Staffordshire Cricket Board

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.