Writes Philip Davies, Director of Cricket
This half-term, our cricket team have been going to Watford Gymnastics Centre every Wednesday to work on their physical skills to improve their cricket performance (specifically fielding).
The first part of the sessions have been focused mainly on strength and conditioning, where we completed a range of exercises designed to improve explosiveness, strength, stability and overall fitness. The second part of the sessions focus heavily on movement, landing and diving for fielding specific aspects.
They have practised moving quickly in different directions, getting low to the ground, and rolling and diving safely to reach balls that would otherwise go past us. The crash mats have come out for some of the more explosive movements, whilst they’ve been learning the techniques and slowly progressed to be able to it without any aid. These skills are especially useful in cricket as fielders need speed, agility, strength and good movement to stop runs or take catches.
Overall, the sessions have been a great experience for everyone. Although the team have worked hard every Wednesday, they have also had a lot of fun and enjoyed training alongside their friends and teammates.
The gymnastics centre has given the boys a different environment from our usual cricket training, allowing us to develop physical skills that we can take onto the cricket field. The strength and conditioning will help to become more powerful and athletic, while the movement and diving work should give everyone more confidence when fielding and enhance our impact on the game in the field.
It has been an enjoyable half-term, and the team are looking forward to putting what they have learnt in practice into their matches in the summer.
