Cricstars Under-10 Cricket Starter Plan · Lesson 4 of 8
Lesson 3 introduced stopping and decision-making. Lesson 4 improves the quality of the pickup and return.
Children learn that stopping the ball is only the first step. A good fielder controls the ball, gathers cleanly and throws with purpose.
Where this lesson fits
This session joins three actions: move, gather and return. Slow them down first, then make the movement smoother.
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.
- 0-6 minutes: Cone Collectors warm-up
- 6-18 minutes: Gather and freeze drill
- 18-30 minutes: Underarm return relay
- 30-42 minutes: French cricket
- 42-55 minutes: Overarm throw progression
Main activities
Drill 1: Gather and Freeze
Roll the ball to the child. They gather it and freeze in a balanced throwing position before completing the throw.
Drill 2: Underarm Return Relay
Children gather and return in teams. Only clean gathers and catchable returns count.
Drill 3: French Cricket
A batter protects their legs while fielders use soft underarm throws. It mixes batting, fielding and reactions.
Coaching cues to use
Ask children to gather the ball before they think about throwing. A short pause is useful until they can keep their balance.
- Fast to the ball, calm at the ball
- Get low before picking up
- Step before throwing
- Underarm for close returns
- Overarm when distance needs it
Make it easier or harder
Make it easier: Roll the ball straight to the child and allow a pause before throwing.
Make it harder: Roll wider, add a target or ask for gather-and-throw in one smooth action.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Rushing the pickup
- Throwing while off balance
- Only teaching overarm throws
- Making relays only about speed
What progress looks like
Cleaner pickups and catchable returns are the signs to look for. A calm recovery after a fumble also counts as progress.
- Gathers more cleanly
- Uses two hands more often
- Throws safely to a partner
- Steps towards the target
- Recovers calmly after a fumble
Parent home version
Roll a soft ball along the ground. Ask the child to gather and return it, then add a bucket target.
Roll, gather and return a soft ball a few times. Increase the distance only when the returns remain comfortable and safe.
Coach reflection after the session
Were the returns catchable? If not, bring partners closer before increasing the pace.
The difference between stopping and gathering
Stopping the ball means the child prevents it from passing. Gathering means the child controls it well enough to use it. That difference is important. A child may block the ball with a foot or body, but if they cannot gather cleanly, the throw becomes rushed.
Lesson 4 teaches children to control the whole fielding action. Move to the ball, get low, gather, balance, then throw. This sequence becomes one of the most valuable habits in junior cricket.
Why underarm throwing still matters
Children often want to throw overarm because it feels powerful. But close cricket needs soft underarm returns too. A quick underarm throw to a partner's hands can be more useful than a wild overarm throw.
Teach the child that the right throw depends on distance and situation. Underarm for close control. Overarm for longer distance. Accuracy always comes before power.
How to build better body position
Throwing starts with the feet. If the feet point away from the target, the throw usually becomes inaccurate. Ask children to step towards the target before they release the ball. This single habit improves many throws quickly.
You can place a cone in front of the child and ask them to step through it before throwing. It turns alignment into a simple game.
Turning relays into real cricket learning
Relays are popular with children, but they only become useful cricket practice when quality matters. If the only goal is speed, children rush, fumble and throw wildly. Add simple quality rules so the game teaches the right habits.
For example, a team only scores if the gather is clean and the return is catchable. You can give bonus points for two hands, stepping towards the target or calling the receiver's name before throwing.
This turns a basic race into cricket learning. Children still get the excitement of competition, but they also understand that control, accuracy and teamwork help the team more than rushing.
Small coaching detail that makes this lesson better
When a child gathers the ball, ask them to pause for half a second before throwing. This tiny pause helps them feel balanced and prevents panic throws. Once balance improves, remove the pause and let the action become smoother.
More help from Cricstars
Explore fielding and throwing drills
Understand run-outs after a throw
What comes next
Previous: Read the previous lesson
Next: Continue to the next lesson
Full plan: Back to the Under-10 Cricket Training Plan