How do I keep useful fielding notes?
Name the actual task before recording a result. Close catching, a high catch and a moving pickup demand different observations. Describe the feed and the target so your future self can understand the entry. If a drill combines a pickup and a throw, note which part worked and which part needs a conversation with your coach.
A worked ground-fielding example
Task: collect a rolling ball and return it to a partner at an agreed target. Observation: the pickup was clean on several attempts, but the return was not always within reach. Feedback: use the coach’s cue for setting up the return. Next focus: record pickup and return separately. This is a sample journal entry, not evidence about an academy session or player.
Can I compare catching percentages?
Only treat counts as comparable when you understand the conditions. Ten gentle feeds from nearby are different from ten difficult chances on the move. Write the number of attempts only if you counted them and leave unknowns blank. The sheet deliberately avoids a universal fielding score: the quality and difficulty of the opportunity matter alongside the result.
How should I use this with a coach?
Bring a short entry to your next conversation and ask about one recurring observation. Clear notes can make it easier to explain what happened, but they do not replace the coach watching you practise. Let your coach choose a suitable ball, distance and progression. Print the worksheet for training or fill it in afterwards and download a copy to keep with your season’s notes.
What if several players shared the drill?
Record your own observations and the setup, without grading teammates or putting their personal details into your notes. If partners or feed distances changed during the session, say so. That context makes the entry easier to interpret when you return to it after another practice.
Original worksheet for the Dehradun Cricket Academy website. General context: Australian Cricket Institute’s player diary shows how training reflection can be organised. Our fields and examples are original; no affiliation is implied.
Content checked 2026-09-12. This is an organisational aid, not a coach-certified training plan. Free to copy for personal, school and club use.