Cricket

Grade Level: 7th and 8th

By: Melinda Becker

Unit Objectives

By playing cricket students will have an emphasis on participation and enjoyment of the game while interacting with peers.

At the conclusion of the unit, students will show an understanding of the basic rules of cricket, know how to play the game and work interactively while having fun.

ODE Benchmarks
1. Apply rules, procedures and etiquette that are safe and effective for specific activities and situations.
2. Identify the elements of socially acceptable conflict resolution and sportsmanship.
3. Demonstrate basic strategies specific to one team activity and one dual or individual activity.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the rules to be followed during participation in a specified physical activity.

Students will focus on working together with respect for peers and teachers while following the rules given by instructor. Teaching sportsmanship by encouraging students to cooperate while having fun and enjoying the activities provided. At one point one or more of the benchmarks apply to the lesson.

Basic Rules
Basic rules will be described and explained with each lesson plan throughout the unit.

Equipment
5 to 10 bats depending on class size
Cricket balls (soft rubber for PE)
Batting tee
Cones
Open Field or Indoor Court

Warm Up
Every day class will begin with jumping jacks, stretching and a warm up activity. The warm up activities may include relay races, partner running, a variety of ply metrics like high skip, skipping, lunges, sprinting, step slides, crab walk, bear crawl, etc. Students will typically perform four to five of these activities. Students are encouraged to count and keep track of activities.

Schedule

Lesson 1: Warm up exercises, Introduction of game and basics of fielding of Cricket ball
Lesson 2: Warm up exercises, Advanced fielding of cricket ball
Lesson 3: Warm up exercises, bowling of a cricket ball
Lesson 4: Warm up exercises, Advanced bowling of a cricket ball
Lesson 5: Warm up exercises, batting straight drive
Lesson 6: Warm up exercises, Batting advanced straight drive and pull shot
Lesson 7: Warm up exercises, Lords Game
Lesson 8: Warm up exercises, Continuous Cricket
Lesson 9: Warm up exercises, Pairs Cricket
Lesson 10: Warm up exercises, Quads Cricket
Lesson 11: Warm up exercises, Round Robin Play
Lesson 12: Warm up exercises, Skills test

Lesson 1: Introduction of bowling a cricket ball
Stretching, warm up activities

Lesson Activities
Introduction and rules for the game of cricket
A short discussion on the history and rules of game will be conducted with class to introduce them to the game of cricket. During this particular lesson the teacher will emphasize the importance of fielding in cricket.

Students will get a partner and line up across from one another approximately 25 feet away from one another. Each group will have one cricket ball which they will practice throwing the ball to a stationary partner. The partner will work on hand eye coordination of catching the ball. Once partners get comfortable fielding the ball, partners need to back up approximately 60 feet and perform the same task.
Cue: Keep eye on ball and follow through to partner

Safety: Partners need to line up across and next to one another so balls are all going the right direction. Equipment needs to be properly stored to prevented injury.

Lesson 2: Advanced fielding of a cricket ball
Stretching, warm up activities

Teacher will conduct a quick review of fielding the cricket ball. Students will practice stationary fielding for the first few minutes. Students will work with a different partner working on advanced fielding of the cricket ball. They will line up across from one another approximately 45 feet apart. Students will start by lobbing the ball to one another to one another while standing still. They will repeat this process approximately 25 times. Students will proceed to the activity of lobbing the ball to their partner while the partner moves to catch it. They will do this approximately 25 times. Once this is completed partners will take turns lobbing the ball short and long with their partner 15 times. After one partner completes this process, they will switch and repeat the process.

Cue: Key eye on ball during movement

Safety: Partner line up is important so balls are not flying in all directions and students don’t run into one another. Equipment will be stored properly to prevent injury.

Lesson 3: Bowling of Cricket Ball

Stretching, warm up activities

Equipment: Cricket balls and cones

Students will get into a group of four to six. Each player will have at least two balls and two cones. Three of the students will be behind the cones which are set up 3 meters apart. The other three students will be set up about 10 meters in front of the cones with the cricket balls. Students will take turns bowling the ball underhand through the target from the stationary position. After the student has thrown 3 to 5 balls they need to rotate with their partners.

Cue: Point and freeze between cones.

Lesson 4: Advanced Bowling of cricket ball

Stretching, warn up activities

Equipment: Cricket balls and cones

Students will get into a group of four to six. Each player will have at least two balls and two cones. Three of the students will be behind the cones which are set up 3 meters apart. The other three students will be set up about 10 meters in front of the cones with the cricket balls. Students will take turns bowling the ball over arm through the target from the stationary position. After the student has thrown 3 to 5 balls they need to rotate with their partners.

Cue: Follow through towards the target

Lesson 5: Batting- Straight Drive

Stretching, Warm up Activities

Equipment: Cricket bats, cricket balls, paper cups and cones

Students will get into groups of four to six. Each player will have at least four balls and one bat per group. A paper cup will be step up with a ball on it in front of the student ready to bat the ball. The cone will be approximately 5 meters from the two cones which are set up approximately 7 meters apart. Student will hit the ball off the tee while trying to hit it in between the two cones. Students will take turns hitting the ball off the paper cup. After all students in the group have gone, move the tee approximately 10 meters away from the cones which are now only 5 meters apart.

Cue: Watch the ball while hitting it off the tee.

Lesson 6: Advanced Batting: Straight Drive and Pull Shot

Stretching, Warm Up Activities

Equipment: Cricket bats, balls, cones and wicket

Straight Drive: Students will get into pairs; one student will stand to the side (on the side facing the batter). The student without the bat will drop the ball for the other student who will step forward and hit the ball through a 5 meter target placed 10 meters away after it bounces on the group.

Pull Shot: Students will get into groups of four to six. Each player will have at least four balls, one bat, three cones and a wicket. Student batting will stand with back against wicket and on the side of the partner. The ball is thrown by the partner 10 meters away by the partner. The ball should bounce 3 meters from the student batting. Batter will hit the ball towards the target and partners 10 meters away. One of the other partners will field the ball and toss it back to the partner who is tossing to the hitter. The process will repeat until all students have practiced the skill.

Cue: Keep eye on ball when batting

Lesson 7: Lords Game

Stretching, Warm up Activities

Equipment: Cricket ball, wicket, bats, establish lines (one and two) and cones

Two teams of eight to ten people. One person will be the wicket keeper (catcher) behind the wicket, one person is the bowler (pitcher) which is 10 feet away. The rest of the players will be the fielders. Have a popping crease line where the batter stands in front of, line one and line two. The bowler stands behind line two to bowl to the batter. Each team will be up to bat for 5 minutes. The bowler will throw the ball underarm and person will try to hit the balls between the cone markers to score runs.

Scoring runs: One run scored if the ball is hit between the two cone markers
Bonus runs; One run for running to line one and back without the field getting it first
Two runs for running to line two and back
Four runs if the ball goes over the boundary cones

Each batter get six balls and scores are recorded

Batters are out: if they are bowled (miss the ball)
Hit the wicket
A fielder catches their ball before it bounces
A run is attempted and the fielder throws the ball to the wicket keeper (who catches it) before the batter returns to the popping crease.
All balls for the batter are forfeited once the batter is out. If this happens you go to the next batter.
Modifications: Use a tee if the bowling is too difficult, decrease target lines or targets.

Cue: Watch ball while batting.
Lesson 8: Continuous Cricket

Warm ups and Stretching
Equipment: Cones, wicket, bats and cricket balls (2)

Divide class into groups of 10 to 15 students per team or equal teams depending on number of students

Set up game as follows
One umpire
2 cones and two lines about 3 feet apart
Wicket behind the first line in between the cones
One person behind the second line is the batter. Rest of the offensive team in a line ready to bat
One person is the bowler (set up approximately 10 meters from the person)
One person is the wicket keeper
The rest of team are fielders

Game Play and Rules
Each team bats for 5 to 8 minutes
Bowler bowl the ball under arm to the batter
Each bowler has six chances before being replaced by the next bowler
Batter has to run whether or not the ball is hit and may run more than once
Batter has to run around a cone (one on each side of bating line)
Fielder throw the ball underarm back to the bowler as quickly as possibly, they then bowl quickly
The batter is out when the bowled ball is caught or hits the wicket and next batter move in quick to take their place.
Batter will be replaced after facing six balls if they are not out before that
Teams with the most runs win
Batter take turns being the umpire

Cue: Watch ball into your hands

Lesson 9: Pairs Cricket
Stretching, Warm ups

Equipment: 2 wickets, 2 bats, cones and appropriate game lines approximately 3 meters apart.

Divide class into groups of eight pairs (Depending on size you may need to set up two separate games)

Set up:
Two different pairs set up behind the two wickets. Each of the groups behind the wickets need a bat. Batters line up behind the popping crease.

Pair one-two are the batters (who start with 20 runs)
Pair two- one bowler and one WK
Pair three-two on/leg-side fielders
Pair four-two off-side fielders
Batting team receives 12 balls
If a bowled ball passes outside either cone to the left and right of the wicket, a wide is called- the batters receive one run and an extra ball is bowled

Pairs rotate to new roles after 12 good balls (wide balls don’t count)
No boundaries. Batters lose three runs each time they are bowled, caught, run out or hit wicket
Winners are the pair with the most runs when every pair has batted.

Cue: Have fun

Lesson 10: Quads Cricket
Stretching and Warm Ups

Equipment: 2 wickets, 2 bats, cones and appropriate game lines approximately 3 meters apart.

Divide class into groups of eight pairs (Depending on size you may need to set up two separate games)

With Quads cricket two teams will be in the outfield and one team batting. With the set up pairs will be quads

Set up:
Two different quads set up behind the two wickets. Each of the groups behind the wickets need a bat. Batters line up behind the popping crease.

Pair one-two are the batters (who start with 20 runs)
Quad two- one bowler and one WK
Quad three-two on/leg-side fielders
Quad four-two off-side fielders
Batting team receives 12 balls
Each of the three teams will bat individually
If a bowled ball passes outside either cone to the left and right of the wicket, a wide is called- the batters receive one run and an extra ball is bowled

Pairs rotate to new roles after 12 good balls (wide balls don’t count)
No boundaries. Batters lose three runs each time they are bowled, caught, run out or hit wicket
Winners are the pair with the most runs when every pair has batted.

Cue: Work together with your group of three

Lesson 11: Mini Cricket Games
Stretching, Warm ups

Equipment: 2 wickets, 2 bats, cones and appropriate game lines approximately 3 meters apart.

Set up:
Divide class into four permanent teams. Have each team select a name for their team.
During batting have them bat boy/ girl each time

Have everyone in the fielding team bowl one during the rotation of fielding. The team who is not playing are off to the side waiting to come in.
Each time is on for 4 minutes and then they rotate off.

Scoring Runs:
Batters can keep running back and fourth from wicket to wicket as often as they think they can do this safely and will score another run each and every time they switch wickets.
6 automatics runs are scored each and every time they hit a fly ball out of the playing area.
4 automatic runs are scored each and every time they hit a ground ball out of the playing area.
The batters can run if the ball gets pass the wicket keeper just like a “passed ball” in baseball.
In PE each batters time at bat should be limited to no more than 5 or 6 pitches

Getting batters out:
If the bowler gets pitch past the batters wicket and hits it.
If the batter hits his own wicket while batting(even accidental)
If a fielder catches the ball on the fly (out caught)
If the fielder can hit the wicket with the ball before the batter, when going for a run, can get over the safe line

How to win the cricket game:
Whichever team has the most runs is the winner

Tips:
When batting, swing at everything
Don’t stand too close to the wicket
When bowling, aim at the wicket. That’s all you’re trying to hit
Try to bowl the ball to the batter on one low, fast bounce
When fielding cover all areas of the field, even the area behind the batter
Be prepared to back up throws at the wicket

Cue: Swing at everything when you are up to bat

Lesson 12: Skills test

Stretching
Teacher will proceed into the skills test explanation. The skills test will be a combination of fielding and batting.
Equipment: bats, balls, cones

Students will be broken into two groups.
One group will be batting
One group will be fielding
Each group will have their own equipment so they are able to proceed through the skill. At each station students will have 5 opportunities to bat and field the ball
Within the group students will keep track of how many balls they were able to field out of 5 and how many out of 5 they were able to hit.

The teacher will be watching the groups to check for understanding of each of the skills. Scores will be recorded and students will earn up to 10 points for the skills test.
The skills test is set up for the teacher to check for understanding and determine if lessons in the unit helped the skill learn the basic skills of batting and fielding in Cricket.

Cue: Checking for understanding

Evaluation in PE class
Attendance (30 % of the grade)
In a class of a variety of activities where is revolves around learning and participation, being in attendance is critical. Being in class allows you to learn and develop skills learned in PE. Many of the skills are new to students, it is important to show up so you can learn and use them in class. Each day a student comes to class they will receive 5 points for attendance and 5 points for being in there uniform. If a student misses class or is not in full uniform they will received a minus 5 to 10 points. Exceptions will be made for students with an excused absence. However if the student does not make up the day, they will lose 10 points.

Participation (50 % of the grade)
This class is set up for students to earn points through participation. In this class I do not put a major emphasis on a skill level but a focus is put on an individual’s participation level. This allows students to excel in a variety of areas without having the main focus be on comparing them to other athletes. I will actively watch students to see if they participation in PE activities. They will be graded on how hard the work on an individual basis. An emphasis on teamwork and fun is important while reminding them winning is not everything.

Demonstration & Testing (20% of the grade)
The students must attempt to demonstrate the skills throughout the course of the class. Students will either be able to take a written test or complete a skills test with each new activity.

References:
2004. Cricket Ideas. PE. Sport Ideas/ Retrieved March 5, 2009 http://www.pe-sport-ideas.tv

2004 Sportime, LLC Kwik Cricket Product Guide. Retrieved February 1, 2009 http://www.sportime.com.NASPE-talk

2008. England and Wales Cricket Board. Kwik Cricket ASDA. Cricket from Playground to Test Arena. http://www.ecb.co.uk