Under 9s Session Plans- Week 7

U9s coaching is based on the ECB All Stars Program. To watch the videos you need to sign up at the ECB icoach website – its free :-
https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/

Volcanoes & craters

• Video: https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/activity/all-stars-cricket/690
• Aim:
  Get ready for action
  Different whole-body movements
  Teamwork
• Equipment: Balls, Cones, Bean Bags
• Organisation:
  Two teams – volcanoes and craters
  Spread cones out over playing area as volcanoes (down) and craters (up)
  The teams turn as many of their opposition’s cones over as possible
  Cones cannot be protected
  Use different types of movement around playing area
  Count the cones at the end to decide a winner
• Adaptation/variation:
  Easier
  S – Decrease size of playing area
  T – Use two hands to flip cones
  E – Use cones only
  P – Match players by ability
  More challenging
  S – Decrease size of playing area
  T – Place a ball or bean bag on or under a cone
  E – Introduce balls or bean bags
  P – Play with uneven teams or give one team a head start

Batting – Three Bats

• Video: https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/activity/all-stars-cricket/709
• Aim:
  Batters hit the ball and score runs
  Fielders get the ball quickly
  Communication
• Equipment: Cones, Balls, Stumps, Bats
• Organisation:
  Split All Stars into a batting team and a fielding team. The batting team start with three bats and the activator starts with the same
  When the batter hits the balls, they run around a cone and pass their bat onto the next person in the queue who doesn’t have one
  Fielders will retrieve the balls and get them back to the activator who can bowl as soon as a they have a ball in hand
  If the batter is bowled or caught, the team loses a bat
  When they lose all three bats the teams swap
• Adaptation/variation:
  Easier
  Increase the number of bats the team starts with
  Reduce the distance they have to run
  Use larger balls
  Start fielders a greater distance from the batter
  More challenging
  Reduce the number of bats the team starts with
  Increase the distance the batting team has to run
  Use smaller ball
  Increase number of ways batter can lose lives e.g. three misses in a row

Bowling – Star strike

• Video: https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/activity/all-stars-cricket/641
• Aim:
  Straight arm when bowling
  Co-ordinate body movements for bowling action
• Equipment: Balls, Cones, Stumps
• Organisation:
  In pairs or small groups, bowlers attempt to hit the cones and stumps
  Bowlers rotate with wicketkeeper after each attempt
• Adaptation/variation:
  Easier
  S – Decrease pitch length
  T – Bowl underarm or increase target area
  E – Use larger ball
  P – Increase group size
  More challenging
  S – Increase pitch length
  T – Decrease target area
  E – Use smaller ball
  P – Decrease group size

Fielding – Deep space fielding

• Video: https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/activity/all-stars-cricket/681
• Aim:
  Throw a ball
  Teamwork
• Equipment: Balls, stumps
• Organisation:
  Set up a pile of different balls on one side of a large playing area and a group of stumps on the other side
  Set up a semi-circle/corden around the stumps that players cannot enter
  All Stars pick up a ball and throw as far as they can towards the stumps
  Players then run to their ball, pick it up and throw again
  They continue until they reach the semi circle where they try to throw the ball to knock down the stumps
  Once they have had a try they run back to the ball pile and start again
  The game continues until the stumps are all knocked down
• Adaptation/variation:
  Easier
  Work in pairs or groups to help get the ball further
  Reduce the distance from the throw line to the stumps
  Make the playing area smaller so less throws needed
  Group the stumps closer together
  More challenging
  Increase the size of the playing area
  Increase the distance from the throw line to the stumps
  Spread the stumps out so more difficult to hitActivators race All Stars to the balls that have been thrown, knocking them back further

Game – Continuous cricket

• Video: https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/activity/all-stars-cricket/667
• Aim:
  Batters score runs
  Fielders help wicket taking
  Teamwork
• Equipment: For each game: Balls, Bats, Cones, Stumps
• Organisation:
  Two teams, four players maximum on each side
  Bowler, activator or volunteer bowls
  After hitting the ball, batter scores by running around the cones
  Fielders return ball to bowler as quickly as possible
  Bowler can bowl at any time once they have the ball
  Batters can be caught or bowled out
  Three hits per batter and rotate
  Both teams bat
• Adaptation/variation:
  Easier
  S – Decrease running distance or spread fielders out
  T – Activator or volunteer feeds or bowls for both teams
  E – Use larger ball
  P – Change the game to suit the batter’s ability
  More challenging
  S – Increase running distance
  T – Introduce scoring zones
  E – Use smaller ball
  P – Introduce scoring or increase the number of fielders