Relay throws from the boundary

Setup

1. A keeper behind one set of stumps on the pitch. The coach hits from beside the pitch, square of the keeper, out towards deep midwicket.
2. A deep fielder starts about 10 m inside the boundary; a relay fielder starts at a normal midwicket position. The next fielder waits well wide of the throwing lines.
3. Use incrediballs until throwing arms are warm, then move to a hard ball.

How it runs

1. The coach hits along the ground or bounces it towards the rope. The deep fielder chases; the relay fielder runs out into the line between the ball and the keeper.
2. The relay fielder stops roughly a third of the way from the ball to the keeper, turns side-on and raises both hands as a target, calling the fielder's name.
3. The deep fielder picks up, turns and throws flat to the relay hands. The relay fielder takes it on the glove side, turns and throws to the keeper over the stumps.
4. The coach times each relay. Set a target time for the group and award a point for every relay that beats it and lands in the keeper's gloves above the bails.
5. Rotate: deep fielder to relay, relay to the queue, next fielder into the deep. Switch the coach to hit to the off side after eight balls.

Coaching points

• Deep fielder: chase on a curve so the body is already turning towards the target at pick-up.
• Throw flat and hard to the relay player's chest or above the head on the glove side, not a lob.
• Relay fielder: be side-on before the ball arrives, open the front foot towards the keeper and transfer the ball quickly.
• Loud names on every call so the deep fielder knows exactly where to throw.
• Keeper: get behind the stumps and give a clear target with the gloves.

Common mistakes

• Relay fielder standing square-on and having to turn a full circle after the catch.
• Relay fielder going too far out, making the second throw the long one.
• Deep fielder throwing high, which wastes time and is easy to misjudge.
• Chasing straight at the ball and having to stop and turn before throwing.