Striking (Cricket)

cricket striking

Striking is the most complex of the fundamental movement skills. Striking can be introduced in the Foundation year and by Year 2 most children should be able to demonstrate a two-handed strike. Most children will not instinctively know how to demonstrate a two-handed strike. Cricket striking involves reacting to a bouncing, spinning ball with a flat bat, requiring precise timing and varied shots based on ball delivery.

Teaching cues
  1. Grip – Hold the bat with both hands, one on top of the other. 
  2. Stand – Stand with your knees bent, like a surfer ready to move. 
  3. Bat Lift  – Lift your bat back, keeping your hands close to your body.
  4. Move & Swing – Move your body towards the ball step and swing the bat smoothly to hit. 
Teaching strategies

Body Positioning

  • Start side-on to the bowler, keeping your eyes on the ball at all times.

Equipment 

  • Begin having children use their hands to strike soft balls or balloons hanging from trees to get used to the motion.
  • Progress to using pool noodles as bats to hit larger, soft balls to help with grip and swing.
  • Set up dome cones for hitting balls off the ground, teaching basic bat-ball contact.
  • Use foot markers to show where children should stand to ensure proper positioning.
  • Practice hitting soft balls off small cricket tees to introduce the motion of hitting while standing side-on.

Power

  • Focus on hitting for distance, not accuracy, so beginners feel successful when making contact.

Fun Games 

Equipment 

  • Use plastic cricket bats to strike soft balls, gradually progressing to harder rubber balls. 
  • Encourage children to step towards the target with their front foot, use markers to help with this (step & squash the cone). 
  • Focus on children striking the ball as hard as possible and following through with bat around the body. 
  • Introduce hitting a moving ball by rolling a soft ball to the batter. 

Fun Games 

Challenges 

  • Introduce accuracy challenges with games like Precision Strike
  • Progress to hitting a moving ball that is underarm thrown or bowled by the bowler. 

Fun Games 

Skill criteria
  1. Stand side-on to the bowler, with your knees bent to stay balanced.
  2. Keep your eyes on the ball the whole time.
  3. Hold the bat with your hands close together, top hand firm and bottom hand relaxed.
  4. Step forward with your front foot and keep the bat straight.
  5. Turn your hips and shoulders as you swing the bat towards the ball.
  6. Hit the ball with your arms straight, making sure the bat is in front of your foot.
  7. Follow through with the bat, letting it swing around your body for a smooth finish.
Common errors
  • Incorrect grip – hands apart or the wrong way around
  • Standing front on to the target
  • Not stepping
  • No weight transfer
  • No follow-through
  • Not watching the ball

More activities