School Holiday Programs are cricket coaching events that offer an enjoyable and challenging program of both individual and group skill development cricket activities and match play for players aged 7 -12.

Our talented and experienced coaches work under the guidance of Elite Cricket founder and former Australian XI and Australia ‘A’ representative Mark Atkinson (Level 3 Coach).

Players will participate in a program of enjoyable, yet challenging age and skill appropriate development activities including:

• Attacking and defensive batting
• Pace, swing and spin bowling
• Short catching and out-fielding
• Wicket-keeping
• Modified games including Kanga pairs, Super 8’s, diamond cricket, centre wicket and net scenarios
• Sessions on strategy, tactics and performance
• Coaching ratio of 1 to 8
• Players will receive tuition in the innovative and proven Elite Cricket method, techniques and principles.

SCHEDULE
Shore Sports Fields, Northbridge – 27th, 28th & 29th September 2010

Rogers Park, Woy Woy  – 27th & 28th September 2010 Players 7 to 14 years

St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 29th, 30th September & 1st October 2010

Drummoyne Oval,  Bayswater St Drummoyne – 5th & 6th October 2010

Lindfield Oval, Tryon Road – 5th & 6th October 2010

The program runs 9am-3pm.

Cheers

Mark

Day 1

Game 1 – Elite Cricket vs Alice Springs

Elite Cricket won the toss and elected to bat. A great opening partnership of 73 by Lachlan A Stewart and Lachlan J Stewart which put the scorers into a spin! Sam Evans and Sam Pointer chipped in with a quick innings each and Matt Wilkins, James Dunn and Lachlan Hodson ably batted out our 50 overs for a score of 192. (actually it was 49 overs – unbelievably due to rain!!)

Our opening bowlers Ben Riddle and Matt Maittlen bowled tightly and Ben drew first blood in the 8th over (1 for 14). Matt dried up the runs and put on the pressure with 0 for 8 off  5. Spin was introduced with LJ Stewart and he picked up a wicket in his third over and a bowled a very miserly 10 overs  1 for10.

Our late call up Matt Saleh bowled a goodline and length and after his first spell of 5 overs was 2 for 5. The spinners were attacking at both ends when Charlie Booth took up the end with LJS annd finished with figures of 2 for 25 off his 10. James Dunn was in great form and picked up  a wicket 1 for 7 off 4 overs. Ben Riddle and Matt Saleh returned for a second spell, Ben finishing the day with 2 for 11 off 8 and Matt Saleh 3 for 15 off 7.

Fielding was tight to begin with and catches went to Dunn, LA Stewart and Matt Maittlen. Louis kept cleanly and picked up a catch and a stumping.

In summary the boys went really well on their first appearance as a team. Tomorrow we play Westfield Sports High in our first T20 which will be a good test for the team and we’re looking forward to the challenge. And if today is anything to go by the boys  will do well!

Final score: Elite Cricket 192 defeated Alice Springs 84

Day 2

Well it’s hard to imagine a more exciting and nerve wracking couple of games…

Game 2 – Elite Cricket vs Westfield Sports High School

The team from Westfield are mostly playing Green Shield and Grade. We always knew they were going to be extremely competitive – we just didn’t expect the game to unfold the way it did.

We lost the toss and our bowlers went well with Matt Maittlen bowling their opener in the fourth over, but by then they were on 18 (1 for 18). Not to be outdone Ben Riddle struck in the next over and had the batsman caught cleanly by Lachlan Hodson – (2 for 23). Things quietened down for a few overs and their batsmen put on another 40 runs before Sam Pointer took a good catch off Lachlan J Stewart. Next over Matthew Saleh had the batsmen caught at point by Louis Schirato – 4 for 71.  Sam Pointer had a direct hit to run out batsman number 5 then in the same over Matthew Saleh struck again with a catch to Ben Riddle. 6 for 81. Lachlan A Stewart took a fine stumping off the bowling of Charlie Booth and they finished their 20 overs at 108.

We started nervously and after 8 overs were 5 for 23! However thanks to some loose bowling by them (30 sundries!!) and a brilliant knock by Louis Schirato (40 not out) we were back in the game and looked to be a chance to chase down the runs. However it wasn’t to be and we finished with a total of 98. Heads were low and nails were chewed…

However…wait there’s more…….

The umpire penalised the Westfield team for slow overs. Under the 20/20 rules they were 2 overs behind at a penalty of 6 runs per over. And that’s 12 runs to us so the umpire awarded us the win!

Elite Cricket 110 defeated Westfield 108

L Schirato 40* M Wilkins 9
M Saleh 2/20 C Booth 1/8 LJ Stewart 1/14 M Maittlen 1/18 B Riddle 1/21

Game 3 – Elite Cricket vs Darwin Sharks

We lost the toss and the Darwin Sharks elected to bat. Our bowlers were on fire and after 6 overs we had them reeling at 5 for 28. Some fine fielding and more tight bowling had them all out for 58 in less than 15 overs.Sadly like many teams chasing a small total we lost the plot. They bowled well and we batted poorly – throwing away our wickets cheaply. After 8 overs we were 4 for 21 and thanks to a crucial partnership of Matt Wilkins with James Dunn, then some digging in by Lachlan J Stewart at the end we got across the line in the 18th over but we were 8 down!!

M Wilkins 15 J Dunn 12
B Riddle 3/9 C Booth 2/7 M Maittlen 2/18 LJ Stewart 1/20

Cheers

Mark

For the first time Elite Cricket and Cricket NSW will join forces to present a 2 day cricket coaching program at Liverpool Catholic Club Sports Ground Hoxton Park on July 13^th and 14th.

Liverpool Cricket Program July 2010 enrolment form

The program encourages physical activity while providing a fun cricket experience for all participants and will be divided into two age groups:

Come “N” Try Cricket for 5 – 7 years      11.00am – 1.00pm

Come “N” Play Cricket for 7 – 12 years    10.00 – 3.00pm

Boys and girls will participate in a program of enjoyable, yet challenging age and skill appropriate development activities including:

• Attacking and defensive batting
• Pace, swing and spin bowling
• Short catching and out-fielding
• Wicket-keeping
• Modified games

On Day 2 of the program players will be able to meet a member of the RTA Speedblitz Blues, who will give coaching advice and sign autographs.

Cheers

Mark

Pre-Season Wicketkeeping Academy 2009 enrolment form

A good wicketkeeper is critical to the success of any team. They need to be reliable, fit, skilful, tough and at times brilliant but this key position can often by occupied by the player who is, at times, a forgotten man at practice. A good keeper can turn a game their team’s way with an outstanding catch, stumping or run-out and in order for a wicketkeeper to excel they must put in quality time and effort to work on all aspects of their game.

This intensive program is most suitable for aspiring wicketkeepers who have already had some experience in match play situations, covers all aspects of the art of wicketkeeping and leaves players feeling confident and ready for their best season behind the stumps.

Pre-season Spin Bowling program 2009 enrolment form

Designed for cricketers who are showing an interest in the more specialised area of spin bowling, this program is an ideal way to increase your skills and learn more about the great game of cricket.

Headed by NSW Blues Coach David Freedman this intensive, structured program focuses on developing the correct technique to optimise performance and prevent injury featuring video analysis, a customised individual high performance strategy and comprehensive report.

Pre-season Fast Bowling Program 2009 enrolment form

Designed for fast and swing bowlers, the program is an ideal way to increase your skills and learn more about the art of fast bowling.

Headed by Elite Cricket Senior Coach Paddy Little this intensive, structured program focuses on developing the correct technique to optimise performance and prevent injury featuring video analysis, a customised individual high performance strategy and comprehensive report.

Please find below an outline of some of the coaching guidelines employed by the coaching team at Elite Cricket. Good luck and happy coaching!

Macro not micro:

• Fix the big picture (balance and alignment) and the details will fall into place
• Bigger awarenesses are better and easier for players to understand

Skill Development Focus:

• Focus on the process of skill development rather than the result, develop the skills and the result will come
• Challenge at all levels

Maximise Participation:

• Better for players due to greater involvement and more opportunity to improve
• Easier to manage, particularly in 1 coach to 12 player sessions

Organisation:

• Have a plan. Objectives, content, time, facilities and equipment should be factored into the planning of a session
• Seek a balance between skill development, games, nets, centre wicket and fun
• Utilise variety; everybody gets bored of the same thing in particular nets!

Enjoyment:

• Make it fun, a games focus is great for all players and helps build game sense and match awareness

Let the players play:

• A necessary component of learning and developing skills is making mistakes have confidence in your players by allowing them to make mistakes, rather than a focus on eliminating them (it doesn’t happen)
• Let them make mistakes and credit the players with the ability to identify and self-correct any mistakes they make, the mistake you identify will give you ideas for the content of your next sessions
• As a coach you need to be patient and skill don’t happen overnight, a skill based focus, a patient approach will maximise your contribution to player development

Cheers

Mark

Please find below a brief outline and some key points involved in developing sound and effective bowling actions in young cricketers and an accompanying practice activity.

Bowling Actions

In general there are 3 acceptable positions for a bowler to deliver the ball:

• Side on
• Front on
• Semi open

The main thing to look for in young bowlers to ensure their safety and maximise their effectiveness is that their hips and shoulders are pointing in the same direction at delivery. For instance, in a front on position, the bowlers back foot lands pointing down the wicket and their hips and shoulders are both pointing down the pitch. In a side on delivery, the back foot lands pointing across the wicket, while the hips and shoulders are pointing across the wicket. The key to a safe action is the hips and shoulders pointing in the same direction.

Bowling Drill

Target Practice

• Bowlers bowl into a hula-hoop that has been placed on a good length
• As bowlers become increasingly competent at this task, the coach can put smaller targets into place
• Keep score and see who hits the target the most
• Bowlers can progress from taking one step, to a few steps, to their full run-up when bowling to these targets

Cheers

Mark

Spin Bowling Enrolment

Designed for cricketers who are showing an interest in the more specialised area of spin bowling, this program is an ideal way to increase your skills and learn more about the great game of cricket.

Headed by Cricket NSW High Performance coach David Freedman and Sydney 1st grade spinner Matt Todd this intensive, structured program focuses on developing the correct technique to optimise performance and prevent injury featuring video analysis, a customised individual high performance strategy and comprehensive report.

Fast Bowling Enrolment

Designed for pace and swing bowlers, the program is an ideal way to increase your skills and learn more about the art of fast bowling.

Headed by NSW Blues paceman Mark Cameron and Elite Cricket Senior Coach Paddy Little this intensive, structured program focuses on developing the correct technique to optimise performance and prevent injury featuring video analysis, a customised individual high performance strategy and comprehensive report.

I suppose the best place to start is what are the benefits. Well I reckon the main benefits of staying in are as follows. The longer you bat; The more bad balls you receive. Say on average you receive 1 bad ball for every 10 your face. If you bat for 10 balls you get 1 bad ball but if you can bat for 100 balls you get 10 bad balls. Assuming that you hit all the bad balls you face for 4, if you face 100 balls you’ll have 40 runs and if you bat 10 you’ll have 4!

The more tired the bowlers will become, which will accelerate the rate at which you receive opportunities to score. As bowlers tire their techniques can deteriorate which is likely to more opportunities for you. The more comfortable and confident with the conditions and the bowlers you become. You can’t beat time in the middle and you can’t score runs from the pavilion. When you are well set at the crease is the time to cash in and make a big score. The more fun you have. The next question is how do you make sure you bat for as long as possible, well I believe the answer is to minimise your risk.

What are the best ways to this, Have a plan that is realistic, that you can achieve and stick to it. My plan is defend balls on the stumps and leave the wide balls until I want to score from them. For example if I don’t want to score off a ball that I know is wide of the stumps, I don’t take the risk of hitting or nicking it for a reward of no runs!

Technically, stay balanced, play as straight as possible and restrict your swing in defence and full swing in attack. Be patient and wait for your opportunities instead of trying to force them, remember the longer you bat the more opportunities you will get.

Relax and enjoy the challenge, if scoring runs was easy you’d do it all the time!

Good luck

Mark

Skill acquisition experts tell us that it takes around 10,000 hours or 10 years of focused practice to develop expertise in a skill!

Whether your goals are to play for Australia, recover from a bad season, take your game to another level or simply get the best out of your ability, these goals will not come easily or without effort.

The best investment you can make in achieving your cricket goals is to put in the time and effort to develop the best possible skill set you can. Let’s face it, to score runs for example, is a huge challenge when you have 10 ways to get out every ball and 11 opponents whose job it is to see you fail! Your best protection against this challenge is an excellent array of skills that you understand and can apply consistently. To attain them you have to put in the work, there is no way around it, however, the benefits of striving to be the best you can be are well worth the effort required to achieve your goals.

The off-season presents an ideal opportunity to make the effort to invest in your skills, whether it is to build consistency and precision around your existing strengths or to work through a change strategy to turn your weaknesses into strengths. The benefit of working hard through the off-season is that the out of competition period offers an opportunity to experiment and work through change or extend your capabilities away from the competitive pressures of a match. It also presents you with the chance to accumulate the hours of focused quality practice you will need to master your skills.

Our High Performance Individual Coaching program focuses on acquiring and mastering critical technical skills to optimise performance.

• Great for building confidence in your own game
• Learn, improve and hone new skills away from the pressure of match play
• Correct bad techniques (particularly those that may cause injury) before they become an integral part of your game and are difficult to change
• You can book for one session or as many as you like however we recommend a minimum of 5 sessions over consecutive weeks to enable a stronger understanding and knowledge of your game

Cheers

Mark