The Teesra

Category: player development

technical, tactical, physical

  • 2014 – nearly over (3): Sports psychology – making it work in 2015

    One of the challenges on the CPD courses was to design sessions and interventions to support and development mental strengths.  We covered the “4 Cs” (Concentration, Control, Commitment and Confidence) on the level 2 course, but at a very superficial level, without really thinking about how to coach them.

    And this might prove to be the key to this difficult topic – rather than trying to “teach” Concentration, or Commitment, the development of mental skills needs to be consciously included into a holistic training programme.

    Easy to write, less easy to put into action.  So my challenge for 2015 is to integrate mental skills alongside technical, tactical and physical, for players of all ages and abilities.

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  • 2014 – nearly over (1): Coaching 3 year olds, and a 63 year old.

    2014 has been a year of cricketing extremes, with coaching sessions with both the youngest and oldest players I have ever worked with.

    At one end of the age range, I have enjoyed coaching several “Little Legends” groups this year – 3-4 year olds.  I have also delivered 1-2-1 sessions for club and social players, the oldest of whom is over 60 and still playing on most weekends in the summer.

    Very different players, but all with one thing in common – they wanted to enjoy themselves, playing cricket.

    Very different challenges for the coach…and surprising similarities.

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  • “Don’ts for Cricketers” – on genius

    Don’t expect genius to trouble itself with rules. No human law need concern the genius: he is a law to himself, and looks down from a lofty eminence on his weaker brethren.

    One that needs to be taken with a little caution – the “genius” first needs to deliver positive outcomes (modern jargon!), and can only rarely afford to disregard the rest of the team.

    But when a player displays “genius”, she needs to be encouraged, not repressed.