Coaching Insight Volume 8 | Page 38

36 Blue Ball Batting BLUE BALL BATTING AGAINST... Short, fast bowling Box clever Put your boxing focus pads on and take some hits from your batter. Look for the transference of weight and use of the whole body for power. To build on that, use a medicine ball and throw it to each side of the player, asking them to absorb the weight of the ball. Your player needs to be thinking of the cut shot when you throw the ball to their strong side, and the pull on their weaker side. One-armed bandit In the net, feed balls for a pull and for the cut, looking to build confidence for the batter. Build on that by asking them to play the same shots one handed, with only their leading hand on the bat. Watching that, we can see if there are weaknesses in the player. Is there a solid base made with the feet? Are the hands fully engaged? Crank up the pace Keep putting pressure on the batsman, working the pace of the deliveries up with a Sidearm thrower, but at the same time allowing room for mistakes. As the pace goes up I’m still looking at whether the body position can be maintained – is the balance there? Is the point of contact still where it needs to be? If not, is that a confidence issue or slow reactions? These are all things that you can discuss with the player afterwards – ask them where they thought they could improve.