Runmaka evidence

I am often asked, where is the evidence that Runmaka will help?

I have written this article already, but in re-reading it I found the tone seemed wrong. It felt as if I was being defensive and that was the last thing on my mind. So, I felt some form of clarification prior to the article might help ‘evidence’ why I have written as I have.

Runmaka is new. Of course we have to prove ourselves. It is absolutely correct for people to question our validity. It is absolutely correct for people to want to see for themselves. People need to see Runmaka in action and establish whether or not it is a support system that will help and provide value.

The following hopefully explains more clearly where my mind is on evidencing training. Every single session I run, I have to be able to evidence to myself, the player, the parents and any other coaches that the session has value. I’ll make mistakes from time to time. Not every session will work as I wanted it to for a multitude of reasons. It’s these sessions that help the most. They provide information to learn from. Building Runmaka to provide a better product will be ongoing. Learning from our errors and listening to feedback is crucial. We want feedback please.

When I first started running Somerset County Age Group training I attended and led every single session with selected coaches relevant to a) the environment as a whole and b) the team in question. I did this for four years. The point being my vision and strategy was clearly shared. After a while I positioned myself as a co-leader within groups, aiming to give each coach their space and time. After every single weekly session held on a Friday evening 7-10pm, I would go and buy a curry and four cans of lager. I would go home and analyse the session for one to two hours. What worked? What didn’t? What could I do better? I detailed and established in my own mind what evidence there was to back up my content and approaches.



So, when I answer the question surrounding evidence. I also want to keep asking the question of evidencing everything. We should and must monitor quality control constantly. Runmaka has to answer the questions, but so too, must I personally every time I coach a session. I like parents watching sessions when I coach. I want them to ask me. What am I doing? Why am I doing that? What result am I looking for? If I can’t answer, why should I be doing it? If I’m not comfortable with being asked, why not?

The rest of the article is unchanged. It’s what I believe. It isn’t being defensive. I’m simply trying to say we all have to be accountable. Just because something has been active for one hundred years, we mustn’t simply accept its value. We must keep asking questions. We all have to justify our inclusion. Always. I hope that helps…

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Evidencing Runmaka…

Tough question which could also be applied to all manner of support systems and training methods. Rightly, Runmaka will have to answer these questions, as is always the case. Do all net sessions serve the intended purpose? Do all game scenario set ups achieve the desired outcomes? Does all session content make sense and add value? We should be asking these questions at all times. However, it is totally right that a new concept is asked to prove its value. Time will tell as is always the case.

As for support systems currently widely valued and recognised. I will ask:

-         Where is the evidence the technical coach is helping?

-         Where is the evidence team training environments are helping?

-         Where is the evidence the S&C coach is helping?

-         Where is the evidence the Psych coach is helping?

-         Where is the evidence the game management coach is helping?

-         Where is the evidence the lifestyle coach is helping?

My answer is always the same, ask the player. And the player will tell you which areas are helping the most.

As a player, I was quite technical. Opening batters generally were. It became paralysing at times though. Thinking about what I was doing rather than being free to do the most important thing of all – play the ball that is bowled to me. I have been involved with both healthy and unhealthy team environments. The other support networks were less of a theme when I played, but as a coach have experience of both good and less good examples.  

Technical growth and awareness of technique(s) is crucial to all players. But the notion that, “if you do it like this you’ll score runs”, is nonsense. There are so many other factors (as above) to take into consideration. If it was that simple, just show footage of Don Bradman and say, “do it like that” and leave the player alone. If you give 1000 players the same technical template, you’ll still end up with 1000 different results – some good, some average, some poor. Why? We know people are different so must expect everyone to receive messages differently and require differing ways to be provided information. Just providing a template is like squeezing a square peg into a round hole and hoping it works. Coaching theory is one thing. The application demands so much more information.  

I will never change my view that if a player is training, something will be happening. I don’t advocate poor training, but without realising it, there will still be learning associated with poor training.

If a player is training with focus, the depth of learning will always be evident. Within Runmaka we will offer repetitive skill options. If these work in real life, what stops them working in the virtual world too? We will offer attention drawing exercises. If these work in real life, what stops them working in the virtual world too? We will offer coaching demonstrations, explanations and isolated skill exercises. If these work in real life, what stops them working in the virtual world too? 

Ultimately, the players and coaches will tell us.

If a player performs in the real world, the tech coach will throw out evidential stats as to their support role. The head coach will tell us the group environment is supportive and positive. The S&C coach will tell us they have the player at a better level of fitness than ever before. The psych coach will tell us the player is thinking with clarity. The game management coach will tell us the player is planning through game phases better than ever. The lifestyle coach will tell us the player is sleeping and eating better etc… Obviously, it’s a culmination of a number of factors, not just one. It’s a team effort.

If you want the ‘point of difference' though. Ask the player.

However, what happens if a player stops performing? Is it technique? Is it a drop off in fitness levels? Have they changed their lifestyle? Have they started making poor in-game decisions?  Have they lost their confidence? Hopefully, all of these coaches will step up and take accountability on behalf of the player in their given area. The evidence is now clear that whatever support there is, something now isn’t working. Previously the evidence stated performances were a result of the whole system. The system hasn’t altered, but evidence suggests it is no longer working. Is the system wrong now? Of course not. Form and confidence are a part of the journey. There is no magic just an ongoing quest for betterment and learning from all experiences. A great set of coaches won’t take credit when the player performs, but they will take responsibility when the player doesn’t. It can be a tough gig, but no one needs a fair-weather coach.   

For me personally. I went through the wringer looking at technique. Mentally exhausting in an era where a psych wasn’t anywhere near cricketers. And if they were? You must be a nutjob!

I’m not sure S&C had been invented as such. There was a gym revolution, but it seemed to surround leggings, headbands and disco music as much as anything else. Game management was a chat in the bar and lifestyle surrounded three pints instead of four and no curry.

Much has changed in the world of cricket and thankfully so. But the ‘point of difference’ for me, was an improved mental approach and developing greater emotional control. Learning visualisation had a huge impact on me, both playing cricket and simply living my life. Understanding how to manage myself within game situations and having plans a, b and c came through years of learning. 

I have been coaching for almost forty years now and I was initially very technical. It has its place of course. But the mind? I was told when I joined Somerset by a senior player, cricket is 20% skill and 80% mental. Technique is part of the game, it is NOT the game. As Rory Mcllroy admitted in 2024, he was thinking about technique whilst playing and it was a huge hindrance as his mind was cluttered. Coaching needs to facilitate learning with the ultimate goal being to help the player ‘free their mind’ within the game. In short, skill acquisition is key.

I was advised once that a good coach, coaches technique and I agree. But, a great coach, coaches people. And that truly is another world.

As for Runmaka and evidence? If you practice with purpose, you’ll be learning physically (muscle memory in skill execution and technique), mentally (drawing attention to game management / visualisation) and safely.

As I keep saying, it is very early days for Runmaka, but maybe the question ought to be, why wouldn’t VR training work?

Runmaka cricket currently available to download for £12.99 now from the meta store, or follow the link https://lnkd.in/e8AVSxXS