Basic Skills

Multi skill activities :

One of the advantages of teaching through games is this capacity to design single activities that include a number of skills.

It allows the coach to involve more players in active learning experiences at the same time.

Cricket task :

How to measure the following skills in a 6 ball over

• The on drive
• The off drive
• Back foot play
• Running between the wickets
• Bowling accuracy
• Attacking fielding and throwing
• Wicket keeping

What other match conditions would you change to measure :

fielding wicket keeping number of runs per 6 all over

Knowledge of ‘the’ Game is essential to..

..design an effective multi skill activity…..

WHERE the game scenario ‘STARTS’ from will provide a more realistic learning experience for the players

Eg ; what could you teach and measure here

• Final 9 overs of one day match
• Taking second new ball
• Kickoff restart from half way [rugby]
• Defensive scrum 10 metres out [rugby]
• Hitting a shot 65m over water to a fast sloping green on a par 5. [golf]
• Getting a turnover 90 m from goal [AFL]
• Two spinners operating on a turning wicket

Multi skill workshop example

In rugby, design one [1] activity that challenges and evaluates the following skills :

Starting the game from ? …………………..

• Line out throwing
• Line out organisation and jumping
• Half back passing on weak side
• Number 10 kicking ability
• Fitness
• Game pressure

Coaching activity plan

• Start from a lineout anywhere on field
• Hooker throws in to unopposed lineout
• Half back passes on’ weak’ side to 5/8
• 5/8 kicks for touch [measure distance]
• Forwards run to lineout and restart activity
• Repeat for 10 line outs….then :

Increase intensity by introducing :

• Opposition – lineout and defenders
• Wet ball
• Distances for 5/8 to kick 
• Effective coaching is about providing a reason ‘why’, and then a strategy ,‘how’, a player learns a skill…. and then ‘how’ that skill ‘fits’ into a ‘game’ to produce a result.
  Pre –requisites for Coaches :
• A clear and achievable goal and outcome
• An Intimate knowledge of ‘the’ skill
• A well developed knowledge of ‘the’ game
• Imaginative planning
• Patience and Flexibility

What is your strategy when coaching a new skill,….. do you :

• Tell players what to do
• Show players what to do
• Or……..

….do you….. :

• Use your imagination to design and introduce the muscle memory activities necessary to learn the skill that relates to ‘the’ game
• Begin graduated / hierarchical activities with relevant games to measure achievement levels wherever possible.
• Start at the bottom of the ladder !
• Always be mindful of the effects of ‘competition’ on skill execution

When coaching…

Being able to measure the various levels of skill acquisition is vital for coaches planning and implementation of activities….

This is why ‘games’ activities are so useful

COACHING CRICKET

Cricket is a unique game because rarely do we practise and prepare as we play !

Most time is spent perfecting technique and mental skills independently through :

• Instruction
• Demonstration
• Drills
• Repetition and volume [nets]
• Meetings and Lectures etc.,

Because many coaching strategies and programs are designed like this……..
..the skill is often isolated skill from the ‘game’

what cricket skill is being taught here ?

Coaching Ladder

Skill : Moving down the wicket to drive

• Underarm ball to stationary player to catch
• Vary length and ask ‘how’ can they access ball ?
• Use markers to reinforce movement / distance
• Repeat activities with over arm throws
• Introduce a bat – repeat activities
• Go to nets – introduce bowlers
• Challenge batter with field placings..then runs
• Centre wicket batting v spin bowlers
• Competition challenge – balls / runs / field placing

Q What other skills could I coach at the same time ?

Workshop

Using your knowledge of these ‘games’, and your imagination as a Coach, design a number of Game Sense activities to teach young players some of the basic skills necessary to play…

• Australian Rules
• Hockey
• Golf
• Soccer
• Rugby Union

Workshop example

In rugby, design an activity that teaches the basic skills of : catch and pass setting up support space awareness speed and evasion defence communication

Session plan and game rules

• 2 attackers v 1 defender [ tag tackle]
• restricted area 8 metres wide
• attackers cannot run backwards to avoid contact or tackle [tag]
• support players must call out before receiving ball
• attackers have 3 attempts to score a try
• change sides

•