CRICKET THEN AND NOW KEY POINTS

n For the younger players, sport must be fun to ensure continued involvement.

n Awareness and parental education of age related growth spurts and overtraining and there effects on performance.

n Individualised training

programmes designed with insight into playing role and functional and physiological strengths and weaknesses in terms of fitness level and injury history – the focus is on symmetry in the body.

n Pre-habilitation training focus rather than Re-habilitation. Preventative exercise schedules are established to protect against possible injury occurrence.

WEEK PRE-SEASON PHASE WHICH CULMINATES IN A SERIES OF WARM UP GAMES SETS UP THE PLAYERS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR THE COMPETITIVE SEASON TO COME.

put into place to eliminate the early warning symptoms from worsening by means of a pre-habilitation programme.

THE PROFESSIONALS The senior squad report back in early March and go straight into pre-season activities. This year, in addition to sports specific batting, bowling and fielding practise we have prepared two days full of action packed sporting activities, designed to team build and boost team morale as well as acting as an ice-breaker for any new signings. Usually part of the pre-season is spent in hotter climates, such as India, Sri Lanka or South Africa. The hot climate guarantees good outdoor practise. We have great indoor training facilities at the county ground, Grace Road, but are fairly limited in what fielding drills we can do there. Obviously playing in an enclosed hall, on an artificial surface is unrealistic and the lack of cushioning could lead to potential impact injuries

www.sportEX.net

A GOOD, INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED CLOSED SEASON PROGRAMME FOLLOWED BY A 3-4

n Balance must be achieved between recovery time, fitness training and the sport specific practise - batting, bowling and fielding.

n Periodised planning, preparation and regular evaluation will help to monitor the success of the training programmes that we set for our players.

and joint problems. In hotter climates, allowing for careful acclimatisation, we are able to gradually increase intensity levels during nets sessions and ‘warm- up’ matches against local teams, knowing that the heat and natural playing surfaces would be kinder on their muscles and joints. Hydration levels are carefully monitored and our food intake cautiously scrutinised in attempts to avoid Delhi-belly!

FINAL WORLD’S PREPARATION For the worlds top players, cricket

THE AUTHOR

Susie Woolmer graduated from Loughborough University in 2003 with a BSc Honours Degree in Sports and Exercise Science with Management. She is in her third season as the full time strength and conditioning coach at Leicestershire

CCC, the only female in the country to have this role within county cricket. She works with the senior 1st and 2nd team, academy and sub-academy squads plus all age group squads of Leicestershire and Rutland.

21

is now a year long game. County cricketers often play 5 days per week during the English season and many of them play for Southern hemisphere or national teams during the winter so their closed season rest period is limited. Ensuring good practise from an early age lays the foundation for their future. A good, individually tailored closed season programme followed by a 3-4 week pre-season phase which culminates in a series of warm up games sets up the players physically and mentally for the competitive season to come.