Cricket Goal and Objective Setting!

Goal Setting. Achievement/performance based.

Achievement: Motivation, long-term goals e.g. league/cup or short-term, win next match.

Take care: setting 'winning' over skill/team development.

Make: age/skill appropriate.

Must be: attainable/realistic but challenging.If goals are set too high it can be de-motivating.

Performance Goals: These are more under control of the young cricketer so more focus on these. Describe processes or actions that lead to achievement goals.

They need to be monitored and upgraded periodically.

Take care: when setting performance goals with younger players,

Make: sure they understand the actions they need to take achieve the performance goal.

Involve player/team in performance goal setting.

Be specific: Clear and written down. Players “sign up” for goals

Measurable: e.g. no more than one ball down leg per over.

Challenging: Goals set should include weaker players.

Flexibility: Alter as circumstances change.

Prioritise: Multiple goals should be listed in priority. Dot balls, better running of singles leads to wins.

Practical Goal Setting:

Leads to quality of performance. Direction and purpose. Clear form of assessment.

Team Standards:

Dress: Shirts tucked in, neat and tidy appearance. All wear team cap/hat/sweater etc.

Practice behaviour: Punctuality, attitude, focus.

Match behaviour: Spirit/conduct. Supportive structures.

Off field behaviour: Sitting and supporting as a team.

Team Goals:

Meet the team and discuss goals. Involve players in the process.

Write them down. Focus on key areas. Players have ownership; coach helps process. Review progress, provide feedback. Praise achievement. Positive feedback stimulates.

Individual Goals:

Personal goal plan. Short and long term.

Small, measurable achievement goals: Get 10 runs and build. Beat highest score etc.

Longer-term: Beat last year’s average, top wicket taker etc.Advise on goals-make realistic but challenging.

Personal improvement plan based on areas needing more attention. Offer advice for self-help drills.Review and ask players for feedback and self-assessment.

Preparation and Routines

Pre-game and within game. Be prepared. Pack kit the night before. Imagine going into bat-is all your kit there?

Pre-game routines:

Clear arrangements for arriving at the ground.Team meetings to discuss strategies, inspect pitch conditions.

Revise team plan/strategies/selection.General team warm up. Run/dynamic stretches.

Catching and fielding drills/batting drills etc.A well organised pre-game routine brings the team together and can impress/undermine opposition.

Final discussion-leave players time and personal space to prepare mentally.

Within game routines:

Team: Walk out together.At the end of each over run (as one) to new positions. Slow this down to reduce momentum if opposition getting ahead in the match.Encouragement of each other/bowler.

When wicket falls, get together as team. Congratulate and re-focus. Discuss ideas.

Encourage and develop team spirit.Work on backing up, fielding as a unit, supporting each other. Acknowledge this.

At a break or end of innings, batters/fielders walk off together to show solidarity.

Sit together and support when batting.

The key to goal setting is to get sign-up of all the players and to promote the team above individuals.Challenge the norm. Look to constantly improve, even if it is in small steps.

Team Spirit:• Take personal responsibility. Just like your cover drive, attitudes of team unity take practice. That means each player taking responsibility for his attitude on and off the field.

You must consider yourself a leader even if you are not captain. Show a never-say-die attitude, use positive body language, motivate others and be unwavering in your confidence. In short: be a team of captains.

• Pull together. The best teams all know what their goals are so they can all pull together the same way. Imagine a tug-o-war team all doing their own thing!

Cricket teams need to be just as efficient. This efficiency comes about through agreed goals at the start of the season and a captain who the team trusts to lead them in those goals even under the fast moving pressure of a game.

• Know your role, know everyone else's. Everyone in the team needs a crystal clear idea of their own job so they can concentrate on it fully (pinch hit, take wickets, stem the flow of runs, etc). On top of this, everyone needs to be clear of others role in the team so you all know all bases are covered.

• Unite against a common enemy. Nothing brings people together quicker than a common enemy. Show the opposition how united you are with tricks like running on the field together, doing impressive fielding drills, having a huddle and making them doubt themselves through well placed comments.

• Keep standards up. Standards of dress, appearance and practice vary widely but everyone needs to know what they are in your team. Ideally they will be agreed and written down in an obvious place. People who don't meet them quickly realise they are letting down the team unit.

• Balance out personalities. Some people are natural players in it for the fun, others have to practice hard to keep up standards so can be more focused and serious.

Everyone, especially the captain and senior players should know what type of players are in your squad and how much they can put up with of discipline or creativity. To force too much of one on the wrong player will cause them to get fed up and eat away at team spirit.

Good team spirit builds up the confidence of individuals. Even when you are playing badly, the team can pull you through it with the right words. Knowing someone is backing you all the way is a powerful way to improve your own performance and the results of your team.