In another article we talked a bit about how PitchVision Academy courses can make you a better cricketer. But real improvement is not just about having the coaching advice; it's about acting on it: Action always trumps information.

Here are 2 simple ways you can start acting and start improving.

1. Start recording your results

It's often said that you can't improve what you don't measure. For people trying to lose weight this is simple: they check the scales and adjust how much they eat or exercises accordingly. Cricketers don't have an equivalent of scales.

Or at least they didn't until the PitchVision system became available. As you probably already know, PitchVision is a 'hawkeye' style system for cricket clubs, coaches, sports centres, cricketers and cricket playing schools. It gives you detailed feedback on a wide range of cricket performance measures.

How can this help? Let's look at the example of a fast bowler (although batters and fielders can also benefit).

This bowler is a member of PitchVision Academy. He has access to the PitchVision hardware through his cricket club and his school. He has also enrolled on Ian Pont's fast bowling course (which he got at a discount rate thanks to his Academy membership card).

Here is how he makes improvements to his speed and accuracy:

1. He tests himself on his club PitchVision system and finds out his bowling speed and accuracy.
2. He views this on PitchVision Academy and checks out the drills on Ian's course.
3. He attends his next coaching session and starts to learn the professional tricks for pace and accuracy that Ian has taught him.
4. He tests his speed and accuracy again, this time at his school. However because he is an Academy member he can compare results from both systems on the Academy website.

If he has improved he can continue to do the same thing. If he has seen no change he can contact Ian through the course and ask his advice as to why.

Suddenly he has gone from hoping he will get faster and more accurate to knowing exactly how to do it and get feedback on if it is working. How could he fail to improve?

The first method is all about feedback and response: Scientific and rational. This second method covers the more emotional side of trying to improve.

It's been proven time and time again that you are more likely to achieve your goals if you surround yourself with supportive people. If every one of your friends and family were a cricketer, how much easier would it be to find someone to have a net with?

On the days where you don't feel motivated to train, or do the drills and exercises on an Academy course you need like-minded people to turn to for social support. We all get days like that sometimes.

PitchVision Academy membership helps you do this, even if the people in your life are not as supportive as you hope they might be. You get an exclusive weekly newsletter with tips and advice that appear nowhere else. You can compete in the PitchVision World League to see how you compare with players all over the world. If your coach has PitchVision they can email you your feedback so you have things to work on right away.

You even get to brandish your PV Academy membership card and Auto-ID tag with pride: You are in the club. Knowing there are people all over the world in the same position as you helps keep you motivated when all else is failing.

You PV card also gives you access to another form of motivation. Sport psychology call it 'extrinsic' and it's also been proven to work in studies. You exploit it like this:

1. You tell yourself if you improve your batting strike rate by 10% you will buy a new bat
2. You test your strike rate using the PitchVision system at your club or sports centre
3. You practice hard, possibly working on the technical drills in Gary Palmer's drives course.
4. You retest, finding your strike rate has gone up by 11%
5. You use your PV membership card to buy a brand new cricket bat at a discount rate from a PV approved retailer.
6. You feel great!

PitchVision Academy is all about action

So from courses to measuring results to extrinsic motivation, PitchVision Academy is all about the most important part of improving your game: action.

Until now this kind of laser focus preparation could only be exploited by international cricketers with expensive systems and top level coaches. Now you can act in the same way at a fraction of the cost. It will give you the edge when you try to make it to the next level.

Image credits: PitchVision Academy, xiaming