Author: Andrew Beaven

  • How to Introduce Javelin to Young Athletes – from Coaching Young Athletes

    If this works for teaching javelin (and I’m sure it does), perhaps there is something here for bowling?

    I often see young cricketers struggle with “bowling from base” – they miss the all-important rotation from a basically side-on base to front-on release when there is no inherent forward motion – and the step-by-step approach might help to get them through this.

    I’ll have to try this out – perhaps starting from “withdraw & throw”…with a straight arm, of course!

    Darren Wensor's avatarCoaching Young Athletes

    Coach Young Athletes to Throw a Javelin in 6 Simple Steps

    The following sequence can be used to introduce the javelin to beginners using either modified javelins (e.g. Turbojavs) or the real implement. I have used these teaching steps with class-sized groups of up to thirty children within a thirty minute session and with smaller groups and individuals.

    Group Organization & Supervision

    When teaching a throwing skill to large groups, ensuring the best use of the limited time available is vital. Maximizing activity time and organizing smooth transitions between activities is important if a throwing session with large numbers is to be productive. To ensure the athletes receive the maximum number of attempts, I aim to provide as many implements as possible. Therefore with a group of thirty participants, if I have fifteen implements, I will arrange it so that the athletes work in pairs, with fifteen of the group…

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  • Coaching philosophy in just 6 words – with @SiNainby

    Interesting challenge from Simon Nainby via twitter – can you encapsulate your coaching philosophy in just six words?

    My best attempt:

    How can we play better tomorrow?

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  • Bring the ropes in…a conversation with @ballsrightsreas

    Interesting conversation with Dave C, aka @ballsrightareas, on setting boundaries for junior cricket.

    Should we bring the ropes in, to encourage batters to (try to) hit boundaries?

    But risk having games dominated by batters mis-hitting 6s?

    Or set the line back, and reward the strokeplayers who can exploit the wide open spaces?

    But see games dragged out as young fielders trudge after the ball as it pulls up short of a full-size boundary?

    (more…)