T.A.C.T.I.C APPROACH TO BATTING /FIELDING

T.A.C.T.I.C. (Tactical Awareness Components To Increase Cognition)

T.A.C.T.I.C. refers to the application of tactical awareness components of "Space, Time, Force, Self and Other" to the principles of play for batting/fielding games.  These components allow the teacher to develop a learner's cognitive understanding of playing Batting/Fielding type of games.

Applying to the Batting/Fielding principles of play ("Score runs/stop scoring runs" and "Avoid getting put out/Get batter put out") the tactical awareness components provide a framework to analyze the tactical complexity of game playing.  In Figure 1, each numbered cell indicates a possible tactical awareness that the tactical component indicates in relation to the corresponding principle of play.  Under the headings of "BATTING" and "FIELDING" is a suggested tactical awareness in relation to the numbered cell.  This is not a finite list, but one that encourages the reader to understand the tactical complexity of batting/fielding type games.  More tactical awareness ideas can be added to anyone of the cells, you are invited to suggest others to Tim Hopper.

Figure 1 A matrix showing numbered cells where the tactical awareness components are applied to the principle of plays for batting/fielding games

BATTING

                SCORE RUNS

1.        Hit to spaces.

2.        Time to score runs.  Non-batting batter leads off to gain space to safe area.

3.        How hard to hit to get ball into space.

4.        Relax watch ball onto bat.

5.        Signal to partner how many runs.

                AVOIDING GETTING PUT OUT

6.        Defend target area (wicket).

7.        Can you get to safe area before ball?

8.        How hard to hit ball to avoid fielders?

9.        Focus on hitting the ball down to avoid being caught.

10.     Avoid hitting ball near fielders.

FIELDING

                STOP SCORING RUNS

11.     Cover spaces where ball could be hit.

12.     Move in when fielding to cut down the space the batter can hit into.  Quickly return ball from the field to stop batters scoring runs.

13.     Return ball from field with enough force to reach target.

14.     Take up ready position as batter hits.

15.     Cover behind other fielders when they field the ball.

                GETTING BATTER PUT OUT

16.     Place fielders where batter likely to hit the ball.

17.     Quickly return ball to get batter put out.

18.     Throw ball back directly to target area.

19.     Get in-line with ball and focus on absorbing impact.

20.     Co-ordinate with other fielders to cover the space where the batter is likely to hit the ball.