U13 – U14 County Age Groups

U13 - U14 County Age Groups

Purpose

To nurture emerging talent by deepening technical skills, tactical understanding, and personal development, preparing players for County Age Group (CAG) fixtures against other counties and future elite pathways.

 

Key Objectives

 

Skill Refinement

    • Advance core techniques in batting, bowling, and fielding
    • Introduce position-specific skills and game scenarios

Tactical Awareness

    • Develop strategic thinking and match intelligence
    • Encourage leadership and decision-making

Physical Development

    • Introduce structured fitness and conditioning
    • Focus on agility, strength, and injury prevention

Mental Resilience

    • Build confidence, focus, and emotional control

Pathway Progression

    • Prepare players for U16 & U18 County Age Group squads and the Emerging Player Programme (EPP)
    • Provide competitive match experience and exposure

Programme Structure

  • Skill Focus Areas

    Batting

    All the previous batting skills

    Understand the difference in batting tempo for different situations/formats – being able to bat for long periods of time vs having a higher strike rate/looking to find the boundaries or rotate strike rate at a quicker pace

    Steal singles and run hard with the intent to look for twos and threes

    Leave exceptionally well

    Confidently judge length and play the short ball well

    Understand the difference in playing seam vs spin

    Develop a clear preference for two or three scoring options vs seam and spin – that can easily rotate the strike

     

    Bowling

    All the previous bowling skills

    Increase in consistency of stock ball – minimising extras (no-balls and wides)

    Competent at bowling to left-handed and right-handed batters

    Start to develop variations and understand when to use them

    Start to understand bowling plans and fields for different game scenarios

     

    Fielding

    All the previous fielding skills

    Understand anticipation in the field

    Develop confidence in diving and rolling

    Increase in throwing accuracy from longer distances

    Confident in judging high catches

    Understand the importance of teamwork in the field

    Field with a wicket taking mentality

     

    Wicket Keeping

    All the previous wicket keeping skills

    Develop confidence standing up to slower seamers and spinners

    Develop technique for assisting run outs

    Start to understand their role in supporting with field placements

     

    Game Sense

    All the previous game sense skills

    Understand their role/s within the team

    Start to analyse game situations and understand what the team needs from them in certain that moment

  • Physical Literacy

    Agility, balance, coordination, speed

    Age-appropriate fitness games and challenges

  • Game Play

    Competitive (T20 and 35/40 Over) fixtures vs other counties

    Scenario-based training and match simulations

  • Training Schedule

    Weekly performance sessions (November–April)

    Specialist sessions (e.g. spin bowling, fast bowling wicketkeeping, power hitting, playing spin)