I had my first net session last night for two years and now am unable to lift my arms above shoulder

[Berni]

height. :-( :old:

Also, I found it very odd. All these young bowlers insisted I wear a helmet because they 'wouldn't feel safe' bowling at me without one. :shrug:

This being the first time I'd played with them, I couldn't very well say to them that I'd faced a f**k sight better and faster bowlers than them without a helmet and not suffered any serious injury, so I duly complied. Most of them were quite a bit younger than me and this is clearly the cricket culture they've grown up with and seeing people playing without a helmet clearly freaks them out a bit. I do feel it speaks to a loss of moral fibre and a lack of intestinal fortitude, though.

So, in summary: Hell in a handcart.

[Pokster]

[Berni]

[Pokster]

[Berni]

one-day cricket are constantly using non-orthodox shots (which is fine), but also have terrible defensive techniques and are genuinely abysmal against short-pitched bowling. Their trigger movement is a great big step down the pitch followed by an attempt to belt the cover off everything. If I'd batted like that as a youngster I would now have no front teeth and permanent brain damage.

Different times, I guess.

[Monty91]

http://www.pitchvision.com/what-is-cricket-talent

[Berni]

kid because coaches of kids favour size and power over technique.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

This very night I am attending a presentation at my local club, Knocklyon United FC, as next season they are rolling out a program of "Catalan Training" to the Under 8 and Under 9 sides.

I may put my hand up tonight and point out to them what a complete f**king disaster it will be.

[Berni]

[barrybueno]

Didn't realise there's an actual world out there and people do things.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

It is not necessarily a chip-pissing on experience I am after, simply that I have stood as a parent on the sideline and watched this side develop from so called Nursery training through to Under 8 matches.

At various points mid-game I have seen Ninja fights, players playing on a different pitch in a different game and players stop in the middle of possession to stare and point at a passing helicopter / plane.

The concept of technique based Catalan training drills will simply be hilarious to watch. We are not dealing with a group of elite footballing prodigies here.

[Pokster]

and the kids to do, turns into a complete farce as some of them are only there as their dads push them to do it and they have no understanding/ interest in football.
There again, a kid turned up last week who had just been released by Leeds... he was head and shoulders above anything else we have or have played against this season.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

And indeed a few we have played against who you can just tell could be good.

The rest though are 7-8 years old and the concept of rigid drill based training is farcical.

[Pokster]

3v3 and have to pass it over the 1/2 way line works well

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

3 v 3 in training and (trying to) insist on a pre-agreed number of passes before any attempt on goal can be made, which in turn has to be within a defined line.

Of course they just shoot from anywhere.

[Ashberto]

only attacking the loose balls, and also on various techniques for tennis shots.

(At school I was never given a chance at cricket because the big lads who just thwacked it got all the chances.)

Point being is that if eight year-olds cannot learn technique these days then there's not enough moral fibre in the nation's breakfast or something like that.