Long Term Player Development

The Long Term Player Development Model for Cricket

Stage: FUNdamentals

Age Range:
6-9 Boys and 6-8 Girls

Key Points:
  • Fun and Participation
  • Overall Athletic Development including a wide range of movement activities
  • Development of the ABC's- Agility, Balance, Coordination & Speed
  • Introduction to the basic skills of throwing, catching and striking
  • Introduction to modified and simple games not formal matches
  • Participation in as many other sports and activities as possible
  • Introduction to simple rules and ethics
  • Well structured and monitored programme

Stage: Learn to Train

Age Range: 9-12 Boys and 8-11 Girls

Key Points:
  • Introduction to general physical conditioning for cricket
  • Shaping and patterning of more specific cricket skills
  • Continue developing athletic skills including ABC'S as part of programme
  • Modified games to teach understanding with 4:1 Practice: Competition ratio
  • Participation in at least 3 other complementary sport to cricket
  • Remedial support
  • Development of positive attitudes to self, others and activities engaged in

Stage: Training to Train

Age Range: 12-16 Boys and 11-15 Girls

Key Points:
  • Individualised training programmes with special emphasis on developing speed, strength and stamina
  • Provide Performance Lifestyle support
  • Development of more specific cricket skills
  • Extension of mental toughness training
  • Continued participation in other complementary sports with specialisation in cricket towards end of phase
  • Remedial programme support
  • Aim for a minimum 2:1 Practice: Competition ratio

Stage: Training to Compete

Age Range:
16-18 Boys and 15-17 Girls

Key Points
  • Individually structured physical, technical, tactical and mental skill programmes
  • Cricket specific technical and tactical work in simulated competitive situations
  • Mentoring and guidance by elite players
  • Advanced mental skills training
  • Performance lifestyle support
  • Ancillary capacity support related to fitness (diet, nutrition and hydration)
  • Remedial programme support

Stage: Training to Win

Age Range: 18+ Boys and 17+ Girls

Key Points:
  • Maintenance of physical capacities
  • Further development of match-specific skills
  • Focus on peaking for particular matches and tours
  • Focus on team dynamics
  • Regular prophylactic breaks
  • Remedial programme support
  • Performance lifestyle support

Stage:
Retirement, Retraining and Retention

Age Range: Various chronological ages

Key Points:

  • Comprehensive service of training and support
  • Involvement of PCA
  • Early identification of talent and system for retaining talent within the sport
  • Performance lifestyle support

ECB (2006) Planning for Long Term Success:
Guidelines and Principles.