Topic: Tense/over eager playing too early (Read 9216 times)

cobweb1510 · « **on:** April 27, 2021, 04:55:10 PM »

Hi all,

My son Ollie played his first U13 game of the season tonight (he's 11). Kept wicket beautifully- which was a relief.

When batting (they bat in pairs for 4 overs) he was solid-6* never looking like he was going to get out against a decent attack. BUT he played and missed a number of balls outside off stump he was trying to cut/drive. The balls were safe to attack, but he miss timed them. I think he was a bit over anxious/excited and played at them too early.
He does feel/put himself under pressure because of a sense of responsibility to the older boys and not wanting to let the team down, so I think it's as much a mental issue as physical. He has no issues hitting my throw downs in the nets!

Any drills/tips for him to wait for the ball to get to him and play it later?

Jimbo · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2021, 05:00:07 PM »

Talking to yourself while you bat is a great tip I took from a Pietersen masterclass on Sky. I find I struggle outside off when I lead with my hands rather than my head. Worth watching the KP masterclass on "kissing the ball" as he explains it really well.

ppccopener · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2021, 05:08:42 PM »

You may get some differing views as we seem to have a wide range of practising on the forum, some conventional, some unconventional.

I think for this issue a good way of helping is practiceing letting the ball pass by from throw downs in the nets. This helps to know where your off stump is so you can judge. Some closer to off stump and some on off stump so a forward defence can be played.

I found this helps with judgement and confidence and helps get the back foot across and in line for defence and attacking outside off.

Some others will mention the head movement but I think myself the back foot across is needed to help get in line, many others think otherwise.

Take what you feel will best suit your lad and what he is comfortable with from the advice you get.

cobweb1510 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2021, 06:53:37 PM »

Thanks for the replies I'll watch the KP video and see if there are any lessons he can adopt. If I glue him to the chair he might sit and watch it with me!

ppccopener I might not have explained things very clearly. His shot selection was fine- anything getting close to off was defended or played with a straight bat. It was when he got a bit of width to "flash" at he was mis timing it. In the nets he is pretty reliable, and it looked to me that he was playing a bit early at them- which I put down to over eagerness/nerves. That said, I'm a non cricketer so it might be a technical issue I am unequipped to deal with.

My contribution to his development now seems to be throwing balls at him as hard as I can for an hour, and buying him kit

I love it!

brokenbat · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2021, 07:19:58 PM »

Outdoors is always a tad slower. It might simply be the fact that at 6*, he hadn�t spent enough time on the crease to adjust to the conditions. The lesson would be to watch the ball extra hard and/or delay certain shots till in ... though at that age I don�t think there is a point to limiting their range. Just watch the ball extra hard then.

AJ2014 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2021, 07:25:28 PM »

Think you need to let him enjoy his game! No need to force too much, he might lose his interest.
Above post is correct.

ppccopener · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2021, 08:27:22 PM »

Quote from: cobweb1510 on April 27, 2021, 06:53:37 PM

Thanks for the replies I'll watch the KP video and see if there are any lessons he can adopt. If I glue him to the chair he might sit and watch it with me!

ppccopener I might not have explained things very clearly. His shot selection was fine- anything getting close to off was defended or played with a straight bat. It was when he got a bit of width to "flash" at he was mis timing it. In the nets he is pretty reliable, and it looked to me that he was playing a bit early at them- which I put down to over eagerness/nerves. That said, I'm a non cricketer so it might be a technical issue I am unequipped to deal with.

My contribution to his development now seems to be throwing balls at him as hard as I can for an hour, and buying him kit
I love it!

No problem...so with the balls being left outside off it can help groove timing and the key which I possibly did not mention is watching the ball right onto the bat.

There are some players who turn their head almost as the ball passes, this is really useful for judging the ball.

As others have mentioned it's slower outside than nets normally so the ball does not come off at the same pace. The key is play it late and let it come onto the bat, watching and letting go balls outside off helps groove watching the ball. It also helps locate the off stump which is key if he wants to bat higher up the order when he is older.

As with all advice you have to try things and work out what he is comfortable with, something will click he can use in a game.

I have done a ECB coaching course as many others on here will have done but I'm mainly self taught, the basics of batting don't change much....it's a small practice routine to try or another option to look at.

At his age enjoyment is the most important part of the game, you can make a few suggestions, try them and one will work and he will absorb that into his game.

It's a technical game but none of us should be too heavy on technique, if your throwing balls down at him that is the most important thing, hitting lots of balls at his age really is key

cobweb1510 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2021, 08:53:59 PM »

Thanks everyone.

It's really tough when they get (on average) 2 overs to bat- not exactly a lot of time to bed in and get used to the bowling! I'll have a gentle word about watching the ball better. He was one of only 2 players in his side to not lose a wicket (which is -8 runs), and as he is younger he isn't as strong as the older boys so batting is harder for him. That said he did get a 4 with a beautiful pull shot so he is capable! I fully agree about the enjoyment factor- but hitting 4s is a lot more fun than playing and missing!

brokenbat · « **Reply #8 on:** April 27, 2021, 08:59:03 PM »

Quote from: cobweb1510 on April 27, 2021, 08:53:59 PM

Thanks everyone.

It's really tough when they get (on average) 2 overs to bat- not exactly a lot of time to bed in and get used to the bowling! I'll have a gentle word about watching the ball better. He was one of only 2 players in his side to not lose a wicket (which is -8 runs), and as he is younger he isn't as strong as the older boys so batting is harder for him. That said he did get a 4 with a beautiful pull shot so he is capable! I fully agree about the enjoyment factor- but hitting 4s is a lot more fun than playing and missing!

Maybe he�s a puller, not a cutter (like ponting and KP). Let him enjoy the game and he�ll find his feet.

Gurujames · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2021, 09:06:08 PM »

Sounds like he has great potential. Personally a big fan of pairs cricket as a large run deficit can quickly be overcome and what might look like an easy victory turn into a loss.
Try to ensure he is not trying to hit the ball too hard to compensate for a smaller physique than his teammates.

cobweb1510 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2021, 09:59:51 PM »

Quote from: brokenbat on April 27, 2021, 08:59:03 PM

Maybe he�s a puller, not a cutter (like ponting and KP). Let him enjoy the game and he�ll find his feet.

He loves playing on the leg side, but during lockdown #1 (the sunny one) we went down to the nets most days for up to an hour to get outside and practise (he got drafted into the U13s when he was 10 because he was prepared to wicket keep). We worked on a few simple shot choices for most balls- drives, block, cut and pull to give him a versatile choice without over complicating things (I was watching YouTube videos before the session to get an idea). He seems to have a good base to develop from now.

cobweb1510 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2021, 10:03:29 PM »

Quote from: Gurujames on April 27, 2021, 09:06:08 PM

Sounds like he has great potential. Personally a big fan of pairs cricket as a large run deficit can quickly be overcome and what might look like an easy victory turn into a loss.
Try to ensure he is not trying to hit the ball too hard to compensate for a smaller physique than his teammates.

He seems to be doing really well- he is getting 1-2-1 wicket keeper coaching which he loves. The club have put him forward for district trials. Got a message from one of the parents that a couple of the first teamers who were netting at the time of the match had commented on his 'keeping. I'm not a good judge though due to ignorance and bias. He should get a lot of cricket this year though- every match for U11s and U13s, which should help him.

InternalTraining · « **Reply #12 on:** April 27, 2021, 10:10:29 PM »

Quote from: cobweb1510 on April 27, 2021, 08:53:59 PM

... He was one of only 2 players in his side to not lose a wicket (which is -8 runs), and as he is younger he isn't as strong as the older boys so batting is harder for him. That said he did get a 4 with a beautiful pull shot so he is capable! I fully agree about the enjoyment factor- but hitting 4s is a lot more fun than playing and missing!

Ok...these could be useful clues...

It is possible that physically he is stronger for a pull shot v/s off-side or cut shots. To hit a solid cover drive or a square-cut, you need to be in a physically balanced and strong position. It took me a while to get one right, I still struggle with the other - my cover drive.

I am short. To hit a clean square cut, I have to judge the length early and get in position for clean contact. It is a bit of work because I don't have a lot of reach. Moving around in the crease helps quite a bit.

Hitting a clean cover drive is not always easy. I'd not worry about it much. He will get it right eventually. It takes time. I wouldn't any pressure on the kid.

My two cents.

brokenbat · « **Reply #13 on:** April 27, 2021, 11:55:01 PM »

Problem is shot selection. Which self respecting batsman would play a cut when you can easily switch-hit-pull the same ball?

AJ2014 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 28, 2021, 07:17:38 AM »

Last game, I missed like 3 or 4 very easy dabs through the slips, to a spinner, extremely annoying but can't do anything about it afterwards, tried to kept my composer...

Author Topic: Tense/over eager playing too early (Read 9216 times)

cobweb1510

Tense/over eager playing too early

Jimbo

Re: Tense/over eager playing too early

ppccopener

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cobweb1510

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brokenbat

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AJ2014

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ppccopener

Re: Tense/over eager playing too early

cobweb1510

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brokenbat

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Gurujames

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cobweb1510

Re: Tense/over eager playing too early

cobweb1510

Re: Tense/over eager playing too early

InternalTraining

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brokenbat

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AJ2014

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