Topic: Club Nets (Read 5828 times)

velvetsky01 · « **on:** January 08, 2020, 09:23:47 AM »

Hi Guys,

With clubs starting to get back to it with the start of winter nets - I was interested to know how do your club run club nets/training during the winter months.

Is it just a case of 2 or 3 lanes booked at a sports centre or cricket academy and everyone bowls and bats? Which is what my club have always done - however I am wanting to move away from this (hence this thread)

I am wanting to have abit more structure where the recognised batsman get longer to practice and bowlers take their practice seriously. As well as fielding drills. So just looking for ideas that may have worked for you all to keep everyone happy, engaged and attending! Or have you found that this is maybe more an individual thing (ie players taking control of their own practice in small groups on a seperate day - this is what I have done over the winter) and club nets are just where everyone gets a go.

Be interested to hear everyone's experiences

Buzz · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2020, 09:28:54 AM »

Bowlers like batting too...

SLA · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2020, 09:39:58 AM »

Quote from: velvetsky01 on January 08, 2020, 09:23:47 AM

Hi Guys,

With clubs starting to get back to it with the start of winter nets - I was interested to know how do your club run club nets/training during the winter months.

Is it just a case of 2 or 3 lanes booked at a sports centre or cricket academy and everyone bowls and bats? Which is what my club have always done - however I am wanting to move away from this (hence this thread)

I am wanting to have abit more structure where the recognised batsman get longer to practice and bowlers take their practice seriously. As well as fielding drills. So just looking for ideas that may have worked for you all to keep everyone happy, engaged and attending! Or have you found that this is maybe more an individual thing (ie players taking control of their own practice in small groups on a seperate day - this is what I have done over the winter) and club nets are just where everyone gets a go.

Be interested to hear everyone's experiences

In the past I've been in charge of player development across both 1st and 2nd XI and have run some sessions that were a bit different from normal nets.

Batting nets - limited to 6-8 people, 2 nets, with a bowling machine in one, and throwdowns in the other. Batsmen required to email ahead and identify what they want to work on so I can plan drills accordingly.

Bowling drills - no need for nets, just book any old sports hall. These worked well when each session had a theme - we had one on run-up and alignment through the crease, another on upper body mechanics, another on wrist position, seam position and variations. We split the groups into two and had them compete - who could hit a double set of stumps most times out of 12, who could land their balls in the tightest cluster, who could swing or spin the ball around the post. I made them do this once at the start then again at the end after I'd given them all some individual pointers - every group got better by at least 50%!

Also we found that a game of modified indoor cricket worked well for getting people thinking about shot placement, fielding and running before the season. We made it so there were no extra points for hitting the back wall - 1 run for hitting any wall and 2 runs for each completed run. People agreed that this was a really useful complement to normal nets.

jonny77 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2020, 09:40:43 AM »

We just have the traditional nets indoors until it's light enough. Even then our practice isn't great in terms of structure, so I generally have a dedicated net with a few others on another night if possible.

I think a lot of club practice could be improved, but it's difficult if like us you have 3 teams and everyone wants to bat.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2020, 09:45:11 AM »

Quote from: velvetsky01 on January 08, 2020, 09:23:47 AM

Hi Guys,

With clubs starting to get back to it with the start of winter nets - I was interested to know how do your club run club nets/training during the winter months.

Is it just a case of 2 or 3 lanes booked at a sports centre or cricket academy and everyone bowls and bats? Which is what my club have always done - however I am wanting to move away from this (hence this thread)

I am wanting to have abit more structure where the recognised batsman get longer to practice and bowlers take their practice seriously. As well as fielding drills. So just looking for ideas that may have worked for you all to keep everyone happy, engaged and attending! Or have you found that this is maybe more an individual thing (ie players taking control of their own practice in small groups on a seperate day - this is what I have done over the winter) and club nets are just where everyone gets a go.

Be interested to hear everyone's experiences

I'm not a bowler at all BUT.. LIke Buzz says.. Bowlers like batting too!! After all, it's the best part of the game.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2020, 09:49:30 AM »

5 Lanes

3 x Bowling Machines set to different shots for drilling. Batsmen removed from them if they start playing anything but the drilled shots. 2 Nets for standard Bowling where there are 'cones' set out and bowlers have to hit their cone. If they are 'fast' then they hit the red zone, if they are plod.. green... if they are spin.. blue (chalk lines drawn on the floor too). Batsmen told to basically not get out and any slogging/biffing and you're removed (unless it's their game as it is for a few lads.. they are allowed).. Why.. because just hitting on the up inside on flat decks that come in is literally zero use and it just pee's bowlers off and then we get the standard club net of bowlers bouncing players or just not really bothering and the whole point is then lost.

It's the only way we've found of nets not decending into bowlers bowling bouncers or simply not really trying and batters playing all these attacking shots that they simply can't really do outside (excluding on the odd road).

ch1p · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2020, 10:12:12 AM »

We typically have our senior nets on a Thursday - Three lanes: One with a spin mat for you guessed it the spinners, second lane is for seamers/ quick bowlers and the third lane is set up with a weekly challenge on the bowling machine or with the club captain who is coaching. (Just before Christmas was a spin week. So, off spin on the bowling machine, practicing a combination of defence with men around the bat simulated with cones and then playing it generally)

We then also have the fourth lane available if anybody wants something else - I have grown up as a keeper and as such never learnt the trade of bowling, so make myself available to give throwdowns or use the sidearm with people as they've given the time to bowl to me.

At my club we are very lucky to have our own four lane indoor centre so have access to that during the week when it is not in use by other clubs or individuals. This means we normally have a smaller group of us who have another session in the week. This is a bit more technical as the lads who attend are more into the game. Last night we had a bowling machine set up and myself with throwdowns and the sidearm working on specifically playing straight. Small group only 3 of us last night.

Once its light enough we'll go outside and start with 30 mins of fielding split into two groups and then either move inside to net or hopefully have an outdoor wicket prepared to practice on - not as often as we would all like though.

ch1p · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2020, 10:16:23 AM »

Quote from: RPC/Blueroom Cricket - Adie on January 08, 2020, 09:49:30 AM

5 Lanes

3 x Bowling Machines set to different shots for drilling. Batsmen removed from them if they start playing anything but the drilled shots. 2 Nets for standard Bowling where there are 'cones' set out and bowlers have to hit their cone. If they are 'fast' then they hit the red zone, if they are plod.. green... if they are spin.. blue (chalk lines drawn on the floor too). Batsmen told to basically not get out and any slogging/biffing and you're removed (unless it's their game as it is for a few lads.. they are allowed).. Why.. because just hitting on the up inside on flat decks that come in is literally zero use and it just pee's bowlers off and then we get the standard club net of bowlers bouncing players or just not really bothering and the whole point is then lost.

It's the only way we've found of nets not decending into bowlers bowling bouncers or simply not really trying and batters playing all these attacking shots that they simply can't really do outside (excluding on the odd road).

This sounds excellent. Is definitely one of the more annoying things when nets in the past have just transformed into short ball competitions and batsmen just trying to whack absolutely everything. Is it just a case of everyone knowing the score or do you need an "enforcer" to move them on should they start randomly swinging from the hip?

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2020, 10:23:39 AM »

Quote from: ch1p on January 08, 2020, 10:16:23 AM

This sounds excellent. Is definitely one of the more annoying things when nets in the past have just transformed into short ball competitions and batsmen just trying to whack absolutely everything. Is it just a case of everyone knowing the score or do you need an "enforcer" to move them on should they start randomly swinging from the hip?

We have someone in each bowling net as 'umpire'. They are a senior player so as soon as a batter (it's nearly always started by the batter sadly hitting out or playing their shots just because it's indoor and a road) start doing things they shouldn't they warn them.. after that you're removed from the net. On the machines the feeders regulate it and as everyone wants to bat people are hot on calling it out. If you want to 'train' such shots you go last on the day and then bowelrs can choose if they want to bowl at you. Generally the more non bowlers will but the main bowlers have no interest in it so it's a waste of their time.

It just stops it decending into a farce which sadly is my experience of nearly every single club net I've been to. Bowlers bouncing people endlessly or people just wanging it down and batters playing shots they simply never will more than the odd time all season. We do allow people the last 15 ish mins if they want to do those types of things but we find 95% of the people walk away

Psi · « **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2020, 11:03:35 AM »

Yes, I've seen various structures used. Mostly though our nets are just free range bowling at the batters. Most people are sensible and try to work on their game seriously. Noone has ever bowled a head height bouncer that I noticed.

Quite a fun drill is to have 2 batters in each net and include running between the wicket whenever they make decent contact. That way you get a slightly more match like feel and a fun variation.

One local club has separate nets for the different teams. While this makes sure that 5th teamers don't get bounced at 90mph it does mean that the lower squads don't practice against better bowling.

If you give more time to recognised batters it might be good to include also 'improving' batters as otherwise you may not get any new recognised batters...

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2020, 11:06:46 AM »

We had 2 loads of nets last winter. There was the usual Friday night 3 or 4 lanes, pay �5 to bowl for 50 minutes and face wides for 10 minutes each.

We then had "invite only" nets for the 1st/2nd XI. This was 5 lanes. There would be 1 batsman in one of the lanes with bowlers taking it in turns to have an over. The coach would then give the bowler and batsman a scenario so it was a constructive use of time, not just trying to smash everything as hard as possible!

The remaining 4 lanes were opened up and fielding circuits were done. The last 10/15 minutes everyone would go into the fielding lanes and we'd have a game of some sort so the session ended with a bit of fun.

edge · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2020, 12:26:04 PM »

In the past my club has mostly reserved 'proper' practice for coached sessions and left nets as just nets, having tried the odd more focused session and found it didn't really suit us - two team club with a net attendance that's usually a bit of a mix. Trying to find the balance between training and not taking it too seriously can be difficult - as much as Adie's system sounds like good practice I suspect I probably wouldn't last long.

We came to a good compromise last year which has since worked well - everyone bats in pairs, which I find helps you get a lot more out of nets as you can bat for half an hour rather than just 10/15 minutes, and have the time at the non-strikers end to think rather than just ball after ball. Rotate strike every 4 balls to keep it simple, batsmen keep each other in check - get out or play a particularly horrific shot then you change ends immediately. Then without getting daft about it we try and work the pairs/nets out so that everyone is getting appropriate practice - top order players will get at least a good period against a solid net of bowlers, that kind of thing. All in all it mostly works well to keep things from getting stale and deals with the wide variety of abilities we have without making a big deal about it. Then every few weeks we'll have a more targeted session to keep people focused - scenarios, batsmen rotating the strike v bowlers trying to dry them up, etc. Seems to strike a decent balance for us.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2020, 12:38:16 PM »

Quote from: edge on January 08, 2020, 12:26:04 PM

In the past my club has mostly reserved 'proper' practice for coached sessions and left nets as just nets, having tried the odd more focused session and found it didn't really suit us - two team club with a net attendance that's usually a bit of a mix. Trying to find the balance between training and not taking it too seriously can be difficult - as much as Adie's system sounds like good practice I suspect I probably wouldn't last long.

We came to a good compromise last year which has since worked well - everyone bats in pairs, which I find helps you get a lot more out of nets as you can bat for half an hour rather than just 10/15 minutes, and have the time at the non-strikers end to think rather than just ball after ball. Rotate strike every 4 balls to keep it simple, batsmen keep each other in check - get out or play a particularly horrific shot then you change ends immediately. Then without getting daft about it we try and work the pairs/nets out so that everyone is getting appropriate practice - top order players will get at least a good period against a solid net of bowlers, that kind of thing. All in all it mostly works well to keep things from getting stale and deals with the wide variety of abilities we have without making a big deal about it. Then every few weeks we'll have a more targeted session to keep people focused - scenarios, batsmen rotating the strike v bowlers trying to dry them up, etc. Seems to strike a decent balance for us.

I have to say this method we have whilst it seems better doesn't really improve players overly because a few net sessions just aren't really enough to do any genuine improvements.. It's still just balls faced really

AJ2014 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2020, 05:56:38 AM »

Quote from: RPC/Blueroom Cricket - Adie on January 08, 2020, 09:45:11 AM

I'm not a bowler at all BUT.. LIke Buzz says.. Bowlers like batting too!! After all, it's the best part of the game.

Don't know if all out bowlers will appreciate this statement

but I do like to bat too, as you said

but I don't have to bat every net.

Warneymonster · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2020, 09:53:24 AM »

anyone else bored of people bringing rock hard new balls to nets and bowling bumpers constantly on fast bouncy indoor nets? last week we had 3 guys all do it in the same net, didn't pitch a single ball up and wasted everyones time. they will be in for a shock when they bowl that length in the first game.

Author Topic: Club Nets (Read 5828 times)

velvetsky01

Club Nets

Buzz

Re: Club Nets

SLA

Re: Club Nets

jonny77

Re: Club Nets

ProCricketer1982

Re: Club Nets

ProCricketer1982

Re: Club Nets

ch1p

Re: Club Nets

ch1p

Re: Club Nets

ProCricketer1982

Re: Club Nets

Psi

Re: Club Nets

WalkingWicket37

Re: Club Nets

edge

Re: Club Nets

ProCricketer1982

Re: Club Nets

AJ2014

Re: Club Nets

Warneymonster

Re: Club Nets