Group Coaching for the Front Foot Defence

Set Up for the Practice:
Set up practice as shown below.
Markers on the floor for fielders to stand on should be 3 metres from batsman (4m for leg side fielder).
Be strict on this point - SAFETY.
Mark out target area for feeder to aim at for the front foot defence.
Ideal number for each group is 4-5 players - MAXIMUM ACTIVITY.
Feeder kneels 7-10 paces from batsman.
Feeder says “Bat up!”, then feeds a DART FEED, bending on one knee, throwing from head height downwards. The ball should be aimed to bounce once and hit the batsman on the front knee.
Each group has 3 balls.
Ideal duration of practice: 20-30 minutes.
Wicket Keeper is optional indoors when you have the use of walls.

Aim of the Practice:
To protect the wickets and leave the wide balls; also to defend the ball straight back up the wicket (between the two parallel lines shown above). This is the furthest point away from the close fielders. If you feel you are going to play the ball outside this line on the off side, leave it alone as it is too wide to play at.

Rules of the Practice:
Each player has 8-10 feeds, then all rotate clockwise.
Give groups 2-3 coaching points to work on.
Have about 3-4 rounds each (depending on time limit).
For the first round of 8-10 play every other shot with the top hand only (to show the importance of the top hand).
Make the last round competitive: try to survive all 8-10 feeds without getting out. If you are out, change round.
On the practice round, players get another feed if one goes wide. On the competitive round, have 8-10 feeds whether players leave the ball or play and miss.
If a player deliberately plays an attacking shot he loses that round of 8-10 feeds. (Be strict on this point - SAFETY.)

COACHING POINTS: (IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE)
For younger players, introduce one point at a time.
1. High backswing over off stump with dominant top hand. (Bottom hand fingers and thumb grip.)
2. Lean towards ball with head and shoulder (eyes level).
3. Take a good step forward towards the ball. (Weight over front foot.)
4. With dominant top hand and diamond shape formed with arms, PUSH bat towards the ball. (Forearms passing close to body.)
5. Strike ball forward of front pad, directly below eye level.
6. Keep leading elbow high, close to head.
7. Top hand dominates throughout the shot.
8. Bottom hand fingers and thumb grip, acting as shock absorber.
9. Look over the top of the handle on completion of the shot. (Head directly above hands, hands directly above front foot.)

Play the ball with soft hands, so it rolls back up the wicket

Now let the players compete, with less emphasis on coaching. This is a game, so have fun with it!

Layout for the Game:
(Set up as shown below)
1. Play as teams (5-8 a side) or individuals (6-10 players).
2. With chalk or disks, mark out the fielding positions available.
3. Make sure the marks are 3 metres away from the batsman.
4. Short leg must be slightly deeper: 4 metres.
5. Slip or gully in normal position for cricket.
6. Coach must feed when possible (to save arguments).
7. Feed ball as for front foot defence practice (on one knee, 7 or 8 paces away).
8. Encourage fielders to shout “Howzat!” when a catch is taken.
9. Set up the game and do a quick demonstration.
10. Give a batting order.
11. When using more than one team, make it a mini tournament. Winners play winners, losers play losers.

Aim of the Game:
To see which team or individual survives the most deliveries. This simulates playing out for a draw and saving a game.

Rules of the Game:
1. Every time the batsman survives a delivery he scores a run, even if he leaves the ball. (This teaches him not to play at a wide delivery.)
2. Coach says “Bat up!”, then feeds the ball. (Feed as for practice.)
3. The batsman is out if he is: (a) bowled, (b) caught, (c) stumped, or (d) if he plays an attacking shot. (Be strict on this last point - SAFETY.) FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS, YOU CANNOT BE OUT FIRST BALL.
4. Fielders must stay on their markers until the ball is hit; if not it is declared a no ball and the batting side scores 2.
5. Nominate a captain and have him position his fielders on the markers appropriate for each incoming batsman (teaching him how to place a field). Always put down more markers than there are fielders.
6. The winner is the team or player that survives the most deliveries.
7. When a player is out all fielders move clockwise to a different position.
8. If the batsmen are too good at this, put the fielders a step or two deeper and play one hand, one bounce.
9. The ideal number for two teams is 8 a side, placed on appropriate markers. The fielders tend to need to be positioned more in front of the wickets for the front foot defence game.
10. Ideal duration of game: 30-40 minutes.

Other Progressions of the Game:
1. USING THE CREASE Alternate front foot and back foot defence.
2. JUDGING LENGTH Front foot or back foot, feeds at random.
3. For competent players, throw the ball harder.

PLAYERS MUST ONLY PLAY DEFENSIVE SHOTS
OR THEY ARE OUT (SAFETY)