, I top edged a spinner to first slip after trying to pull a short one for four.

Next game against Berwick Springs, I scored 19 again, and I played really well, hitting fours straight down the ground at a rather big ground. Then, trying to hit the bowler over his head for six, I got caught at deep mid on.

What's my problem?

Thanks

[Vitas Cricket]

Hard to advise you beyond the basics (stay low, try to take the ball in line with you eyes and not to the side of your body etc) without seeing some video.

[DaanalSeed]

I'll get some video up maybe next week, my camera is getting it's sensor cleaned.

[wilkie113]

My motto when keeping is, if you don't catch it wear it, and the times I kept last year testified to that, I was covered in bruises after some games lol

[Vitas Cricket]

Just read the edited version of your post.

Footwork wise, there are some simple drills you can do to work on footwork. Your coach sounds like a typical useless plank, he's telling you what you're doing wrong but not helping you fix it, anyone can pick holes in someone's technique, doesn't make them a coach.

Ask him to do some footwork drills with you. Even just some side to side stuff, making you start on the offside while he throws them down leg to get you moving, and vice versa, that will be a start. You can progress by adding a batsman or another object to simulate the loss of vision of the ball as you transfer behind the stumps

[smokem]

I agree with Vitas, you need to get more value out of your coach. Get him to work closely with you on your keeping technique and run some drills. And if that's not working and it's bugging you that much, find a better coach to work on your keeping.

In terms of batting, it sounds like you know how to bat. But you are just getting a little impatient and losing your concentration in the process. Just keep it simple - focus on watching the ball out of the bowler's hand and don't try and over hit the ball if the opportunity comes.

[DaanalSeed]

He's not my personal coach, he's the club coach, who used to play for the club, and then volunteered to keep going with coaching.

[smokem]

Yeh I realise that mate. When I said "find a better coach", I meant a private coach if your club coach can't help you with your keeping.

[Tail Ender]

Is your club affiliated with a senior club mate? My club is, and we often have junior guys at senior training, with some of the better senior guys offering them tips and what not. That often involves the keepers working together and the olders ones giving the younger guys advice.

[DaanalSeed]

Yeah, we're one big club. However, I don't think my team would let me train with the seniors, considering that I'm in the 3rds, and as such the request would just make me sound (in their eyes) as if I thought I was above the rest of the team. I do occasionally train with the 1sts keeper, as he's a great mate of mine.

Plus, I'm the Vice Captain, so when the skipper organises strategies and such, I'm keeping the rest of the team in check. I don't think that leaving the team at training would be the best idea for the team.

[Tail Ender]

If you're really keen mate, why don't you talk to some of the senior keepers? I highly doubt any older player would turn down the chance to give a younger guy advice if they actively sought it out. Worth a shot.

[Simmy]

sounds like ur reactions are very slow to me? even if your feet are not in the right position u should still be able to catch or stop the ball?

i used to stand in front of a brick wall get a hand to throw a tenis ball at the wall at diff angles and move ur feet etc and catch it.. used to do this for about 15 mins at a time. good for hand eye coordination and good to learn to soften your hands when taking the ball as tennis balls bounce back out of ur hands

[charlie15]

Plus, I'm the Vice Captain, so when the skipper organises strategies and such, I'm keeping the rest of the team in check. I don't think that leaving the team at training would be the best idea for the team.

Surely if you're Vice Captain if you explain your reasons for wanting to train with the 1/2's will only show that your taking responsibilities seriously?

I know from my own performances last season I let my team down with the bat, whether I was Captain or Vice Captain, to the extent that I was questioning my place in the team (and at one point whether I should quit altogether).  This year I'm forking out for some 121 tuition and have started back at the gym in order to help my game, whether it'll help or not time will tell!

[Bruce]

To me (a very part time keeper), If you are getting the gloves onto the ball, but still dropping it then it sounds that you are snatching at the ball, ie, going to grab at the ball when its on it's way to you. This is what I do some of the time.

I'm a firm believer in that you are born a keeper, be it football (soccer to you lot  ) or cricket.
 Is keeping new to you? How long have you been doing it for

[ammo]

I'm not much older than you are but i do some coaching for even younger players. A drill that is really good for keeping training (that you can do in nets) is placing a set of stumps 3/4 of the way down the pitch and standing a metre or 2 in front of the batting crease then get a lowish bouncing tennis ball and getting a training partner/perent/coach to serve/hit the ball to you (with a tennis raquet any raquet will do). THe club senior teams are usually really friendly ask your coach or a parent of someone in your team that plays for the senior team and go along to their training, you probably won't get much proper keeping training but the amount of knowledge they have is rediculous they can gove you some tips and help you out with your batting.
You seem really keen, just stick to it and keep on trying