When I was Head Coach of Somerset, my main intention was to develop a fielding unit that would smash all others out of the park.

We worked significantly on our positioning, our specificity with specialist deep fielders, "box men " and slips. We ensured that everyone could high catch and dive in an effective fashion. We focussed on our high traffic area fielders being excellent stump hitters.

Later that summer, Somerset won the T20 Cup beating Lancashire in the Final. Andrew Flintoff was caught after smashing the ball above the height of the floodlights, Dominic Cork was snared at slip to his first ball and Andrew Symonds was run out with a direct hit from backward point.

At the time, we were excellent fielders, yet I compare that 2005 outfit to the top teams in the World and they would now be deemed as normal, not exceptional.

It's true that the top end of the game have taken fielding to a new level.

International cricket, County/State Cricket and the T20 Franchises have resources to draw on and help their players develop world class fielding skills. They have no excuse.

So what's our excuse in Club and School cricket?

Why has the fielding level in the recreational and development environments of the game not made such significant progress?

4 Reasons for delayed development in fielding in school and Club Cricket

1. Accountability

Who is responsible for fielding in your environment? Who sets up the drills? Who monitors and reviews progress? Who's role is it to drive a high performance fielding practice culture?

Back in 2005, that role was mine. I targeted fielding as a focus, so it was up to me to drive the fielding project.

Now, in my school environment, I take on the CEO role: I give the accountability to the players as much a I can.

We help the players to learn drills and coaching points so they can drive and feedback on their own and others performance. Their standards are now driven internally rather than being overtly coach led.

Could your environment be trained to do this?

2. Athleticism

The more specific you can make your S&C drills in practice the more skill crossover and player 'buy in' can be achieved in a relatively short space of time.

A warm up incorporating a ball is a great way to start this. Get them throwing and catching over really short distances in some sort of invasion game and then expand the pitch. Change the rules to incorporate pick ups, catches, one handed, weaker handed, underarm, over arm, bring in some throwing targets and catching zones. The ability to work hard, build functional athleticism is only limited by your imagination.

When working in the gym ensure that you language is always linking the exercise to the fielding outcome.

"These squats now will mean that you will be able to create more power in your throwing base, which in turn will help generate more throwing pace & distance. It will mean that you can throw with your body and not just your shoulder."

3. Awareness of skill required

Keep telling your players about your fielding expectations. Tell them what you want to see. Show them when someone does it well, praise them when they start doing the little things that lead to massive gains.

The more you do this, the more their awareness will grow. Your language and drive will become their language and focus.

What does good look like? Keep challenging their view of what good looks like and in time, they will be challenging your view as their performances will exceed your initial expectations.

4. Specific practice

Everyone has to be able to stop, catch and throw. Work hard until you have got everyone on the same page.

Once this is achieved then start becoming specific.

Set up a "deep fielding group" and give them the accountability to deliver high balls into their own catching practice, get them to 'mit' to each other replicating the distances and pressurising each other to complete run outs in specific times.

Your "inner ring group" can be working together on stump hitting and diving practice.

Link specific practice to accountability" and watch your fielding performance soar.

There is no excuse.

Become your own Fielding CEO, set the vision and strategy and watch your fielding stock price rise.