This is Lesson 5 of the Cricstars Under-10 Cricket Starter Plan. The first four lessons built comfort, bowling direction and fielding control. Now we return to batting with a smarter focus: hitting into space.
Children often think batting means hitting the ball as hard as possible. That can be fun, but cricket also rewards timing, placement and decision-making. Lesson 5 helps children understand that a softer hit into a gap can be better than a big hit straight to a fielder.
What children bring from Lessons 1 to 4
In Lesson 1, children learned to hit and catch. Lesson 2 taught target focus. Lessons 3 and 4 showed them how fielders move and throw. Now they can use that knowledge as batters: Where are the fielders? Where is the space?
Session goal
By the end of this lesson, children should start looking for gaps, hitting with control and running quickly after contact.
Recommended setup
- Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
- Equipment: bats, soft balls, cones, tees, markers
- Space: small cricket area with scoring zones
- Best format: small groups with fast rotation
Warm-up: Space invaders
Children move around an area without bumping into each other. Call out actions: freeze, turn, sprint, side step and find space.
This warm-up introduces the idea of space before the batting starts.
Activity 1: Tee hit into zones
Mark three scoring zones with cones: straight, off side and leg side. Place the ball on a tee. Children try to hit into different zones.
Scoring idea
- 1 point for contact
- 2 points for hitting into a target zone
- 1 bonus point for running after the shot
Activity 2: Continuous cricket
One batter faces repeated soft feeds. After each hit, they run to a marker and back. Fielders return the ball quickly. Rotate after a set number of balls or a short time.
This activity keeps everyone moving. It teaches batting, running, fielding and quick decisions together.
Activity 3: Find the gap
Place two or three fielders in front of the batter. Ask the batter to look before the ball is fed. Where is the open space?
At first, children may still swing anywhere. That is fine. Keep asking simple questions:
- Where was the fielder?
- Where was the gap?
- Could you hit softer and still score?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Only praising power: praise placement and smart running too.
- Making zones too small: large zones help children succeed.
- Too many fielders early: start with obvious gaps.
- Stopping after every ball for coaching: let them play and learn through repetition.
Progress markers
- The child looks up before hitting.
- The child can hit into a wide zone.
- The child runs quickly after contact.
- The child begins to understand gaps.
- The child can score without only hitting hard.
Home practice
Use cones, shoes or bottles to create two scoring zones. Ask the child to hit into the left zone, then the right zone. Keep the feed gentle and the scoring simple.
How this prepares for Lesson 6
Lesson 5 connects batting with running and awareness. Lesson 6 builds on that by adding speed, accuracy and communication under friendly pressure.
Previous lesson: Lesson 4: Gathering and Throwing
Next lesson: Lesson 6: Speed and Accuracy
Back to the full Under-10 Cricket Training Plan
Minute-by-minute session plan
- 06 minutes: Space Invaders movement warm-up.
- 618 minutes: tee hits into large zones.
- 1832 minutes: continuous cricket.
- 3245 minutes: Find the Gap challenge.
- 4555 minutes: small team scoring game.
- 5560 minutes: recap: hitting smart can be better than hitting hard.
Why this lesson changes how children think
This is often the first lesson where children begin to understand cricket as a game of space. Until now, many children simply try to hit the ball. Now they start asking: where can I hit it so I can score?
This is an important shift. It teaches awareness, not just technique. Even a gentle shot can be valuable if it goes into the right space.
Coach language that works
Instead of saying place the ball into gaps, try saying, Can you hit it where nobody is standing? That sentence is simple and powerful. Children understand it immediately.
Other useful cues are: look first, soft hit can still score, run after contact, and find the empty space.
How to adapt for different levels
For beginners, use a tee and very large zones. Let them succeed often. For confident children, add fielders and ask them to choose a side before hitting. You can also reward placement more than power.
Mini scoring system
- 1 point for contact
- 2 points for hitting into a zone
- 3 points for hitting into the empty zone after looking up
- 1 bonus point for quick running
Common coaching trap
Do not turn this into adult batting coaching. At under-10 level, the child does not need a technical lecture on cover drives, back-foot punches or wrist position. They need to learn that cricket rewards awareness and smart choices.
Parent take-home version
Set two zones with shoes or cones. Ask the child to hit five balls to the left zone and five to the right zone. Then let them choose the gap. Keep the feed slow and safe.
Continuity note
Lesson 5 teaches hitting and running. Lesson 6 adds speed, teamwork and accuracy so children can play with more energy and control.
Turning batting from hitting into thinking
This lesson is where batting becomes more than swinging. Children start to understand that cricket has spaces, fielders and choices. A child who learns this early becomes a smarter player later, even if their technique is still developing.
Do not expect perfect shot selection. At this age, it is enough if the child starts noticing that some areas are empty and some areas are protected. That awareness is a big step.
Use questions instead of lectures
Before the feed, ask: Where is the space? After the shot, ask: Was that near a fielder or away from a fielder? These questions help the child think without feeling criticised.
If the child hits straight to a fielder, avoid saying bad shot. Instead say, Good contact. Now can you find the empty side? That keeps confidence high while guiding better decisions.
Progressions for stronger children
Once a child can hit into large zones, add one moving fielder. Then add two fielders. Ask the batter to look first, then choose. You can also introduce bonus points for soft placement, not only big shots.
This is especially useful for children who already hit hard. They need to learn control. The message is not do not hit hard. The message is choose when to hit hard and when to place the ball.
Making running part of batting
Every hit should have a running decision. Even if you are using a tee, ask the child to run after contact. This teaches that batting does not end when the ball leaves the bat. In cricket, the shot and the run belong together.
Parent observation note
At home, parents should praise smart choices. Say, I liked how you looked for the gap, or That soft hit was clever. This helps children understand that cricket rewards thinking, not only power.