Cricstars Under-10 Cricket Starter Plan · Lesson 1 of 8
This is the first step in the Cricstars Under-10 Cricket Starter Plan. The aim is not to build a technically perfect cricketer in one session. The aim is to help a child feel safe, excited and brave enough to try cricket again.
Children learn to watch the ball, swing with balance, make contact, catch softly and enjoy the feeling of being involved.
Where this lesson fits
Begin with easy contact and soft catches. Children should leave knowing where to stand, when to run and how to ask for another turn.
Session snapshot
- Best age group: Children under 10, especially beginners aged 5 to 9.
- Session length: 45 to 60 minutes.
- Best equipment: Soft balls, cones, junior bats, tees, buckets, stumps or simple targets.
- Coaching style: Short cues, lots of turns, praise effort and keep the session moving.
Minute-by-minute session plan
Use this as a guide, not a strict script. If children are learning well and enjoying one activity, stay with it a little longer. If energy drops, move quickly to the next game.
- 0-5 minutes: Welcome, safe area and animal movement warm-up
- 5-12 minutes: Bat tapping challenge
- 12-25 minutes: Tee hit and run
- 25-37 minutes: Soft catching circle
- 37-45 minutes: Mini hit, run and catch challenge
Main activities
Drill 1: Animal Movement Race
Children move between cones using jumps, side steps, fast feet and bear crawls. It builds coordination before technique starts.
Drill 2: Bat Tapping
Children tap a soft ball with the bat. Beginners can allow one bounce. Confident children can count consecutive taps.
Drill 3: Tee Hit and Run
Place the ball on a cone. The child watches the ball, hits it and runs to a safe zone. Score effort, contact and running.
Coaching cues to use
Start with "watch the ball". Once the child makes contact, move to catching with soft hands. Give one clear cue and another chance to try.
- Watch the ball until it reaches the bat
- Soft hands when catching
- Small swing first
- Run after contact
- Try again with a smile
Make it easier or harder
Make it easier: Use a bigger soft ball, allow one bounce and let the child hit from a tee.
Make it harder: Ask the child to hit into a zone, count clean contacts or complete a hit-and-run challenge.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Correcting grip too early
- Using hard balls too soon
- Making children wait in long lines
- Only praising big hits
What progress looks like
Look for a child watching the ball, trying again after a miss and catching without pulling away. Confidence is the first useful result.
- Watches the ball more often
- Swings with better balance
- Catches with less fear
- Runs naturally after hitting
- Asks for another turn
Parent home version
Use a cone as a tee. Let the child hit five balls, run to a marker after each hit, then catch five gentle throws.
At home, five tee hits and five soft catches make a useful short session. Finish while the child still wants another go.
Coach reflection after the session
Did each child have repeated chances to hit and catch? Note anyone who held back so you can make the first activity easier next time.
How this should feel for the child
The first cricket session should feel light, safe and exciting. A child should not walk away thinking cricket is full of rules they do not understand. They should walk away remembering that they hit the ball, caught something, ran around and had fun with a parent, teacher or coach.
That feeling matters. At under-10 level, confidence is often more important than technique. A confident child is willing to try again. A nervous child may stop listening, avoid the ball or decide cricket is not for them. This is why soft balls, short turns and positive language are so important in Lesson 1.
How to manage mixed ability
In almost every beginner group, some children will swing naturally while others will miss the ball repeatedly. Do not let the stronger children become the only focus. Give confident children harder targets and give beginners easier ways to succeed.
For example, one child can hit from a tee into a wide space while another tries to hit a moving feed into a smaller zone. Both children are doing the same lesson, but the challenge fits their level.
What a coach should watch closely
Watch the child's eyes, balance and reaction after mistakes. If they keep looking at the ball and want another attempt, they are progressing. If they look scared, frustrated or embarrassed, reduce the difficulty immediately.
The best sign in Lesson 1 is not a perfect cricket shot. The best sign is a child smiling after contact and running back for another turn.
Simple scoring idea for this lesson
Use a scoring system that rewards effort and confidence. Give one point for watching the ball, one point for making contact, one point for running after the hit and one point for trying again after a miss. This keeps the session positive for children who are still learning to hit cleanly.
When children see that effort earns points, they stop worrying about being perfect. That is exactly what Lesson 1 should achieve.
More help from Cricstars
Explore beginner batting in Cricstars Academy
Find more junior coaching activities
What comes next
Previous: This is the first lesson in the series.
Next: Continue to the next lesson
Full plan: Back to the Under-10 Cricket Training Plan