PlayTactiq publishes weekly cricket coaching session plans covering every stage of youth grassroots cricket in England — from ECB All Stars (U5–U8) and Dynamos (U8–U11) through to junior club cricket at U11, U13, U15, and U17 level.
Each session plan is written specifically for its age group and format. An All Stars session for 6-year-olds looks completely different from a U15 session focused on playing spin bowling — the drills, the coaching language, the pitch dimensions, and the objectives are all tailored to where players are in their development.
The sessions listed below cover batting, bowling, fielding, and match skills across all formats. Click through any session to see the coaching objective, first practice, and a preview of what members get in full.
What's included in each session
Every PlayTactiq cricket session includes: warm-up activity, two age-appropriate practices with coaching points, a game or match simulation, and a printable session card. Animated diagrams show pitch setup and player positions.
Sessions by age group
All Stars (U5-U8)
Batting Basics: Tap, Hit and Sprint!
Batting Basics: Tap and Run!
Catching Is Cool: Hands Ready, Eyes Up
Catching Is Cool
Hello Cricket: Your First Hit and Catch
Hello Cricket: Your First Hit!
Hello Cricket: Your First Hit and Catch
Hello Cricket: Your First Hit!
Team Fielding: Chase, Intercept and Return
Team Fielding Games
Throwing to a Target: Aim, Release and Accuracy
Throwing to a Target
Dynamos (U8-U11)
Bowling Action: Groove the Perfect Side-On Release
Bowling Action Fundamentals
Catching Confidence: Mastering the High Ball
Catching Confidence: High Catches
Ground Fielding: Clean Hands and Flat Throws
Ground Fielding and Throwing
Running Between Wickets: Call, Run, and Slide
Running Between Wickets
Straight Drive: Head Still, Bat Full
Batting: Straight Drive Technique
U11
Building a Partnership: Rotating Strike with Patience
Building a Partnership
Off-Drive and Cover-Drive: Timing and Placement
Off-Drive and Cover-Drive
Pace Bowling: Hitting the Perfect Line and Length
Pace Bowling: Line and Length
Slip Cordon: React, Move, and Take Low
Slip Cordon Catching
Wicketkeeping: Standing Up and Back Cleanly
Wicketkeeping: Standing Up and Back
U13
Aggressive Run Chase: Placement, Pressure and Running Hard
Aggressive Run Chase Batting
Boundary Fielding: Stop, Collect, and Return
Boundary Fielding: Stop and Return
Bowling at Death: Yorkers and Cutters Under Pressure
Bowling at Death: Yorkers and Cutters
Playing the Spin Bowler: Reading Length and Decisive Footwork
Playing the Spin Bowler
Swing Bowling: Mastering the Outswing Action
Swing Bowling: Outswing Action
U15
Attacking Spin: Sweep and Slog-Sweep Placement
Attacking Spin: Sweep and Slog-Sweep
Bowling: Consistency and Variation in Every Over
Bowling: Consistency and Variation
Building an Innings: Leave and Drive with Discipline
Building an Innings: Leave and Drive
Power Play: Dominating the First Six Overs
T20 Power Play Batting
Reverse Swing: Reading Late Movement and Soft Hands
Reverse Swing Awareness
U17
Leadership and Tactics: Setting and Defending a Total
Leadership and Tactics: Setting and Defending a Total
Patience and Leave: Building Innings Without Boundaries
Red Ball Technique: Patience and Leave
Pressure Chase: Decision-Making Under Intense Match Conditions
Match Simulation: Pressure Chase
Seam Bowling: Moving the Ball Both Ways with Intent
Seam Bowling: Moving the Ball Both Ways
Spin Bowling: Flight, Dip and Devastating Turn
Spin Bowling: Flight, Dip and Turn
Coaching principles for All Stars (U5-U8)–U17
Bat-ball contact at every age
The single most important thing in youth cricket coaching — especially at All Stars and Dynamos level — is keeping bat-ball contact high. Every player should be hitting, catching, or throwing for the majority of the session. Long queues for one bat on one pitch is the enemy of development.
Bowling load management from U11
From U11 upwards, ECB guidance restricts bowling loads for young players to protect developing shoulders and elbows. Coaches should be aware of these limits and use fielding or batting practices to keep players active when they've hit their bowling ceiling for the session.
Match scenarios accelerate learning
At U13 and above, match simulations (last over needing 12 to win, defending 8 off the last 2 overs) teach decision-making under pressure far more effectively than isolated skill drills. Include at least one match scenario in every session from U13 upwards.
Fielding is the great equaliser
A squad with excellent fielding wins more games regardless of batting or bowling depth. Fielding practices are easy to run with large groups and don't require specialist equipment. Flat throws, catching lines, and ground fielding stations should feature in every session.
Get a new session plan every Monday
Full access to all U6–U16 sessions, animated diagrams, and printable sheets — for £3/month.
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