Cricket Coaching and Mental Toughness:
Routines and rituals are essential to keeping your conscious mind quiet so that you can focus properly whilst you are waiting to play and during performance.
The routines and rituals allow your conscious mind to be occupied so that you can allow your subconscious mind to run on automatic pilot, without pre-occupying it with fearful or analytical thoughts.
Fearful and analytical thoughts create distraction and make it difficult to get into your optimal performance state.
This allows you to deliver your cricket skills without interference, here are some to help you with your game from Laurie Ward of “The Complete Cricketer Academy” – www.thecca.co.za
Individual Routines:
Batting:
Watch the game when waiting to go in. Not too closely but take in visual cues. Who are the strong/weak fielders. Does the bowler have an odd action?
Breath properly and relax your muscles.
Don’t rush padding up. Be prepared and settled.
Bounce the ball on your bat/have throw downs to focus eyes.Walk in positively to the centre (good body language)Look up at the sky (not the sun!) to adjust your eyes to the light.
Take guard and mark carefully.Take a good look around at the field set-avoid eye contact. Be aware of strong fielders and where gaps are.
Get into your pre-shot routine. Line up feet, grip, backlift. (This should be natural and automatic)
As bowler runs up, say verbal trigger (eg watch the ball)
At delivery stride focus closely on ball and watch from hand onto bat.After delivery “switch off” concentration but remain aware (fielders moving etc)Re-start crease management routine and switch back on.
Bowling:
Measure and mark your run-up before the game.
Mark both ends, not just your preferred end as the game situation may require you to change. Be aware of the ground conditions in your run-up.
Get a feel for match conditions; weather, wind, under-foot conditions.
Get a feel of the ball early on. Keep it clean and shine one side. Make all fielders aware which side is to be shined.Observe each batsman. Are there any tell-tale signs of shot preferences/weaknesses (eg grip/stance/etc)
Be happy with your field before bowling. Know your role for each spell.
Have a plan for each ball. Make it relevant to match situation. Make it part of an overall strategy to get wicket/slow run-rate.
Do not try unrehearsed deliveries in a match.Set yourself at your mark. Focus on intended target. Get balanced and mentally set. Mentally rehearse delivery and imagine positive result.
Fielding:Know your role.Use verbal/physical trigger for each delivery (eg touch hands together.)
Positive mindset in the field: Every ball is coming to you. Be prepared and balanced.
Encourage team-mates. Keep team focused and together.
Wicket Keeper:
Focus. Tap gloves (Trigger).
Encourage. Be the “centre” of the team.
Be the eyes for the captain. Help but don’t take over.
Get balanced and low as bowler begins run. Every ball coming through to you.
Call clearly to fielder for return. Which end. Bounce return etc.
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About Richard Pybus
I'm Richard Pybus, I've coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middlesex, Titans and the Cape Cobras in South Africa and the goal of this site is to help you to play winning cricket.