Developing Players
W
e all know of clubs that focus
solely on those cricketers who
they believe will give them the best
chance of winning consistently.
These types of programmes will be
focused on ensuring no more than
four players will ever have an integral
part to play in a team performance
and the team’s success is down to
how successful these individuals are.
There is of course value in
developing the better players
further, although it cannot be to the
detriment of other members of the
team. Comments from coaches at
the start of a match such as “we will
win if our star batsman scores runs”
is something that not only puts huge
pressure on that individual but also
becomes demotivating to the rest of
the team.
There are many examples where this
type of mindset has not worked and
the blame is apportioned to those
few cricketers rather than the coach
who has developed this way of
working.
There are other examples of where
one or two individuals have carried a
team to success, although at some
point the other members of these
teams will have played an active role.
In a competitive environment it is
understandable that coaches,
managers and even parents have an
expectation that the more able
players within a group receive the
majority of the input.
Although we can understand this, it
does not make it acceptable and in
many cases leads to a deterioration
in those who are actually taking part
(the other players in the team),
which in some cases can lead to a
disengagement with the sport.
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