Fitness training for cricket is a contentious issue. Should you consider traditional gym work and running to improve your fitness for cricket?
The argument against fitness training
- Fun – Fitness training is boring and no fun. Who wants to pound the roads and pound iron in a sweaty gym?
- Specificity – Fitness training is highly specific. Runners don’t train on a bike because it’s not as good as running. The only way to properly get fit for cricket is to play as much cricket as possible.
- Time – Cricket is a long game and if you are talented enough you can be playing or practising almost every day. When do you get time to squeeze in a gym session?
- Age – You can’t fight the march of time. There is no point in being fit if you are an older player.
- Bulking Up – Too much weight training will bulk you up and ruin your timing and technique with big muscles.
The argument for fitness training
- Performance – Fitness improves bowling speed, hitting power, reaction times and running speed. It does this for everyone without fail (no matter how old). What’s more, even highly trained elite players suffer no loss of performance through bulking up – they are not training for huge bodybuilder muscles and neither should you.
- Injury Prevention – Stronger bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons reduce the risk of injury.
- Teamwork – Training in pairs or in a team is great for building camaraderie between teammates. Making training competitive also makes it more fun.
- Variation – Playing cricket is the best way to get fit for cricket. That said, the body likes variation. Different activities cross train your body and keep your mind alert.
- Health – General fitness makes you feel and look better in the rest of your life too.
So while fitness should not take precedent over skills or match training there really is only one way to gain that competitive edge – from professional to the Park on a Sunday – an organised, specific training programme.
With this in mind, down the lane your local health club, Odyssey they tailor each member a specific training programme over a series of one-to-one appointments (included in the membership cost) to give you the results you want, helping you to prepare for an outstanding 2015 season.
Coupled with this, they are offering a discounted membership rate to all Knebworth Park Cricket Club members, allowing you full access to the club and facilities including 25m pool, tennis and squash courts, large range of classes and the latest gym equipment.
Membership Offer: Join before 30th November 2014 and pay no membership fee until January 2015. Quote KPCCFIT to receive 50% off your admin fee!
Contact: Phil Towersey phil.towersey@odysseyhealthclubs.com 01438 313320
