How to Coach a Wicket Keeper

Cricket is an 11-player per side team sport with small similarities to baseball that has a large following in certain parts of the world, including the United Kingdom---mainly in England, Southern Africa---mainly South Africa and Zimbabwe, the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand and especially India and Pakistan. The wicket keeper in the sport of cricket is one of the most important players in the game. One team member is designated to fit the role and he can be the difference between the team achieving and win, a loss or a draw.

Things You'll Need

  • Helmet
  • Shin pads
  • Wicket keeping gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start with a warm up. Some simple exercise drills that target the legs, ankles and knees should do the trick. This is important for the wicket keeper as he will often be forced into sudden bursts of activity from a static position and injuries can easily occur.

    • 2

      Do exercise drills involving foot speed. Skipping, ladder and hurdle drills will help increase foot speed and coordination. This will ultimately help when it comes to footwork technique.

    • 3

      Practice on stance technique. Do individual or team bowling practice with the wicket keeper in the proper stance: on the balls of the feet, leaning forward slightly in a crouched position, head motionless and always following the ball, hands together and fingers spread out.

    • 4

      Practice the proper footwork involved. First practice while telling the wicket keeper where the ball is going to be bowled. Then practice without notifying of its direction and let the wicket keeper use his own judgment of its flight.

    • 5

      Practice hand eye coordination and reflexes. This can be best achieved by simulating match conditions: having the wicket keeper practice by standing behind a wicket with a real bowler and a batsman in between.