When done wrong, team meetings are a waste of time. I know. I spent years working in a big company who had the ability to make meetings about meetings last for hours for no reason.

So if you are going to have one make the most of it by doing it right. It's only respectful of the player's time.

As we are sport-loving types at my cricket club so there is normally a football being kicked around the outfield by a couple of players on the morning of a match. As we are competitive types too, this gentle kickabout tends to become a game with jumpers for goalposts, sliding tackles and elaborate diving in the box.

It might be fun, but is it a suitable way to warm up before a cricket game?

It's a systematic process of fittings, measurements and adjustments to get the perfect fit to your shape. It's a method that has worked to produce the finest suits in existence and it's one you can adapt to improve your cricket.

Just like a tailor, you can maximise your training and preparation so it becomes perfect for you. Also like making a suit, there is no simple way to reach perfection right way. It takes time, effort and attention to detail.

The captain is in the dressing room before the game giving his team a last minute talk.

He tells the boys that they have the talent and ability to beat this lot. All that needs to happen is this: Stay focused and switched on for the entire game. Let the will-to-win take us over the line.

A long time ago in another life I was a fitness instructor at a big gym.

Even back in the late 90's people would tell me at their first sessions that they didn't want to get too bulky. They wanted to tone up. As we know, it's all but impossible to accidentally get too big.

What's this got to do with cricket coaching?

I know a lot of young players reading this have dreams of becoming a full-time cricketer. Perhaps you are one of them (or perhaps you are a hopeful coach or parent). If so, this post is for you.

My question is this: are you giving yourself the best chance of making it as a professional?

This article is part of the 'Ask the Coaches' series. To get the full list of questions and answers click here.

Imagine you are coaching a typical club side of young cricketers. Aged between 11-13 they are of varied ability.

You've done the coaching course and read the books. Now you have been asked (or perhaps persuaded) into to running a junior side for your cricket club.

The youngsters come in all shapes, sizes and abilities. A few are natural athletes. Most struggle with some aspect of the game and are less than perfect, even after many sessions.

The trouble is that whilst you've learned the correct way to play a cover-drive or bowl an off-break, no-one has shown you how to correct even the most basic faults.

By Gary Palmer; PitchVision Academy Batting Coach.

If you don't bat with good technique and mental strength you are wasting your talent.

Great natural ability counts for little if you have technical flaws. Your desire to be a cricketing success is wasted energy if you have the wrong attitude.

I'm betting it's sore. More bowlers are reporting to their coaches with a niggle or problem, especially in the lower back. Fast bowling coach Ian Pont says he has never seen so many young players with so many problems.