Striking

Checklist of skill criteria:

1. Stand side-on to target
2. Eyes on ball
3. Hands next to each other, bottom hand matches the front foot (teeball)
4. Step towards target with front foot
5. Hips then shoulders rotate forward
6. Ball contact made on the front foot with straight arms
7. Follows through with bat around body

Teaching Strategies

For beginners (at the emergent level of striking skill development):

• Focus on skill criteria number 1 & 2
• Try using pool noodles, balloons and large soft balls on tees to introduce striking
• Use foot markers as a guide for where children should stand
• Hitting medium sized soft balls off small cricket tees is an excellent way to introduce striking
• Focus on distance over accuracy
• Play games such as Ready, Aim, Fire and Rapid Fire

For children at the developing level of striking skill development:

• Move on to teeball tees and smaller balls such as tennis 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
• Place targets further away and play games such as Rapid Fire

For children at the acquired or accomplished level of striking skill development:

• Introduce accuracy challenges
• Try hitting a moving or thrown ball
• Try games that employ some strategy - 6 Or Safe and Golden Child

Teaching Cues

1. Hands together
2. Ready: stand side on to the ball (use markers to assist)
3. Eyes on the ball
4. Step & Swing – step with the front foot towards the target (use a marker to step on to)