All this rain has made me realise what a sad, empty life I must have. With hardly any cricket being played, I am feeling lost. I'm hardly getting any coaching done and matches that I should have been running for the Herts East Area boys have all been cancelled (bar one, which was a fairly miserable affair).
The schools coaching I do has virtually all been done indoors, in small halls, with foam balls being crashed around by up to thirty youngsters all very frustrated at not being able to get outside and play some proper cricket.
The one light on the horizon was the local girls kwik cricket tournament that was run at Hertford CC. Five schools entered teams, four of which I'd been into to provide some coaching. Fortunately the sun shone and there were some very close matches. The standard of cricket was varied but overall I understand it was much improved over previous years. Hopefully some of that was down to the work I put in. Later this week I will be selecting a squad for the local area for the Girls Kwik Cricket team for the Herts Youth Games, which is taking place in Hatfield on the day the Olympic Torch comes through the town. I'm looking forward to the day as a whole, whatever the result for our squad.
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Rain Doesn't Stop Play
Here in my little corner of England, as in many other parts, we have a hosepipe ban. We are officially in drought and it must be the wettest drought on record. Cricket clubs in the area have been refused dispensation to water their squares but right at this moment it seems a cruel irony that we ever thought a lack of water would be a problem.
My schools coaching work has mainly been pushed into small school halls, designed for assemblies or gymnastics, or dancing but certainly not for 30 to 50 enthusiastic 10 year olds wanting to bash a ball around with a cricket bat. Adapting to circumstances is the name of the game and so far we've managed to cope in most cases but cricket really needs a bit of space if you're going to keep more than 20 youngsters engaged.
Meanwhile my coaching role with Redbourn's Under13 team got off to the best possible start when we had a downpour of sunshine for our first fixture, allowing it to be played. This extremely talented bunch of cricketers bowled out the opposition for just 25 and knocked off the runs in six overs without losing a wicket. Stronger opposition will follow but this team has strength all the way through and I am excited to be working with them. They're keen too. Last week they all turned up for training even though it was raining. Lots of fielding was the order of the day, diving, sliding, catching (soft balls) off the Katchet and generally getting thoroughly filthy. I don't suppose the mums were too impressed by the state of the clothes that needed cleaning but the enthusiasm and commitment was fantastic. It's that sort of attitude that reminds me why I do this job, even when the rain's bucketing down.
My schools coaching work has mainly been pushed into small school halls, designed for assemblies or gymnastics, or dancing but certainly not for 30 to 50 enthusiastic 10 year olds wanting to bash a ball around with a cricket bat. Adapting to circumstances is the name of the game and so far we've managed to cope in most cases but cricket really needs a bit of space if you're going to keep more than 20 youngsters engaged.
Meanwhile my coaching role with Redbourn's Under13 team got off to the best possible start when we had a downpour of sunshine for our first fixture, allowing it to be played. This extremely talented bunch of cricketers bowled out the opposition for just 25 and knocked off the runs in six overs without losing a wicket. Stronger opposition will follow but this team has strength all the way through and I am excited to be working with them. They're keen too. Last week they all turned up for training even though it was raining. Lots of fielding was the order of the day, diving, sliding, catching (soft balls) off the Katchet and generally getting thoroughly filthy. I don't suppose the mums were too impressed by the state of the clothes that needed cleaning but the enthusiasm and commitment was fantastic. It's that sort of attitude that reminds me why I do this job, even when the rain's bucketing down.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Section 76 Water Industry Act 1991 and the Sweep Shot
It's a few hours now since England's finest capitulated once more in the face of a couple of spinners that would have been milked at four an over with no problem in a County match. However, put an English/South African batsman up against the same bowler on a slow turner in the heat of Asia or the UAE and suddenly they become unplayable.
There have been all sorts of reasons put forward as to why we failed, mostly revolving around the sweep shot, why it's played, when it's played and how it's played. It has also been noted that we don't play enough in those conditions and when the players return next month, it'll be back to the safe haven of our green and seaming land. Until they head off back to India for further humiliation next winter.
Well good news is here. Section 76 Water Industry Act 1991 is being enforced in many parts of the country in an effort to ensure our next generation of batsmen do not grow up equally inept at playing spin bowling. Far sighted cricket enthusiasts at water companies throughout England are imposing hosepipe bans with a view to creating raging bunsens of most of the squares in the southern half of England. The ECB, of course, are issuing guidance to clubs to try to overturn these bans in the hope that they can retain the status quo, whereby we win at home and, on a good day, away against Australia, West Indies and South Africa but leave ourselves open to ridicule against the spin nations.
I say, why not let our young cricketers play a season on pitches that are dry and turning? And when the rain does come, leave the covers off and let them cope with what nature has dealt them.
There have been all sorts of reasons put forward as to why we failed, mostly revolving around the sweep shot, why it's played, when it's played and how it's played. It has also been noted that we don't play enough in those conditions and when the players return next month, it'll be back to the safe haven of our green and seaming land. Until they head off back to India for further humiliation next winter.
Well good news is here. Section 76 Water Industry Act 1991 is being enforced in many parts of the country in an effort to ensure our next generation of batsmen do not grow up equally inept at playing spin bowling. Far sighted cricket enthusiasts at water companies throughout England are imposing hosepipe bans with a view to creating raging bunsens of most of the squares in the southern half of England. The ECB, of course, are issuing guidance to clubs to try to overturn these bans in the hope that they can retain the status quo, whereby we win at home and, on a good day, away against Australia, West Indies and South Africa but leave ourselves open to ridicule against the spin nations.
I say, why not let our young cricketers play a season on pitches that are dry and turning? And when the rain does come, leave the covers off and let them cope with what nature has dealt them.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Pleasure and Pain
I recently had a heavy fall, ended up in hospital and spent some hours in A&E on one of their beds before being discharged. As a result of all this, I now get terrible pain in my lower back when I stand for more than a few minutes. It is a recurrence of problems from 20 years ago and it is not a good thing for a cricket coach to have, given I spend most of my time on my feet in this job. I will need to keep moving as much as possible to stop the back seizing up.
On the plus side, the programmes we have been running for the Herts East Area boys are coming to a conclusion. There have been one or two small hiccups but on the whole everything has gone pretty well. The Under 15 age group has been completely under-subscribed but will be topped up with the better Under 14s, who will benefit greatly from playing up a year. Since there have been so few Under 15s, they have had a good ratio of coaches to players and we have used the bowling machine to good effect this year as well.
The Under 14s have had some very good tactical sessions recently. Unfortunately I won't now see most of these lads again until the first matches in the half term break, so will have to try to keep in contact with the club and school coaches and check the results on the web to find out if our hard work has paid off.
The Under 13s continue to improve and I hope have a better understanding of what is required now. Last year there were a couple of distinctly average performances from this group. Although I know that there are stronger players elsewhere around the County, strength of character counts for a lot and this could be what takes them through.
The Under 12s punched above their weight last year. They don't have any "superstars" but are a great bunch of lads who will be a good team. With hard work I hope that one or two of them might get an opportunity with the full County squad.
The Under 11s have some real talent amongst the group. They have all trained very hard and are extremely enthusiastic. I look forward to great things from them, although that doesn't necessarily mean I expect them to win all their matches.
The Under 10s again have some top notch cricketers, a couple of whom should probably be in the County squad. That's another story though and if they perform the way I expect this year then the County squad beckons next season. The team as a whole should do well and at this age, everyone seems to improve with every game. By the time I next see them at half term, who knows what the story might be?
Chance 2 Shine starts with the school term, with its own special challenges. I'm looking forward to that and will report back next time.
On the plus side, the programmes we have been running for the Herts East Area boys are coming to a conclusion. There have been one or two small hiccups but on the whole everything has gone pretty well. The Under 15 age group has been completely under-subscribed but will be topped up with the better Under 14s, who will benefit greatly from playing up a year. Since there have been so few Under 15s, they have had a good ratio of coaches to players and we have used the bowling machine to good effect this year as well.
The Under 14s have had some very good tactical sessions recently. Unfortunately I won't now see most of these lads again until the first matches in the half term break, so will have to try to keep in contact with the club and school coaches and check the results on the web to find out if our hard work has paid off.
The Under 13s continue to improve and I hope have a better understanding of what is required now. Last year there were a couple of distinctly average performances from this group. Although I know that there are stronger players elsewhere around the County, strength of character counts for a lot and this could be what takes them through.
The Under 12s punched above their weight last year. They don't have any "superstars" but are a great bunch of lads who will be a good team. With hard work I hope that one or two of them might get an opportunity with the full County squad.
The Under 11s have some real talent amongst the group. They have all trained very hard and are extremely enthusiastic. I look forward to great things from them, although that doesn't necessarily mean I expect them to win all their matches.
The Under 10s again have some top notch cricketers, a couple of whom should probably be in the County squad. That's another story though and if they perform the way I expect this year then the County squad beckons next season. The team as a whole should do well and at this age, everyone seems to improve with every game. By the time I next see them at half term, who knows what the story might be?
Chance 2 Shine starts with the school term, with its own special challenges. I'm looking forward to that and will report back next time.
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