Cricstars Under-10 Cricket Starter Plan Lesson 3 of 8
Lesson 2 taught children to aim at a target. Lesson 3 uses that same idea after stopping the ball.
Children learn that cricket is not only batting and bowling. Fielding gives every child a role and keeps them involved in the game.
This guide is written for parents, teachers, junior club volunteers and beginner coaches. You do not need expensive equipment or a perfect cricket ground. You need a safe space, soft balls, simple rules and a session that keeps children active.
Where this lesson fits
Lesson 3 focuses on active fielding and simple choices. The full eight-lesson pathway moves children from first contact with the bat and ball into bowling, fielding, smart batting, teamwork and finally a friendly mini match.
The important thing is continuity. Children should recognise ideas from earlier sessions and then use them in a slightly more advanced way. That is how a young player starts building confidence without feeling overloaded.
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.
- 07 minutes: Clean Your Room warm-up
- 718 minutes: Stop, pick up and throw
- 1830 minutes: Hit the Target throwing game
- 3042 minutes: Pepper fielding
- 4255 minutes: Two-target decision game
Main activities
Drill 1: Clean Your Room
Two teams move soft balls or bean bags from their side to the other side. It builds movement and quick reactions.
Drill 2: Stop, Pick Up, Throw
Roll the ball to the child. They move to it, get low, stop it and throw at a target.
Drill 3: Two-Target Decision Game
After fielding, the child chooses between a close safe target and a far challenge target.
Coaching cues to use
Children under 10 remember short phrases better than long explanations. Pick one cue at a time. Repeat it during play and avoid giving five corrections after every attempt.
- Go and meet the ball
- Get low
- Two hands when possible
- Step towards the target
- Choose before you throw
Make it easier or harder
Make it easier: Roll the ball slowly and use a large target close to the child.
Make it harder: Roll slightly to the side, add a time limit or ask the child to choose between two targets.
The best junior coaches adjust the task without making the child feel embarrassed. A beginner and a confident child can do the same activity with different targets, distances or scoring rules.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for the ball
- Making every throw about power
- Stopping the game after every mistake
- Ignoring decisions
Most mistakes at this age come from rushing. Children rush the swing, rush the throw, rush the run or rush the decision. Slow the learning down, then let the game speed it up naturally.
What progress looks like
Progress should not be measured only by runs, wickets or who looks the most talented. In this age group, progress often appears as confidence, better movement, safer technique and a child wanting another turn.
- Moves towards the ball earlier
- Bends lower when fielding
- Throws more accurately
- Chooses safer options
- Stays involved
Parent home version
Roll the ball from different angles. Call bucket or hands after pickup so the child chooses where to throw.
Home practice should be short. Ten focused minutes is enough. Stop before the child becomes bored or frustrated. The goal is to make cricket feel like something they want to return to, not another homework task.
Coach reflection after the session
After the session, ask yourself three questions. Did every child get enough turns? Did the session feel safe and positive? Did the children leave with more confidence than they arrived with? If the answer is yes, the lesson worked.
For Cricstars, the bigger aim is to help children build a cricket journey from the first backyard hit to clubs, coaches, teams and tournaments. A strong junior pathway starts with small wins like these.
Teaching children to attack the ball
A common beginner habit is waiting for the ball to arrive. Children stand still, the ball reaches them, and then they react late. Lesson 3 should gently change that habit. We want children to move towards the ball safely.
A useful phrase is go and meet the ball. This simple cue helps children become active fielders. They start moving earlier, bending lower and taking more ownership of the fielding moment.
Why decisions matter even at this age
Fielding is not only stopping and throwing. It is also choosing. Should the child throw to the close target or try the far target? Should they hold the ball or return it quickly? These are the first steps towards cricket awareness.
Keep the decisions simple. Use two targets, colours or coach calls. The child does not need match tactics yet. They only need to learn that looking, choosing and acting are part of cricket.
How to keep fielding fun
Fielding can become boring if children stand in lines. Use games with movement, team scores and quick rotations. Give points for clean stops, brave attempts and good choices, not only perfect throws.
This helps every child feel useful, even if they are not the strongest thrower in the group.
How to coach decision-making without confusing children
Decision-making should stay simple. Do not ask young children to think about run-out ends, match situations or field settings too early. Start with choices they can see: near target or far target, safe throw or challenge throw, hold the ball or return it.
Use colours if needed. Red can mean stop and hold, blue can mean throw to the bucket and green can mean return to the coach. Children enjoy this because it feels like a game, but they are actually learning to scan, listen and choose.
The long-term benefit is important. A child who learns to make small choices in fielding games will later understand cricket situations faster than a child who only practised throwing at one target.
What comes next
Previous: Read the previous lesson
Next: Continue to the next lesson
Full plan: Back to the Under-10 Cricket Training Plan