Amport Cricket Club - Fielding Coaching

Fielding

Fielding is an essential part of cricket. Quite simply, if you don't enjoy fielding then cricket is possibly not the game for you. Everyone has there own part to play and where by working as a team you can make a huge difference to the outcome of a game. Remember.....fielding is the one thing in cricket you do as a team! Never assume that just because the ball hasn't come to you in the field that you cannot contribute in some way - you must always be alert and look for oppotunities to back up your team mates. Also, offer encouragement to your team mates into to being the best they can be.

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Close Catching
Catching 'In The Deep'
The Long Barrier
Throwing
One-Handed Interception and Throw
Two-Handed Interception, 'Crow-Hop' and Throw
Wicket Keeping

1. Close Catching

Introduction :

This skill is used when the fielder is placed close to the batter and requires quick reactions.

Coaching Points:

Your knees should be flexed (bent) with your feet roughly shoulder width apart. Your weight should be evenly distributed.
Your hands should be together with fingers pointing down. When the ball is caught your hands should give into the body.
Keep your head steady with your eyes level. Watch the ball.....at all times.

2. Catching 'In The Deep'

Introduction :

These skills is used when fielding some distance from the batsman and requires good judgment.

Coaching Points:

Move quickly, balanced and low towards the ball.
Keep your head steady with your eyes level. Watch the ball.....at all times.
Keep your hands relaxed and ready. The top image here shows the orthodox way of catching, with your fingers pointing down. The bottom image shows the reverse method, with fingers pointing up. Either is fine.
Orthodox - your hands should be ready to take the ball at, or just above your eye level.
Reverse - your hands should be ready to take the ball above your eye level.
As with close catching, your hands should give into the body.

3. The Long Barrier

Introduction :

This skill is used when the ball has been hit hard and low in the outfield when fielding some distance from the batsman and requires a good defence to avoid a mis-field.

Coaching Points:

Move quickly, balanced and low towards the ball.
Watch the ball.....at all times.
You should form a barrier 90° to the path of the ball.
You should kneel on your 'non-throwing' knee with it placed next to heel of your 'throwing' foot. Therefore if you throw right-handed then kneel on your left knee.
Ensure there is no gap between the two for the ball to escape through.
Ensure your head is over the ball with your fingers pointing down to collect the ball.
On collecting the ball, rise and form a strong stance before attempting to throw.

4. Throwing

Introduction :

When using a real cricket ball you will see a seam on the ball. These tips teach you the best method of throwing a cricket ball.

Coaching Points:

Grip the ball across the seam. You will find this to be a more comfortable grip and when the ball is thrown it will stay in a straight line and not swing in the air as a ball with a vertical seam may tend to do.
Grip the ball with 2 fingers on top of the ball and your thumb directly underneath, resting on the seam. Do not grip the ball in the palm of the hand.

Introduction :

This is a useful exercise to get use to the actions of your wrist, elbow and upper body and the effect they have on your throwing technique.

Coaching Points:

Wrist Flick - hold your wrist with your non-throwing arm. Using a flicking motion throw the ball, bouncing it towards your target, which should be about 3 metres away. This exercise uses only your wrist to generate the pace of throw.
Elbow Flick - this time holding underneath your elbow, flick the ball, bouncing towards a target of around 5 metres away. This exercise uses only your elbow and wrist to generate the pace of throw.
Upper Body - this time you are kneeling on one knee (your throwing knee). Ensure your throwing elbow is nice and high (at shoulder level). You should throw towards a target around 10 meters away, ensuring you have a full follow through with your action.

Introduction :

The standing overarm throw skill is required when fielding a reasonable distance from the batsman.

Coaching Points:

Ensure you have a wide stance and long backswing, gripping the ball as described above.
Your throwing elbow should be at or above shoulder level.
Use your non-throwing arm as an aid to the direction of the throw.
Look at your target at all times to ensure the direction of the throw is accurate.
Your back leg should trail after the throw and there should be a full follow through, with your body rotating.

5. One-Handed Interception and Throw

Introduction :

This skill is usually used when the ball has travelled slowly and when a short accurate throw is required to stop a single or to attempt a run out. This can be a very attacking skill, puting the batsman under pressure, therefore a good technique is essential, especially if the ball is travelling quickly.

Coaching Points:

Attack the ball remaining balanced and low..
Watch the ball.....at all times.
Pick the ball up on the outside of your throwing foot. So, if you pick the ball up with your right hand, the ball should be on the outside of your right foot.
Your fingers should be pointing down and brush the ground on pick-up.
Stay low during the pick up and release to prevent a mis-field.
When releasing the ball, the hand arm and body follow through towards the target. This is essential to ensure an accurate throw towards the stump, wicket keeper or fielder at the stumps.

6. Two-Handed Interception, 'Crow-Hop' and Throw

Introduction :

This skill is usually used when the ball has travelled into the outfield and a long throw is required in order to stop a second run. out. You will notice by the images that before the ball is thrown, that forward momentum is achieved by the Crow-Hop and a strong base is extablished. This is the key to a strong throw..

Coaching Points:

Attack the ball remaining balanced and low..
Watch the ball.....at all times.
Pick the ball between your feet in a slight side-on position. Your back foot should add as an extra barrier just in case the ball is not collected cleanly.
Your fingers should be pointing down and brush the ground on pick-up.
Stay low during the pick up to prevent a mis-field.
The crow-hop allows you to create some forward momentum towards your target before throwing the ball. This will generate more distance in the throw. With this skill your throwing foot (back leg) passes behind your non-throwing foot (front foot).
Bring your non-throwing foot forward to create a fairly wide, but stong base before releasing the ball. See the previous section on how to throw.

7. Wicket Keeping

Introduction :

This skill requires good judgement and quick reactions when standing both close to and back from the wicket. The wicket keepier is the focal point of any fielding side. This means that he is the one player on the pitch with the best overall view of the game, how the batsmen are playing and how the bowlers are bowling. In view of this he is a key member of the team for many reasons.

Coaching Points:

You should take up a crouched stance, just to the offside of the batsman.
Your weight should be on the balls of your feet.
You should be relaxed and try to keep your head still and your eyes level.
Watch the ball.....at all times.
When taking the ball try to keep both your head and body behind the ball.
You should rise with the bounce of the ball. Going from a low to high position is far easier than starting hig and taking the ball low!
Your hands should give as you take the ball.
Should the ball be delivered wide of you, move across or across and back to retrieve with the leg nearest to the ball. Ensure you rotate your upper body accordingly.
When taking a high bouncing ball the same principles apply. You should rotate your upper body and create a letter "K" with your arms and legs. Please see the image to the left to illustrate.
After taking the ball, move your hands quickly back to the stumps.....especially where there is a run out or stumping opportunity.

Buzz Words to Remember

Give: Another term used for this is 'soft-hands'. When catching the ball you should allow your hands to draw back towards your body to ensure a nice, smooth (secure) catch.
Orthodox: This method of catching involves catching the ball with your fingers pointing downwards.
Reverse: This method of catching involves catching the ball with your fingers pointing upwards. This method is also referred to as the Australian way of catching.
Back-up: When you are fielding you will often be in a position where the ball doesn't always come to you. This doesn't mean you are out of the game. When the ball is thrown back to the wicket keeper's (or bowler's end) of the wiket you should always aim to position yourself so that shoul your team mates miss the ball, you are in a position to stop any over-throws (extra runs being scored).
Seam: The seam is the stitching around the middle of a cricket ball. You will also notice this seam on Incrediballs.