A wicketkeeping training session
The wicketkeeper is a unique specialist position and requires unique practice. A keeper needs to practice just as hard as a bowler or batter but they often don't in club cricket. To combat this, here is my series on practices wicketkeepers can incorporate into training: Either in a team session or in a smaller group.
Structure of a wicketkeeping training session
This session assumes the participants understand the basics of keeping wicket and have kept in competitive games at some level or other. If you want to understand the basics of wicketkeeping, take a look at the BBC Academy.
1. General Warm Up (10-20 min)
The warm up is vital to reduce the risk of injury, so don't do what most club players do and skip straight to the skills session. (As you will be working on cricket specifics for most of the session there is no need to undertake the cricket specific portion of the warm up.)
2. Cricket Specific Conditioning (15-30 min)
This section is designed to work on general skills, fill in the gaps in conditioning and maintain the physical condition you developed pre-season. Start with a few minutes of core stability training to help reduce the risk of injury. Concentrate especially on exercises that work the legs, ankles and knees. You can then move on to skill sessions with the emphasis on physical training over technique improvement, however you should not let your technique drop too far as you are increasing the risk of injury.
This portion should last no more than 45 minutes and if you are less fit you should cut the time back. Always do at least 15 minutes to get the benefits. It's up to you what fitness elements you focus on. You can see some example drills here.
3. Skills Practice (15-45 min)
Once you have worked on your physical conditioning you can move to working on specific skill drills. The focus here is on skill improvement and maintenance so work on areas that you feel are weaker first. This practice should take the largest chunk of time of your session no matter how long you have.
The longer the better up to the point when you are too fatigued to practice effectively (that is to say when you start to lose form). Ideally you will also have access to a coach who can give you pointers as you train, although if this is not possible then a willing training buddy will do.
4. Team Practice (30 min minimum)
If you are practising as a whole team, now is the time to get back together and do some team practice. This will not be wicketkeeper specific and will focus on team skills. You could take part in fielding drills or have a cut down practice game. Either way the idea is to be working together. If you are working in a pair or smaller group then you can use this time to extend the other parts of your practice depending on your needs.
5. General Cool Down (10-30 min)
It is essential for injury prevention and recovery that you take a few minutes to cool down. This also gives the team a change to go over the session and discuss upcoming game tactics.
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[...] Play Better Cricket - Harrowdrive.com « A wicketkeeping training session Example Cricket Specific Conditioning Drills [...]
[...] This post is part? 3 of the wicketkeeper training session series. To go to part 1 click here. [...]
[...] the skills of wicketkeeping are practised. You need to do more the field a few throws before play. During training you need to spend as much time as you can working on all aspects of your game. That means keeping in the nets, working on specific drills with a coach, taking part in catching [...]
[...] Wicketkeepers are critical. Keepers are more attacking than ever. They stand up to the stumps to all but the fastest bowlers and are seen as the centre of the action in the field like never before. A good keeper can keep a side alive in the field just through chatter and getting every ball returned to them effectively. Make sure they practice their skills hard. [...]
I am a wicket keeper too but i can't simple stop balls bouncing and moving fast about 1/2 a metre off the ground at the same time after the batsmen misses it. Is this because i am standing to far back to catch it nicely?
David Boulton Of Kenya
David, it could be anything. Have you got a video of you keeping?
Hi,
Do you have any tips on how i could practice keeping by myself? Or perhaps some with the aid of a nother person?I am just starting out keeping and i liket it (i am 6ft 2") Will ths matter? I would like you to send me an email with some drills and tips for standing up to the stumps and some general tips. You could call it a dummies guide.
hi, when i was young i was a wicket keeper and then it sorter drifted away but now i am getting real keen to get into it again iam just curious on a few things like : how can i practice by my self is there any drills i can do by my self or anything like that and if you could send me some ideas on what to do and some tips would be much appreciated thanks heaps .......
Jack, it's hard to practice keeping on your own. Can you get a friend to help you?
Nick, check your emails I'll reply there.
I am Coaching at a primary school and playing club cricket as a wicket-keeper. Where can i get various drills to coah and practice?
What sort of drills Shane?
hi, i play under 13's and i'm a wicket keeper at my local club and we are winning alot of our games but the ones we've lost are due to bye's mainly because the ball has hit the side of the pitch and a little too far out for me to get but i noe if i dive for it then i'll easly stop it. i need the confidence too dive, i wont dive beacouse i'm afraid i'll hurt my-self. Do you have any drills or somthing along the lines of a drill to build my confidence?
thanks.
Daniel, W
i suggest that u give up wicketkeeping
the instincts of a keeper make him dive if u dnt hve those instincts ur nt a wicketkeeper
ur nt diving becoz u lack the instinct of keeper become a slips fielder
i suggest that u give up wicketkeeping
the instincts of a keeper make him dive if u dnt hve those instincts ur nt a wicketkeeper
ur nt diving becoz u lack the instinct of keeper become a slips fielder
That could be too harsh. You can develop a diving instinct by learning how to dive correctly. I would work with a keeper in the winter in the indoor nets with crash mats to develop technique then slowly build up the pressure.
sharp edges off the spinners bowling has been a bit of concern for me is der any drill or specific tech to improve on that....??
How can one be a good wicket keeper and also a very good opening bats man at the same time?
A heck of a lot of practice at both. Lots of fitness training, good nutrition, plenty of sleep, a big slice of luck, very good technical coaching and a decent raw talent. Easy!
Hey there. I'm 17 and I am playing E Grade as a Wicketkeeper. I want to become a strong batsman, but if I give up wicketkeeping I will be dropped, because I have only just started to focus on my batting technique. It is coming along, but it will need a little while before I can start making lots of runs. Could you please email me with some advice on how I should go about becoming a better batsmen? I am lacking in the nutrition and fitness fields. Thanks mate.
Paul
Have you looked at the videos and content on PitchVision Academy?
Yeah, but I can't afford it. Is there anything you can do to help me?
I recommend saving up, it's the best investment you can make in your own improvement short of paying a coach (which will be much more expensive). Until you have the monry there is plenty of free stuff to help you on here. Try the cricket nutrition and cricket fitness sections. You can also do a search.
i have a little problem when i couch down as a keeper why do my legs start paining the pain gets into my gastrocnemius area behind the leg so can you tell me what can i do to get that pain and be a normal keeper?
i am a 12 year old boy. i have no friends because they go for tutions. how will i practice wicketkeeping by myself
hi, i am doing pretty well with my keeping, i get most balls down the leg side, and take everything cleanly that comes through but i have a real problem with my reaction time to taking edges. if i get them its normally through luck, throwing my hands out. i dont know if my reaction time is lagging a bit with age!(im 34) Anticipating the edge is difficult and nearly impossible to train for because the only practice is when they come in the game, you can't train by getting a batsman to deliberately get edges! do you have any advice for this? many thanks
Hm that's an interesting one. What kind of edges are we talking about? Thin edges rarely deviate much so it just takes a slight adjustment. thicker edges that need a dive are harder, perhaps it's a footwork thing in that case?
Hi I am 21. I used to be a very good football goal keeper and have taken up cricket for last 18 months, i am not a bad keeper but not brilliant, any hints and tips which can be e-mailled will be welcome! any tips for not just how far to stand back but also where to stand, directly to the stumps, off to the right etc, i have trouble getting catches/stops of shots which are glanced very finely down leg side.
Is 21 to old to learn wicket keeping?
Regards
Joe
Hi Joe, pick up a copy of Wicket-Keeping: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering the Art It's got everything you need.
Hello,
I am a colts coach and am finding it difficult to find wicket keeping drills for the kids, we have a good u14 keeper but he has some very basic problems like rising with the ball, standing up to the spinner, and not giving with the ball, his footwork is good, he's not afraid of the ball but it is just those simple things i would like to work with him on, and i was hoping you could give me some training drills that would help him develop. if you could email me some drills that would be very helpful! Thank you.
Pratyesh
Have a look at the ebook above Pratyesh.
Pratyesh
Do you have a cradle? I feel this could be useful for training him?
Regards
Joe
hi im a wicket keeper and im now playing at a district level. Ive been told i can play county level but may problem is i cant seem to pick up legside balls when i stand up to spinners and slow bowlers. Is there any advice you can give me on improving this part of my game. It would be much appreciated thanks.
Q;Explain the meaning of ther term "long catches" in wicket keeping?
Q:Explain the meaning of the term"long catch" in wicket keeping?
I am a 15 wicket keeper and opener for my school's be team. We are a good side but my batting is getting a lot better but my wicket keeping is holding me back. I cannot bowl so this is a important trait for me. I have most trouble with taking edges for some reason. I can take any ball but if it is an edge i find it really difficult due to it feeling very important that i catch it and then i worry that i won't and AAAAAAhhhh... Help?
im a under 16s cricket coach and im tryin to improve this 1 kid at keepin. but his keepin stance is totally wrong can u email me any tips
thanx fraser
how to collect leg side boll
Sir,I Am 16 Year Wicketkeeper in my Team. I have problem in diving to off and leg side . The problem is that i am getting late on ball to collect and the ball pass under my gloves and my footwork is not good i start sometime run on leg side balls . And i cant pick up
legside balls when i stand up to spinners and slow bowlers.
plz send me email with some drills and technique to solve these problems.
and sorry for bad english