Running Between the Wickets

Layout of Practice:
1. Mark out lines on the floor 5 metres apart.
2. All players have a bat.
3. Spread groups out a safe distance apart
4. Keep them in their lines.

Demonstration of Running Between the Wickets:
1. Sit group down in front of you.
2. Explain about running between the wickets (8 minutes maximum).
3. Draw lines on the floor with chalk.
4. Demonstrate the various ways of running, depending on what side the ball is hit.
5. Explain that on the line is out.
6. Make them shout the calls back to you. Explain who calls when.
7. Set up first group to demonstrate.
8. Have a few practice runs, then a competitive race.

Rules of Relay 1:
1. Each batsman has a bat to carry.
2. All batsmen must run 4 singles facing a particular direction, off or leg side.
3. When the first one has run his bat in the next one can go.
4. If a batsman is short of the line, he must go to the back of the queue and run again.
5. The first team to finish, sit down and shout "Howzat!" wins.

Aims of the Practice:
a. To reach for the line, bat held at the end of the handle.
b. To change hands and always face the ball - NEVER turning your back on it.
c. Running the bat in at full arm's length.
d. Speed between the wickets and quick turning.

Rules of Relay 2:
1. The first batsman of each group runs a 3.
2. Before they run, the coaches who are standing opposite each other throw the ball backwards and forwards to each other calling YES, NO or WAIT. When coach calls yes, players must run a 3.
3. When they have completed 3 runs the coach tells the one who has made technical mistakes to go to the back of the queue. The successful runner goes to the other side of the crease. The next runners go on the coach's signal.
4. The first team to get all its players onto the other side wins.

Aims of the Practice:
a. To run the bat in at arm's length.
b. To change hands and always face the ball - NEVER turning your back on it.
c. To know how to face the ball, whatever side of the wicket it is hit, and to change hands correctly.
d. To run between the wickets with good technique.

COACHING POINTS:
1. CALLS: YES! NO! or WAIT! (NO! is the overriding call.) CALL LOUDLY AND CLEARLY
2. Non-striker calls when the ball goes behind the wicket, as he has the best view (i.e. through the slips or the fine leg area).
3. Striker calls when the ball is in front of square or through gully area, as he then has the best view.
4. Hold bat at the end of the handle.
5. Change hands - Never turn blind, always face the ball when turning to run another single.
6. Run bat into the crease on every run. On a quick single, run it in a metre before, until it crosses the popping crease.
7. Get low and reach for the crease between runs.
8. Talk to each other when crossing and possibly going to attempt another run (i.e. looking for 2).
9. NEVER GET YOUR FEET OVER THE CREASE when turning for another run. Reach for the line with the bat at arm's length, fully stretched.
10. Non-striker must back up fully at the bowler's end just as he delivers the ball.
11. The striker runs to his off side. The non-striker runs the opposite side.
12. When the bowler bowls round the wicket the non-striker now stands to the side the striker is running but wider.
13. Look to run 2 when the ball goes towards the boundary fielders.
14. Always run the first run fast, to turn 1s into 2s and 2s into 3s!
15. NEVER RUN JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE HIT A GOOD SHOT!