Talk at Jaisimha Cricket Academy to Young Cricketers

Ramakanth invited me to talk to the young cricketers training at the Jaisimha Cricket Academy before the season started. The group was about 40 with some boys playing for my old club which gave me so much of my identity and shaped me as a person - MCC - and some young trainees. Chetan and Ramakanth were around to help as was Ann.

 

We discussed the route to succeed as cricketers and humans - playing for the team, helping the team win and not just focusing on one's own performance. This would help in taking pressure of performance and even help in improving performance. 

We discussed the idea of the Why which is having a clear purpose, an understanding of the How which includes the Values and Processes and the What which is their goals. On the purpose we decided to keep Team Win as a good option. 

We discussed Values and the boys came up with values such as effort, honesty, team work, dedication, discipline etc. We discussed that values are shown through behaviors and not through words. We added the value of Growth or Learning Mindset to the above and I explained how a learning mindset can lead them to success. Effort, learning a new thing everyday, asking for help, setting bigger targets, getting process orientation were discussed. Arnav said he had read the book by Carol Dweck which was impressive. 

We discussed the importance of preparation - on physical. Skill and mental aspects. How they should know the standard, know where they are, and work towards that in a disciplined manner. Another formula for Performance was Potential minus Interference. We discussed the various kinds of Interference that messes with the performance.

In process we discussed the concept of deliberate practice and how they have to practice in a manner that they improve one skill at a time and practice that. I gave them the example of how Kapil Dev would decide that he would bowl only outswingers and bowl only that. The idea is to deliberately plan what to do in the session and practice that with full involvement of the mind and body. Like a bowler can plan to bowl only one delivery or a batsman can plan not to get out etc. Another important thing is to learn one thing everyday, take process feedback from coaches and measure progress. One thing they got was the idea of strengths and weaknesses and how n one should really strengthen their strengths because that is what will take them forward. Work 80 % on strengths and 20% on weakness. 

We did a small exercise on goals and they wrote some goals for the season and for their career. They asked some good questions on how to come back from a bad patch, how to handle disappointment etc. We collected some feedback and took a group pic with Vidyuth, Chetan, Ramakanth and the boys. Quite satisfying and I hope they take away and implement a thing or two.

Some feedback:

) Learned to keep team first. Do things that benefit the team and it will benefit us.

2) Learned about fitness standards and how to ask for help to improve. 

3) Got motivated to get the process right. Gained clarity on what to do and how to go about the most important things in life and sport.

4) Learned that we must work 80% on strengths and 20% on weakness (not to obsess over weak areas but improve them consciously through effort)

5) Performance Management requires us to prepare on Skill, Physical and Mental areas. To stay humble. To stay hungry and to stay foolish. Understood Deliberate Practice.

6) Know where you are and what you want and work to fill the gap.

7) Best motivation for cricket.

8) Plan before every session, ask feedback and play for the team 

9) Very informative and thought provoking session.

10) Learned how to become a better cricketer and human. Learned different aspects to work on. Learned the concept of deliberate practice.