I wrote this years ago, maybe still relevant. I'll post it first and then edit later.
...
I met A, who is a young 16 year old cricketer. He is very serious about his cricket, wishes to play higher grades and wants to put in the effort. He has also been selected in the probables of his state under 16 team - which means he has some preparation and talent already. How does he now change gears is the question.
Th first hurdle is to get your people on your side. In A's case luckily his father is very supportive and wants him to focus on the game and give it all he has got. In fact his father brought the young kid to me. Now that is out of the way, what next?
1. Assessment.
2. Gap analysis.
3. Process orientation
4. Preparation.
5. Monitoring / course correction
6. Achievement.
Assessment
A must assess himself or better still get himself assessed by qualified people on the three aspects - skill, physical and mental areas to begin with. Who does the assessment? Obviously the best in the business. Find yourself the best coaches and get yourself assessed. Coaches will make / suggest corrections. If they can give you a video analysis, great. If they cannot, make detailed notes. Hire them and pay them for their time wherever possible. But go to the best in the business - those who have had success earlier.
By the end of the assessment period (it could be a couple of days, a week or even 10 days) A would have an idea of the things he is doing right, things he needs to correct, the right drills to practice and a schedule of things to do in the right order. All these will help him follow a list of best practices (perfect practice makes perfect). A can now go back to his original net practice but consciously must practice the drills and ensure it is showing in his game. Performance confidence must improve now that his game has been deconstructed, analysed and corrected.
Gap Analysis
A must now look at the first goal he wants to reach - and set both process and performance goals to reach that.
Performance goals - lets say A wants to play Under 19 next year, he must aspire to score enough runs or take enough wickets to walk into the team i.e. a look at the runs scored by the top batsmen or wickets taken by the top bowlers will give an idea of the performances required say 500 runs, 40 wickets in X tournament, 300 runs and 15 wckets in Y tournament. (An even better way is to be part of winning teams and contribute match winning performances.)
Processs goals - to achieve the above performance, must deconstruct the process of batting, bowling, fielding and fitness with the help of coaches and trainers. Here one is looking at number of balls to hit, number of matches to play, balls to bowl,catches to take, fitness goals to achieve - and how to do it all right. The idea is to immerse oneself in the pursuit of right processes so much so that the result becomes a byproduct. The gap between what A is doing and what is required needs to be clearly spelt out in metrics - hours put in, balls bowled, matches played etc. to show in performance.
Process orientation
Skill - wise
A must understand the process to learn to self-correct faster in matches. This will require goal clarity - what A is setting as his year end goal, sub goals to achieve during the year, monthly or quarterly.
Constant Analysis
Journaling the entire process helps. Self-analyis and questioning until the few things that are bothering A will help. It requires extra work.
Higher than class average
A must also understand by now that all this work must translate into high performance. He now ought to feel confident enough to perform higher than class average.
Exposure to higher grades
To do the same A must consistently play and practice at levels higher than class avergae. A must expose himself to better coaches, better players - even thoguh it may appear difficult and challenging to hi,. Just being around them makes A learn a lot.
Process - wise
If the performances are not matching up, A must instantly get into self-correction mode i.e. go bcck to coaches for help (if they cannot help, find a better coach) and set it right. The faster A understands self-correction, the better it is for him. The only answer is an outside help.
The time for drastic change cannot be more than two weeks. After the initial disorientation, progress must be rapid.
Preparation
On all three areas must be now sorted out - skill, physical and mental. The goals, process, principles must be in place. Preparation must reflect in performance. If performance is shaky or below par, preparation has not been right.
Prepare always at a level higher than what you are used to.
Monitoring
If the performances elude despite all the preparation go back and understand what is hampering the performance. Is it a mental issue? Is there too much pressure? Are you enjoyig the game? Do you feel like going out and giving your best each game? To get better each game?
Find the key and you will perform. You have prepared remember.
Application
All it needs is application. Apply yourself. There is a time for preparation - its over. Now you are ready. With whatever you have you must get the best results. Have a bat score a hundred, a double, a triple. Have a ball get five wickets. On the field take catches, effect run outs, save runs.
Achievement
The idea is to keep at it until you achieve. One small process goal. One performance goal. Then push it higher. Play more games. Each level push yourself higher to the next level. There should be no satisfaction. More and more. On and on.
Until goal after goal is reached.
Th first hurdle is to get your people on your side. In A's case luckily his father is very supportive and wants him to focus on the game and give it all he has got. In fact his father brought the young kid to me. Now that is out of the way, what next?
1. Assessment.
2. Gap analysis.
3. Process orientation
4. Preparation.
5. Monitoring / course correction
6. Achievement.
Assessment
A must assess himself or better still get himself assessed by qualified people on the three aspects - skill, physical and mental areas to begin with. Who does the assessment? Obviously the best in the business. Find yourself the best coaches and get yourself assessed. Coaches will make / suggest corrections. If they can give you a video analysis, great. If they cannot, make detailed notes. Hire them and pay them for their time wherever possible. But go to the best in the business - those who have had success earlier.
By the end of the assessment period (it could be a couple of days, a week or even 10 days) A would have an idea of the things he is doing right, things he needs to correct, the right drills to practice and a schedule of things to do in the right order. All these will help him follow a list of best practices (perfect practice makes perfect). A can now go back to his original net practice but consciously must practice the drills and ensure it is showing in his game. Performance confidence must improve now that his game has been deconstructed, analysed and corrected.
Gap Analysis
A must now look at the first goal he wants to reach - and set both process and performance goals to reach that.
Performance goals - lets say A wants to play Under 19 next year, he must aspire to score enough runs or take enough wickets to walk into the team i.e. a look at the runs scored by the top batsmen or wickets taken by the top bowlers will give an idea of the performances required say 500 runs, 40 wickets in X tournament, 300 runs and 15 wckets in Y tournament. (An even better way is to be part of winning teams and contribute match winning performances.)
Processs goals - to achieve the above performance, must deconstruct the process of batting, bowling, fielding and fitness with the help of coaches and trainers. Here one is looking at number of balls to hit, number of matches to play, balls to bowl,catches to take, fitness goals to achieve - and how to do it all right. The idea is to immerse oneself in the pursuit of right processes so much so that the result becomes a byproduct. The gap between what A is doing and what is required needs to be clearly spelt out in metrics - hours put in, balls bowled, matches played etc. to show in performance.
Process orientation
Skill - wise
A must understand the process to learn to self-correct faster in matches. This will require goal clarity - what A is setting as his year end goal, sub goals to achieve during the year, monthly or quarterly.
Constant Analysis
Journaling the entire process helps. Self-analyis and questioning until the few things that are bothering A will help. It requires extra work.
Higher than class average
A must also understand by now that all this work must translate into high performance. He now ought to feel confident enough to perform higher than class average.
Exposure to higher grades
To do the same A must consistently play and practice at levels higher than class avergae. A must expose himself to better coaches, better players - even thoguh it may appear difficult and challenging to hi,. Just being around them makes A learn a lot.
Process - wise
If the performances are not matching up, A must instantly get into self-correction mode i.e. go bcck to coaches for help (if they cannot help, find a better coach) and set it right. The faster A understands self-correction, the better it is for him. The only answer is an outside help.
The time for drastic change cannot be more than two weeks. After the initial disorientation, progress must be rapid.
Preparation
On all three areas must be now sorted out - skill, physical and mental. The goals, process, principles must be in place. Preparation must reflect in performance. If performance is shaky or below par, preparation has not been right.
Prepare always at a level higher than what you are used to.
Monitoring
If the performances elude despite all the preparation go back and understand what is hampering the performance. Is it a mental issue? Is there too much pressure? Are you enjoyig the game? Do you feel like going out and giving your best each game? To get better each game?
Find the key and you will perform. You have prepared remember.
Application
All it needs is application. Apply yourself. There is a time for preparation - its over. Now you are ready. With whatever you have you must get the best results. Have a bat score a hundred, a double, a triple. Have a ball get five wickets. On the field take catches, effect run outs, save runs.
Achievement
The idea is to keep at it until you achieve. One small process goal. One performance goal. Then push it higher. Play more games. Each level push yourself higher to the next level. There should be no satisfaction. More and more. On and on.
Until goal after goal is reached.
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