ARMAGH CRICKET CLUB ACADEMY - Junior Cricket At Armagh CC
Nurturing the Next Generation: Fun, Fundamentals, and Lifelong Skills
Armagh CC Digital Academy: Junior Cricket At Armagh CC
Nurturing the Next Generation: Fun, Fundamentals, and Lifelong Skills
Starting a journey in cricket is one of the most exciting milestones for a young player and their family.
At Armagh Cricket Club, our Junior Academy is here to help players enjoy the game, build confidence and learn the basics in a safe and positive environment - transforming that initial curiosity into a lifelong passion for the game.
This guide is written for junior players first, helping them to develop fundamental athletic skills, forge deep friendships, and learn the core values of teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship at our historic grounds on The Mall.
Parents and guardians will find it equally useful for understanding what their child will experience at our academy sessions - and how they can support their development at home.
Quick Navigation Index
Click on a section below to jump straight to your training focus:
Part 1: Welcome to The Mall
Getting Started - New Junior Players & ParentsPart 2: Moving, Catching, and Throwing
Essential Athletic Foundations - All Junior AgesPart 3: An Introduction to Batting and Bowling
First Skills - Beginner JuniorsPart 4: How Junior Matches Work
Match Formats - All Junior AgesPart 5: Fun Cricket Games and Home Skill Challenges
Home Practice - All Junior AgesPart 6: Captaincy and Team Spirit
Junior Leadership - All Junior Ages
Part 1:
Welcome To The Mall
Junior cricket at Armagh Cricket Club is about learning, trying, improving, and having fun.
We do not just look at match results. We also value effort, teamwork, confidence, and the way players support each other.
📋 A Typical Armagh CC Junior Session
🟢 Warm-Up (10-15 minutes)
Fun movement games, tag, and simple drills to get the body ready and the mind switched on.
This is one of the most important parts of the session - never skip it!
🟡 Skill Stations (30 minutes)
Small groups rotating through catching, throwing, batting, and bowling drills.
Every player works on every skill - nobody specialises too early.
🟡 Match Play or Games (35 minutes)
Modified games where players put what they have learned into action.
This is where cricket becomes real and exciting - mistakes are part of the fun!
🔴 Wrap-Up (10 minutes)
The whole group comes together to talk about effort, teamwork, and the key lessons from the session.
Every voice matters - coaches want to hear from players, not just talk at them.
⭐ Every session is designed to be active, positive, and fun. If you are enjoying yourself, you are doing it right.
✅ Junior Session Checklist
Have I brought my water bottle and any kit I need for the session?
Am I ready to try my best - even at the things I find difficult?
Am I ready to encourage my teammates as well as myself?
Am I going to listen carefully during the wrap-up and share what I learned today?
Part 2:
Mastering The Basics - Moving, Catching and Throwing
Before using a bat and ball, players need to learn how to move safely and efficiently. This section builds coordination, balance, and confidence.
1. The Ready Position (Agility & Balance)
Before anything else, every junior fielder needs to learn the ready position. It is the starting point for every movement in cricket.
Knees slightly bent.
Weight on the balls of your feet.
Hands out in front.
Eyes on the ball.
This helps you react quickly if you need to catch, stop, or throw.
2. The Two-Handed Intercept (Safe Catching)
The main rule is simple: use two cupped hands and watch the ball all the way in.
For low balls, turn your hands down.
For higher balls, turn your hands up.
Keep your eyes on the ball until it is safely in your hands absorbing the impact cleanly.
⭐ A Good Tip:
Pretend your hands are a small window the ball must go through.
3. The Overarm Throw
A good throw is strong, accurate, and safe. We use the “Bow and Arrow” technique:
Point the non-throwing shoulder and non-throwing hand directly at the target.
Bring the cricket ball back past the ear.
Step forward with the front foot and
Follow through completely across the body.
This helps you throw with power and control.
✅ Moving, Catching & Throwing Checklist
Am I starting every movement from a balanced ready position - knees bent, weight forward, eyes on the ball?
Am I using two hands to catch wherever possible and watching the ball all the way into my hands?
Am I pointing my non-throwing shoulder at the target before releasing the ball?
Am I following through completely after every throw rather than stopping my arm short?
Part 3:
An Introduction to Batting and Bowling
1. Batting grip
Your grip is your link to the bat.
Hold the bat with both hands close together.
Let the “V” shapes formed by your thumbs and fingers line up down the back of the bat.
Keep your hands relaxed but not too loose.
A good grip gives you control, timing, and confidence.
2. Batting stance
Your stance should feel comfortable and balanced.
Feet about shoulder-width apart.
Knees softly bent.
Head still and eyes level.
Bat grounded comfortably behind your back foot.
Weight on the balls of your feet.
A balanced stance helps you move forward or back when the ball comes.
3. Watch the ball and step to it
Good batting is about seeing the ball early and moving with purpose.
Step towards the ball when it is full.
Stay balanced.
Keep your head still.
Swing in a straight path and finish in control.
A simple reminder for juniors is: head to the ball.
4. Bowling basics
Bowling takes practice, but the action can be remembered in a few simple steps:
Stand side-on to the target.
Point towards the stumps with your non-bowling arm.
Keep the bowling arm straight.
Bring the arm over and release the ball high.
The main goal is to bowl with control and repeat the action smoothly.
⚠️ A Safety Note for Junior Bowlers: Bowling should never hurt. If you feel any pain or discomfort in your back, shoulder, or arm while bowling - stop immediately and tell your coach or parent. It is always better to rest for one session than to miss the whole season.
✅ Batting & Bowling Checklist
Are my hands relaxed on the bat handle with the V shapes lined up correctly?
Is my head still and are my eyes level when I am in my batting stance?
Am I stepping toward the ball and keeping my head over it when I drive?
Am I bowling with a smooth, repeatable action - standing side-on and following through completely?
Part 4:
How Junior Matches Work
Transitioning from drills to real matches can be confusing. This section explains the junior cricket rules your child will play under and is designed to keep everyone involved and make sure nobody is left standing around.
1. Continuous Pairs Cricket
Unlike adult cricket where a batter leaves the field when they are out, junior cricket uses a pairs format designed to keep everyone involved and active. Players bat in pairs for a set number of overs (typically 2 to 4 overs per pair).
Every player bats, fields, and bowls an equal amount.
If a batter is dismissed in pairs cricket, it does not end the batting pair’s innings.
The pair continue and the scoring rules for dismissals depend on the match format being used - the fielding team may be awarded bonus runs, or the batting team may lose a set amount of runs from their total.
The game is shaped to help players learn, not just to win.
2. The Ultimate Goal: Continuous Rotation
To keep everyone actively moving, fielders rotate positions clockwise after every single over. This ensures no player is left isolated on the distant boundary line, keeping everyone engaged in the heart of the action.
A Note for Parents & Guardians
If you are watching your child’s first junior match, the format may look quite different from the adult cricket you are used to seeing. This is completely intentional - every rule in junior cricket is designed to keep all players active, build confidence, and ensure the game is enjoyable for everyone involved.
The result on the day matters far less than the experience. A child who touches the ball often, runs between the wickets, and feels part of the team will develop their love of cricket far faster than one who stands in the outfield for forty minutes waiting for the ball to come to them.
⭐ The best thing you can do from the boundary is cheer every player - not just your own child - and celebrate effort as loudly as you celebrate runs and wickets.
✅ Junior Match Checklist
Do I understand that every player bats, bowls, and fields an equal amount in pairs cricket?
Am I rotating fielding positions after every over and staying alert wherever I am placed?
Am I playing to enjoy the game and learn - not just to win?
Am I supporting my batting partner or bowling partner with clear, positive communication?
Part 5:
Fun Cricket Games and Home Skill Challenges
Junior players develop fastest when practice feels like play. These specific games are utilised during our academy sessions and can easily be recreated in the backyard, garage, or local park using standard tennis balls.
Game 1: Rapid Fire Cricket
The Setup:
A batter stands at a set of stumps with three balls placed on batting tees or cones directly in front of them.
Three fielders stand a safe distance away.
The Rules:
The batter hits all three balls into the field in rapid succession and must run between two markers as many times as possible.
The fielders must gather all three balls and return them to the cones to stop the runs.
Game 2: The Target Wall Challenge
The Setup:
Using a tennis ball and a safe brick wall at home or the club nets.
The Rules:
Throw the ball overarm against the wall and attempt to catch it cleanly.
🏆 Home Drill Level Up
Bronze Level: Catch the ball after it bounces once on the ground (Focuses on tracking).
Silver Level: Catch the ball directly cleanly out of the air using two hands (Focuses on hand-eye coordination).
Gold Level: Catch the ball using only your non-dominant hand (Focuses on advanced motor control).
Game 3: Cone Knockout (Bowling Accuracy)
The Setup:
Set up a single stump or a standard wheelbarrow/box at home.
Place three bright field cones or plastic cups directly in front of it as targets.
The Rules:
From a shortened bowling distance, players bowl 6 deliveries attempting to smash the cones.
The Twist:
Overturning a cone wins 5 points; hitting the stump directly wins 10 points.
This turns repetitive bowling practice into an engaging arcade-style challenge.
⭐ General home practice tips
Use a tennis ball at home to protect walls and windows.
Always warm up before practice.
Keep sessions short and fun.
Stop if you feel pain or discomfort.
✅ Home Skills Challenge Checklist
Am I using a tennis ball at home to keep practice safe for walls and windows?
Am I warming up before every home practice session - even a short one?
Have I tried all three levels of the Target Wall Challenge - Bronze, Silver, and Gold?
Am I keeping home sessions short, fun, and stopping immediately if anything hurts?
Part 6:
Captaincy and Team Spirit
Leadership development does not wait until senior cricket. We believe junior players should learn how to guide, support, and communicate with their teammates right from day one.
At Armagh CC, we rotate the captaincy role every single junior match so every player experiences the responsibility of leading.
Junior cricket is also about learning how to help and encourage teammates.
✅ A Good Junior Captain:
Stays positive.
Helps the team reset after mistakes.
Encourages others.
Leads by example.
1. The 3-Second Rule
After a big moment (a dropped catch, a wide, a boundary), the captain or an older player should be the first to:
Run towards their teammate.
Offer a high-five or tap on the shoulder.
Say something positive like: “Great chase, focus on the next ball.”
This helps the team stay confident and calm.
What To Do After a Mistake
Every junior player - no matter how good they are - drops catches, bowls wides, and misses the ball sometimes. This is completely normal and is part of learning cricket.
What matters is not the mistake itself - it is what you do next.
📋 The Junior Reset - Three Simple Steps
🟢 Step 1 - Shake It Off
Take a breath and physically shake your hands or arms loose.
This is your body’s way of leaving the mistake behind.
Every professional cricketer does this - watch them next time you see cricket on television.
🟡 Step 2 - Say Something Positive
Tell yourself one simple thing - “Next ball” or “I’ve got the next one”.
Short, simple, and positive.
You are not lying to yourself - you are getting ready.
🔴 Step 3 - Get Ready Again
Get back into your ready position.
Bend your knees, get your hands out in front, and focus your eyes on the batter or bowler.
The next ball is a fresh start - take it.
⭐ The best cricketers are not the ones who never make mistakes. They are the ones who get ready for the next ball the fastest. Be that player.
2. On-Field Group Problem Solving
When a batting partnership is building against our team, junior captains learn not to panic. We teach them to call a quick “huddle” between overs to discuss tactics. This shifts the mindset from individual frustration to collaborative team strategy.
3. The “Spirit of Cricket”
True leadership shines brightest after a defeat. The junior captain is responsible for:
Gathering the entire squad at the conclusion of the match
Leading cheers and applause for the opposition
Leading the post-match handshake line with the umpires and opponents
Thanking the umpires
This showcases the character of Armagh CC.
✅ Captaincy & Team Spirit Checklist
Before the first ball Captain’s Check:
Are all fielders spread out safely so they won’t collide?
Is anyone standing dangerously close to the batter or behind the bowler’s arm?
Is our wicketkeeper in the right spot and completely focused?
Did we huddle up and give a team cheer before taking the field?
Throughout the match - All Players:
Am I staying positive and encouraging my teammates - especially after mistakes?
Am I using the 3-Second Rule - getting to a teammate quickly after a difficult moment?
Am I showing the Spirit of Cricket - shaking hands, respecting umpires, and celebrating the opposition’s good play?
When I make a mistake, am I using the three-step reset to get ready for the next ball quickly?
⭐ And Remember!
Cricket is one of the most exciting games in the world - and you are just getting started.
Every great Armagh CC player who has ever walked out on The Mall began exactly where you are right now. They learned to catch, throw, bat, and bowl one step at a time - and so will you.
Enjoy every session, support your teammates, and remember that the most important thing is to keep coming back. 🏏
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New to some of the cricket terms above? Visit our Cricket Glossary for clear explanations of every term used across the Academy.
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Academy Disclaimer and Safety Notice
Important Information - Please Read Carefully:
The training playbooks, guidance, and physical conditioning drills published within the Armagh Cricket Club Digital Academy are provided strictly for educational and informational purposes only. While all technical advice and training methodologies are compiled by qualified club coaches to support safe athletic development, participation in cricket involves inherent physical risks.
Armagh Cricket Club, its coaches, and its volunteers accept no liability for any injury, loss, or damage sustained by individuals practising these drills away from structured, official club-supervised sessions.
Youth Supervision: All junior academy players and minors must have an adult or legal guardian present to supervise physical activities, home drills, and training circuits.
Physical Readiness: Individuals should be in good health and operating within their personal physical limits. If a player experiences pain, acute soreness, fatigue, or discomfort, they must stop the activity immediately and seek professional medical guidance.
By utilising these resources, you acknowledge that you are practising these training methods at your own risk.