My Cricket Core Principles

For about the last 15 years, during the winter I have run an 'Academy' for my clubs promising young players. We have 2 groups on a Sunday afternoon, 9-12 years of age and then an older group (12-16).

As ever, this winter has been a real success story with players taking their basic skills several steps up the cricket development ladder. We also try to get them thinking about the game and the club in the right way.

I was brought up by old school players who fought hard on the pitch, always mixed with the opposition afterwards and talked cricket.

I know the world is changing but I still think there's a right and a wrong way to approach your cricket. That's why I give our Academy youngsters a one page sheet with some Cricket Core Principles which I've listed below. Every now and again, usually at the end of a session, we sit down and have a chat about one of the points below. It works well...

Here are my clubs 'Core Principals' and how we expect every player to approach their cricket and the club:

PREPARE

Train hard on skills and fitness.

Be ready: the days before, night before, morning of the game. Make sure you kit is in order.

Warm up to bat, bowl and field. Take responsibility for your own needs if necessary.

Get your mind right!

BELIEVE

In yourself and your teammates that you can compete and win.

Even if you’re having a bad day personally, you can still contribute in many ways to winning a game or a positive outcome.

Don’t give up until the very last ball!

RESPECT

Yourself, teammates, opposition and umpires.

Never question an umpire’s decision.

Those in the club who do things we DEPEND upon. Scorers, caterers, clubhouse helpers, ground staff etc.. These people are all volunteers and do what they do for you and the love of the club!

Your parents and the effort they have put in to making you this good!

TEAM (and club)

Never mock a team mates failings or misfortune. Always encourage and support – we’re on the same side!

If it’s not your day make sure it is somebody else’s.

Try and put something back into the club…even the little things help. Bringing in the boundary markers, bringing plates back to the kitchen, keeping the changing rooms tidy, collecting the subs etc...

Get to know people! Not just your teammates, others around the club.

SOME YOU WIN....and some you lose

Accept defeat graciously but don’t like it. (Review, analyse and work hard to improve).

Enjoy winning but don’t gloat. (Review, analyse and work hard to improve).

ENJOY IT!

The smell of the grass.

The shared joy of achievement.

The shared disappointment and responsibility of defeat.

The shared determination to improve and succeed.

Above all, remember we do this for FUN!

You could add loads more to the above but I find this goes on a one A4 and is enough to promote good discussions and get them thinking!

Yours in Cricket

Blathers