The end of the competitive phase of the season is a great opportunity to take off your cricket cap and put on your thinking cap to reflect on your performances and work out the ways in which you can become a better player.

This process takes time, effort, honesty and thought but is well worth it as it can arm you with some invaluable insights and knowledge of your game that will make you a better player.

We all know how challenging cricket can be and as such if you wish to succeed and improve in this tough and highly competitive environment you need to make the effort to grab all the opportunities you can to be the very best you can be in games, at training (skills and fitness) and importantly in how you think about the game.

With this in mind I recommend that you check out two of my planning focused Masterclass articles.

• Masterclass: Planning For The Season
• Masterclass: Invest In Your Skills

There are also some other recently posted articles from a range of current and former first class players written exclusively for Elite Cricket, which offer a unique perspective on how professional players think about the game, enjoy.

• Masterclass: The Successful Allrounder – Jon Moss
• Masterclass: Technology Is Not The Answer – Steve Herzberg
• Masterclass: The Mental Art of Batting – Jamie Cox
• Masterclass: Captaincy and Slip Fielding – Dan Marsh
• Masterclass: Spin Bowling In Limited Over Cricket – Xavier Doherty

Our 2 day Pathway to Next Season coaching event on 20th and 21st April 2009 at St Ignatius College Riverview including ‘On the Ball’ beginners program (players 5-7 years) and 1 day Academy Boot Camp at Five Dock Indoor Centre on 23rd April 2009 are also a great way to get ready for next season working with the Elite Cricket team.

• April Pathway To Next Season enrolment form
• April On The Ball enrolment form
• April Academy Boot Camp enrolment

Cheers

Mark

Cricket has been well and truly out of the news and many will be surprised by how quickly the season has come around. But it’s here! For many of you club games will start mid-September and trials for Grade, Shires, Representative, Green Shield and School cricket are under way.

To ensure that you blow away the winter cobwebs I recommend you put in some quality practice over the school holidays. This can be done with mates, with your team or at one of our School Holiday Programs (details below).

You may also find it useful to review some of the Masterclass articles on the Elite Cricket website and here are my top 4 recommended articles for starting the season although there are many others you may also like to read:

• Masterclass: Planning For The Season
• Masterclass: Planning Your Performance To Succeed
• Masterclass: Train How You Play
• Masterclass: Mental Toughness

I also recommend that you do a cricket stocktake of yourself.

• Are you ready for competition?
• How’s your fitness? What areas need attention?
• What are your goals for the season? (Write them down somewhere)
• What actions do you need to take to reach your goals? (technical, tactical and game play)
• Have you got a plan to succeed?
• How’s your equipment – get it out, try it on, partcularly protective gear – does it still fit properly?

Click on the links below in red for application and enrolment details

HIGH PERFORMANCE ACADEMY PROGRAM

Successful applicants for this elite program will also possess high levels of cricket skill and fitness, be self-disciplined, highly motivated and aged 13 years or above. Over 2 days our Academy players will train like first class cricketers and be challenged by an intensive multi-disciplinary program to further enhance their existing skills and match awareness by a range of high performance coaches.

• Drummoyne Oval – 29th & 30th September 2008
• Waverley College – 9th & 10th October 2008

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM

The program is suitable for ages 7 – 14 and will be conducted from 9am to 3pm in both 2 and 3 day formats across the range of venues listed below.

• Lindfield Oval, Tryon Road – 29th, 30th September & 1st October 2008
• Scots College, Bellevue Hill – 1st, 2nd & 3rd October 2008
• St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 7th & 8th October 2008
• Drummoyne Oval – 9th & 10th October 2008
• Waverley College – 9th & 10th October 2008

THE ‘ON THE BALL’ BEGINNERS PROGRAM

‘On the Ball’ is for girls and boys from 5 -7 years, who have perhaps never played cricket or who have just begun their cricketing career. In these sessions run from 9am to 12pm and are a great way to have fun and learn about the game of cricket.

• Lindfield Oval, Tryon Road – 29th, 30th September & 1st October 2008
• Scots College, Bellevue Hill – 1st, 2nd & 3rd October 2008
• St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 7th & 8th October 2008
• Drummoyne Oval – 9th & 10th October 2008
• Waverley College – 9th & 10th October 2008

EARLY BIRD BOOKING PRIZE

Your chance to win:

• 3 x HIGH PERFORMANCE INDIVIDUAL COACHING SESSION
• AERO LOWER BODY PROTECTOR (STRIPPER)

Enrol with your payment for any of our October programs before Wednesday 17th September 2008 and you’ll go into the draw to win 3 x High Performance Individual Coaching Sessions PLUS an AERO Lower Body Protector (Stripper) – TOTAL VALUE $300!

BRING THE WHOLE TEAM AND ONE PERSON COMES FOR FREE!

Enrol your whole team of 11 players (or you and 10 of your mates) in any of our October School Holiday Programs and one person comes for free. The free enrolment can be used for a club fundraiser or the reduced cost divided amongst the 11 players – up to you! To take advantage of this offer all 11 enrolment forms must be sent in together

Cheers

Mark