Cricstars Under-10 Cricket Starter Plan · Lesson 5 of 8
Lesson 4 helped children understand fielding control. Lesson 5 uses that understanding from the batter's point of view.
Children learn that batting is not only about hitting hard. A soft hit into a gap can be smarter than a big hit straight to a fielder.
Where this lesson fits
Help children spot open space before they hit. Contact and placement matter more than trying to strike every ball hard.
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: Space Invaders movement warm-up
- 6-18 minutes: Tee hits into large zones
- 18-32 minutes: Continuous cricket
- 32-45 minutes: Find the Gap challenge
- 45-55 minutes: Small team scoring game
Main activities
Drill 1: Space Invaders
Children move around without bumping into others. They learn to notice open space before batting starts.
Drill 2: Tee Hits Into Zones
Mark scoring zones. Children score for contact, placement and running.
Drill 3: Find the Gap
Place fielders so one open area is obvious. The batter looks first, then tries to hit where nobody is standing.
Coaching cues to use
Before each feed, ask the batter to point towards a gap. After the shot, talk about where the ball went rather than whether it was hit hard.
- Look for the empty space
- Soft hit can still score
- Watch the ball
- Run after contact
- Smart beats wild
Make it easier or harder
Make it easier: Use a tee, large zones and no fielders at first.
Make it harder: Add one or two fielders, smaller zones or bonus points for choosing the gap.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Praising only power
- Making zones too small
- Adding too many fielders too soon
- Turning it into adult shot coaching
What progress looks like
Notice whether the batter looks at the field, finds a gap and runs after making contact. The hardest hit need not be the best shot.
- Looks before hitting
- Hits into a wide zone
- Runs after contact
- Understands gaps
- Uses softer placement sometimes
Parent home version
Create two scoring zones with shoes or cones. Feed gently and ask the child to hit left, right, then choose the open side.
Make two wide scoring zones with cones. Try hitting into each one, then let the child choose an open zone.
Coach reflection after the session
Did children notice the empty space before the feed? Keep the gaps wide enough to reward the choice.
Turning batting from hitting into thinking
This lesson is where batting becomes smarter. Up to this point, many children simply try to hit the ball. Now they begin asking, "Where can I hit it?" That shift is important.
A child who learns to notice space early will become a better game player later. They may still have developing technique, but they are starting to understand cricket as a game of choices.
Use questions instead of lectures
Before the ball is fed, ask, "Where is the empty space?" After the shot, ask, "Was that near a fielder or away from a fielder?" These questions guide the child without making them feel criticised.
If a child hits straight to a fielder, avoid saying "bad shot." Say, "Good contact. Now can you find the empty side?" This keeps confidence high while improving decision-making.
Why running belongs in every batting drill
Batting does not end when the ball leaves the bat. In cricket, the shot and the run belong together. Even when hitting from a tee, ask the child to run after contact.
This builds the habit of reacting after the shot. It also makes the drill feel more like cricket and less like isolated batting practice.
How to make scoring zones easy to understand
Use big zones first. Mark three areas with cones: straight, left and right. At the start, do not worry about correct cricket shot names. The child only needs to understand that different spaces exist and that the batter can choose where to hit.
Once children are comfortable, add one fielder. Ask the batter, "Where is the empty space?" before the ball is fed. This one question makes the child look up and think before hitting.
Reward placement more than power. A soft shot into an empty zone should score more than a hard hit straight to a fielder. This teaches young players that cricket is a thinking game, not just a strength contest.
Small coaching detail that makes this lesson better
After every shot, ask the child where the ball went and where the empty space was. This quick question helps them connect the shot with the field, turning batting practice into simple game awareness.
More help from Cricstars
Explore beginner batting lessons
What comes next
Previous: Read the previous lesson
Next: Continue to the next lesson
Full plan: Back to the Under-10 Cricket Training Plan