The delightful art of coaching

PERHAPS the most asked question of me these days is why do I continue coaching?

BOB SIMPSON

PERHAPS the most asked question of me these days is why do I continue coaching?

After all, I have now been involved with first class cricket for over 50 years and have enjoyed the best fortune both as a player and then as a coach.

On a very hot, humid day, I sometimes query my own good sense. But then, as I was reminded of recently when I was helping the CCI Coaching Academy in Mumbai I understand why.

It is not the delight in working with an uncut gem, though that can be exhilarating, but the satisfaction I derive from imparting of my knowledge successfully to a youngster.

It doesn't have to be the most promising boy and is often not as it was in Mumbai.

On this occasion I was working with a youngster who bowled leg spinners. He was a burly strong boy full of enthusiasm and love for the game.

After a short time he asked me how he could spin the ball more. This is an often asked question as all leg spinners want to rip it like Shane Warne.

My solution to this is to suggest the bowler stand at the bowling crease and with only one step deliver the ball.

The reason is simple — for the ball to reach the other end the bowler must use all the components of the body needed to project the missile and impart spin, such as body, hip, shoulder and finally wrist and fingers.

Invariably almost everyone who tries this, spins the ball more, not always accurate but they do rip it.

On this occasion my young charge got it right. His body position was right, his hip drive perfect, the combination of wrist and fingers spot on.

The ball fizzed out of his hands arched with perfect flight dropped on to a length and spun and jumped.

It was a magnificent ball, but the amazement on the bowler's face and the huge grin of satisfaction was even better.

A grin I must admit that never left this young lad's face during my time at the camp.

The lad had a new toy to work on and a grasp of the mechanics of leg spinning.

No one worked harder than this lad and he improved with every session.

Just how far this youngster will go is now up to him and other coaches.

I will monitor his progress and instructions and guidance given to his coach.

I will be delighted if he does play first class cricket, but I have already reaped reward with that wonderful first smile and the satisfaction that I have helped a cricketer to be a little better, for after all that is the prime responsibility of a coach.

I am continually amazed at the young talent in Indian cricket.

Once again this was on show at the CCI's Academy.

What was amazing was that these weren't the top 20 youngsters in India, but between the 140th and 160th.

Why you might ask?

The CCI each year asks every State Association to send two boys to Mumbai for trials and select 20 out of this lot.

Unfortunately they don't get the pick of the crop. For 40 of this group go to the Bangalore BCCI Academy and the three cricket zones each take another 20 boys for their own academies. Total 140 boys in all.

Even allowing for the talent of the youngsters was outstanding, it is an extremely generous gesture by the CCI and their sponsor, The Heinz company — Complan.

The youngsters attend the camp for two months and are housed at the CCI.

Thanks to the CCI's president Raj Singh, invitations were also extended to two lads from Nepal and Kenya.

One of the Nepali youngsters, a leg spinner, was as good as any spinner at the camp and his enthusiasm and attitude was remarkable.

Kenya sent a young wicket-keeper who I think was better than their World Cup 'keeper.

It is always fascinating to be involved in such a camp for it allows me to gain an overview of coaching in various countries.

One of the things that did worry me at this camp was that video analysis showed that every batsman picked the bat up in preparation for his stroke exactly the same way.

This is a trend I have seen in other countries and it offends me, as it appears we are cloning young talent. Picking the bat up in preparation for a stroke is a vital component of the rhythm factor of the initial movement to get into the right position for your spot.

By trying to teach everyone to do it the same way you stifle the natural instinct and this inevitably makes players more ponderous in their movements. This cloning is obviously coming from the rush to accept biomechanics theory which seems to be suffocating naturalness in coaching these days.

Biomechanics and video replays are useful tools in coaching, but they are not gospel. I keep hearing that the biomechanics say this is the way to go. Just a moment, do biomechanics suggest that there is only one right way?

It is now such a loose term that it frightens me.

Even more so when I hear one former great Test bowler and now a coach answer to a query from another coach `as to why a movement should be done in a certain way?' His reply was scientists say so!

That is a worry and it is time now we looked at this so called scientific approach.

Years ago in the early days of biomechanics I was approached by a so-called biomechanic. I was the Australian coach at the time and very keen to examine any new idea. For 20 minutes, I battled to understand his new jargon. Finally I caught on biomechanics was just a new expression for technique, something, I had known for 40 years.

When I suggested this he was very indignant and said it wasn't and was all about movement of the body.

Funny I had always thought technique was also so. My worry about the biomechanics is that they appear to be suggesting that there is only one way to do things, their way.

This concerns me greatly for every individual is different and so are their natural movements.

Stifle their natural movements and you reduce a player's efficiency.

If we don't there will be sameness about our game and cricket will be poorer for it.