Cricket Blast · Ages 5-10
Cricket Blast drills for kids under 10
The golden rule of Cricket Blast is zero standing still. Here's how to structure a session and the drills that keep every kid involved, even while they're waiting to bat.
The Cricket Blast philosophy
Cricket Blast is Cricket Australia's entry-level program for kids up to age 10, built entirely around fast, fun, skill-based games rather than traditional drills. The whole point is to avoid the classic cricket training trap — one kid batting while everyone else stands in a field doing nothing.
The fix is simple: while one small group plays a modified game, run skill-based activities for everyone else. No one is ever just standing around.
Cricket fielding positions explained
Cricket Blast is about learning the game, so there are no set positions. Once kids move into Stage 1 junior cricket (around U10 to U11), up to 7 players take the field, fielders stay at least 15 metres from the batter, and everyone rotates. These are the common fielding positions kids will hear named. The diagram shows a right-handed batter at the bottom and the bowler at the top, so the off side is on the right.
- WK
- Wicketkeeper: stands behind the stumps and catches or stops anything the batter misses. A helmet is compulsory for keeping in Stage 1.
- B
- Bowler: bowls from one end. In Stage 1 each bowler only bowls a few overs.
- SL
- Slip: stands next to the keeper to catch edges. Too close to the bat for Stage 1, so it comes in later.
- PT
- Point: square of the wicket on the off side. Stops shots cut square.
- CV
- Cover: on the off side between point and mid-off. Stops drives and throws to the stumps.
- MO
- Mid-off: straight and on the off side, near the bowler. Stops straight drives.
- MN
- Mid-on: straight and on the leg side, near the bowler. Stops straight drives.
- MW
- Mid-wicket: on the leg side between mid-on and square leg.
- SQ
- Square leg: on the leg side, level with the batter.
- FL
- Fine leg: behind the batter on the leg side. Stops shots glanced behind.
- TM
- Third man: behind the batter on the off side. Stops edges that run past the slips.
At Stage 1, fielders should rotate one position after each over, and every player should get a turn as wicketkeeper. Rotating gives every kid a go in every position.
Four drills that work well
1. Catching circle
Kids form a circle and throw a soft ball across to each other, calling names before each throw. Builds catching confidence and throwing accuracy without the pressure of a real bat-and-ball situation.
2. Target bowling
Set up a target (a cone or a hoop) on the pitch. Kids take turns bowling toward it, focusing on a straight arm and consistent run-up rather than speed. Great for building bowling technique one repetition at a time.
3. Tee batting stations
Set up 2-3 batting tees so multiple kids can practice their swing at once, rather than one batter facing live bowling while everyone waits. Coaches can rotate between stations giving quick technique tips.
4. Modified mini match
Split into small teams for a short, modified game — fewer overs, smaller boundaries, everyone gets a turn batting and bowling. This is the heart of Cricket Blast and usually the part kids talk about on the way home.
Structuring a 1-hour session
A simple structure that avoids standing-around time:
- 5 min warm-up — running and stretching games
- 15 min catching circle — everyone involved at once
- 15 min target bowling and tee batting — run as parallel stations so no one waits
- 20 min modified mini match — putting it together
- 5 min cool down
The biggest mistake to avoid
Running drills in a single line — one kid bats, the rest watch — is the fastest way to lose a group of under-10s. Wherever possible, split into 2-3 smaller groups running parallel activities, so every child is doing something every few minutes, not waiting for their turn.
These drills are general suggestions — always adapt them to your group's age, ability and the conditions on the day.
Want this turned into a full session plan?
MyKidsCoach builds a complete, age-matched cricket session in under a minute — warm-up, drills, coaching tips and cool-down.
Build my first plan free →