The Teesra

Category: batting

  • Session plan(s): Video-Part-Whole

    I am a great believer in games- and scenario-based learning.

    Games engage games players when drills don’t.

    Well designed games retain important elements of the real activity to help players develop “skills in context”, not just drilled technique. Using the terminology of the constraints-led approach (CLA), games need to be representative of the playing environment, and retain important specifying information.

    I also like the whole-part-whole session structure — play a game, modified to reward a specific skill; practice that skill; play the modified game again.

    But sometimes, the initial “whole” maybe needs to be primed, put into context.

    And with the proliferation of access to video highlights of so many great moments from the past, perhaps it is time for a new session format.

    How about Video-Part-Whole?

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  • Having a hit with HiTZ

    Having a hit with HiTZ

    A couple of weeks ago the Guardian ran an article on their website about HiTZ cricket.

    HiTZ is the “performance” implementation of Batfast’s bowling simulation technology, as used in the “Sixes” entertainment venues (now, sadly, in administration).

    In the article, the emphasis was firmly on “getting back into the game” and “building confidence” rather than suggesting it could be a really serious training tool. But it looked interesting.

    I paid a couple of visits to HiTZ @ HPC Chigwell to find out for myself.

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  • The sound of cricket — from “pings” to “clunks”, what can the sound of bat-on-ball tell us about technique?

    There is something special about the sound of a cricket bat on ball.

    A couple of examples from last week brought this home to me, and set me wondering if there is more to this “sound of cricket” than the (very real) aesthetic pleasure of hearing a great shot.

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