Cricket · Bowling

Underarm bowling to a target

Young players roll and bowl underarm at a hoop and a set of stumps, then swap jobs with a partner.

BwF1
Start / 5
Time
10 min
Players
2–12
Age
U5–U8
Area
Short lanes, about 10 m long
Equipment
6 soft balls3 plastic stumps or a cone stack3 hoops or flat markers6 cones

Setup

  1. Make lanes side by side, with a cone as the bowling mark and a set of plastic stumps about 8–10 m away; shorten it for the youngest.
  2. Lay a hoop on the ground two or three big steps in front of the stumps.
  3. Pairs share a lane: one bowls, one stands behind the stumps as the collector. Hats, sunscreen and water ready.

How it runs

  1. The bowler stands at the mark, faces the stumps and swings the ball back and through like a pendulum, letting go low so it bounces in the hoop.
  2. One point for a bounce in the hoop, two if it goes on to hit the stumps.
  3. The collector stops the ball and rolls it back along the ground. Swap jobs after four balls.
  4. Finish with a lane challenge: which pair can score ten points first?

Coaching points

  • Look at the hoop, not the ball, before you let go.
  • Step forward with the opposite foot to your bowling hand.
  • Let go low, near the knee, and point your hand at the target after it leaves.
  • Stand still and wait until your partner is ready before you bowl.

Common mistakes

  • Letting go too late, so the ball flies high instead of bouncing.
  • Stepping with the same-side foot and losing balance.
  • Bowling while the collector is still fetching a ball.

Say it: “Look, step, swing, point.”

Make it harder

  • Move the hoop nearer the stumps or use a smaller one.
  • Take two walking steps into the delivery before letting go.

Make it easier

  • Roll the ball along the ground at the stumps first, then try a bounce.
  • Move the mark closer and use a bigger target such as a bin.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.