If you want to be a better cricketer you better play lots of cricket. That's a no brainer. But what if too much cricket leaves players failing to reach their potential?

It might upset some of the players of yesteryear, but the research shows that you can play too much cricket (or any sport) when you are growing up.

I remember when this was all fields

You only have to look at the way the world has changed for children in the last 30 years to see why this happens:

• More access to 'non active' entertainments like multiple TV stations and games consoles.
• Less space to play (For example the mass selling of playing fields in the UK in the 1980s and 90s).
• Parents more aware of risks and less willing to let children play outside by themselves (or even in groups).

The structured coaching of sports like cricket has become popular because it's a safe and healthy way for children to play in the modern world.

At the same time the rewards for playing cricket have increased dramatically. Even an average professional earns a healthy salary and if you make it to the top you can earn millions in the IPL.

Naturally, players who show some early talent are encouraged to make the most of it by their parents. That means more coaching and more cricket year round than the youngsters of previous generations. It makes sense on one level: The more you do the better you get.

But the players of years gone by all played many sports (in the UK it was football or rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer) while staying active by climbing trees or riding bikes until dark, not specialising in cricket until quite late in their teenage years.

Specialising early is a modern development and one that causes more harm than good.

You see, just like learning to read and write, cricket is a skill that requires you build a base first. You can't understand great literature without learning the alphabet. You can't understand cricket until you learning how to run, jump and throw.

But many modern kids don't go through this process of learning movement by playing lots of sports and games because they are tied up in formal coaching from the age of 6. If you have some talent, by 11 you could be playing 5 times a week in the summer and training year round in the nets. Sure, you might feel advanced by reading "War and Peace" at 12, but do you really appreciate it without a solid grounding?

The answer, strange as it may seem, is less cricket to become a better cricketer.

The more time you spend doing other activities, the greater your physical literacy becomes and the quicker you can develop your cricket.

Of course, playing cricket is still important, but even the top cricketers have an off season break.

Also, talented young players tend to be in great demand during the summer for school, club and rep level cricket. Is every game essential or could you go climb a tree instead?

Selecting games, playing other sports and making time to just have some fun without structure: Those things will make better cricketers than all the structured nets and low quality games put together.

image credit: mervtheswerve