The new season always arrives faster than you expect. One minute it is January, the next your first fixture is two weeks away and half the squad has not picked up a bat since September. Good pre-season training does not happen by accident. It needs a plan, a venue and a regular slot in everyone’s diary.
This guide is for club committees and captains organizing club cricket nets hire between January and April. Here is how to get it right.
How many sessions does a squad need?
Most clubs aim for 10 to 12 weekly sessions before the season starts. That gives players enough time to rebuild technique, sharpen reactions and get match ready without cramming everything into March.
| Start date | Weekly sessions before late April | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Early January | 14 to 16 | Clubs with large squads or junior sections |
| Early February | 10 to 12 | Most clubs (the sweet spot) |
| Early March | 6 to 8 | A late push, better than nothing |
Booking one lane for 10 weeks costs less than you might think, and splitting the fee across a full squad keeps it affordable for everyone.
Splitting lanes between batters and bowlers
A common mistake is cramming the whole squad into one lane. Players spend most of the evening waiting and very little time training. A better approach with our indoor cricket nets is to book two or three of the five lanes and rotate:
- Lane 1: Bowlers working in pairs with a batter, focusing on line and length
- Lane 2: Batters facing the bowling machine for high-volume repetition
- Lane 3: Throwdowns, fielding drills or one-to-one technical work
Rotate groups every 20 minutes. Everyone stays active, and the bowling machine means your batters get consistent deliveries even if your opening bowler is stuck at work.
Why a regular weekly slot beats one-off sessions
One-off bookings sound flexible, but they rarely work for clubs. Attendance drops because nobody knows when the next session is, and popular evening slots get snapped up. A block booking fixes the same lane, same time, every week. Players build a habit, coaches can plan a proper programme, and the committee only has to organize it once.
If your club wants structured match practice as well as nets, entering a team in our winter indoor cricket league is a great way to keep competitive instincts sharp before outdoor cricket returns.
It is also worth checking your club’s coaching cover before the season starts. The ECB’s coaching courses page outlines the qualifications available, from Support Coach upwards, if anyone at your club wants to get certified.
Book your pre-season block today
Five wide lanes, Bola bowling machines and ECB-qualified coaches on site. To set up a weekly block booking for your club, contact the HECC team or book online today.