We all know that using Strength and Conditioning exercises and programmes can have a monumental impact on many areas of our cricket performance and our mental health. Strength and conditioning (S&C) can also be utilised to help prevent injury in programmes known as Injury Prevention Programmes (IPP). So why, when looking at current research, are coaches not prescribing their players with any form of S&C work to either prevent injury or improve performance. One study (Soomro et al 2018) discovered that only 23% of cricket coaches were prescribing resistance training to their participants. This is a shockingly low number. This article will look at potential factors as to why more coaches aren’t using S&C.

A lack of awareness

The first area to look into is the lack of knowledge surrounding the use of S&C in cricket. Within coach education, there is very little information given to coaches about how to utilise S&C with their players. Most coaches who use S&C in their sessions have a separate S&C qualification or have self-educated themselves using online sites and articles. This is not sustainable due to the nature of education. Qualifications will not be cricket specific so coaches are then made to fill in the gaps with their own knowledge that may lead to players completing S&C programmes that aren’t optimal for a cricketers game.

All of these factors can lead to injury as well as little to no improvement in overall performance.

To fully unlock a player’s potential, they need to be fitter, faster and stronger. If coaches are not aware of how to do this, then certain players will never be able to reach the maximum potential. If we were to increase coaches’ knowledge through formal education (such as the R66T Academy Diploma), this would provide a clear basis of which coaches can utilise the growing world of S&C within cricket.

An intense cricketing schedule

The second issue that many coaches from research argued is the intense scheduling of cricket in the modern era.  At the highest level, players can play for 5 different teams in 3 different countries all in the space of one season.

S&C coaches struggle to design training programmes and prescribe them to the players.

Players are never in one place for an extended period of time. Away from the top level, academy-based players often have to fit cricket around their studies (GCSEs, A levels & university studies). This also means that they have less time to work with S&C coaches which may hinder their overall development, potentially scuppering their dream of playing professional cricket. At the grassroots level, scheduling may still be an issue despite only playing 1-2 times a week. Due to the nature of everyday life, other areas such as work and family often take priority over cricket and fitness. This means that players cannot focus as much on improving their cricket. Coaches across all levels feel as though they don't have enough time, the right expertise or facilities to start engaging their players in S&C exercises. This is where we at Cricfit can help you. Due to this time limit, cricket coaches should prioritise coaching cricket, we can help provide you and your players with a solution. Our programmes offer players a chance to take part in S&C sessions away from a sports hall and in their own time. 

The injury paradox

The third and final factor that is present in the literature is coaches' fear of injuring participants during S&C sessions. This is mainly present in coaches of younger athletes. The classic myth that lifting weight can stunt growth in children is false. Click here to gain a deeper understanding of growth related injuries and peak height velocity and watch a video where we talk about lifting weights for children in more depth. Studies have shown that children who have participated in strength and conditioning sessions have had largely positive outcomes in terms of improved strength (Stricker et al 2020). This improvement also translated to an increase in health, fitness, injury rehabilitation, physical literacy, and injury reduction.

Resistance training does not have to be specifically lifting weights!

Some children may not be competent in lifting weights, but this doesn’t stop them from engaging in body weight exercises. The gains in strength don’t have to be purely physical due to children’s muscles not experiencing hypertrophy. The strength can come in a neurological sense as developing a child’s motor neuron recruitment can lead to an increase in force output from muscles. It is also discussed how by engaging younger athletes in resistance training within sports programmes and PE lessons, a positive attitude towards exercise can be sparked. This helps break many children’s concept of what physical activity entails. It may also be used to help prepare athletes who are approaching 16 (age at which you can join most commercial gyms) to transition into a more rigorous training programme as well as providing a sense of familiarity with key movement patterns. This information can be used to dispel the stigma around using S&C with children allowing coaches to unlock a child’s true potential. 

How can you help to break the norm?

So, what does all this mean for coaches? An outline of the current issues with the use of S&C in cricket has been put forward outlining 3 key areas that may put coaches off using S&C. However, these have been addressed and argued against stating the actions coaches can take to change the current climate of S&C in cricket. 

In an effort to highlight this even more, we have teamed up with one of our own! Owen Brayne, a student at Liverpool John Moores University, is also a Cricfit member. As part of his studies, he’s conducting a survey of cricket coaches and their knowledge base, practices, perceptions, and beliefs surrounding the use of S&C to prevent injury in young fast bowlers (14-20). This is obviously an area we are passionate about so are keen to promote Owen’s great work. A link to the survey can be found here; https://forms.gle/HLamb36Yp8MDJxxE6 

References: 

Soomro, N., Hackett, D., Freeston, J., Blanch, P., Kountouris, A., Dipnall, J., Lyle, D. and Sanders, R., (2018). How do Australian coaches train fast bowlers? A survey on physical conditioning and workload management practices for training fast bowlers. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 13(5), pp.761-770.

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Stricker, P.R., Faigenbaum, A.D., McCambridge, T.M., LaBella, C.R., Brooks, M.A., Canty, G., Diamond, A.B., Hennrikus, W., Logan, K., Moffatt, K. and Nemeth, B.A., (2020). Resistance training for children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 145(6).

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