Straight Drive with Coach Srinivasan

C-Caring,O-Optimistic,A-Approachable,C-Creative,H-Hardworking.This about summarizes our Coach at Gen-Next Srinivasan. Extremely caring, in-fact loves parenting the wards under his care. An Optimist to the core, believes that every child is special, having some unique talent. he is most approachable to anyone who wishes to seek his valuable advice at Gen-next. Of course he is very creative at his innovative training methods.

In this edition of Straight Drive we feature our Coach Srinivasan. We are very fortunate to have a coach like him. Like all our other coaches and staff, Cricket is his first love.

Such is his dedication and love for Cricket,that he plies between Tambaram and T.Nagar twice daily on his two wheeler, a distance of around 100 kms put together. His is a family of three consisting of himself, his wife who is a home maker and his son who is currently doing his graduation at Guru Nanak college. 

Ashwin noticed the coaching prowess in him and asked him if he would be interested in joining Gen-next as a coach. Since then there has been no looking back as far as Srinivasan is concerned. He comes across as a very humble and self effacing person. He was quite candid and straight when expressing his thoughts on coaching. As per him Cricket runs in his blood and he has nothing else in his thoughts other than Cricket.

Coach Srinivasan on difference between Yesteryear Cricket and the Game Today:

He added by saying that in the past there were aggressive players and even now there are aggressive players, the only thing that has changed is the emphasis being laid on physical fitness, with that players are regularly going to the gym, thereby improving on their power, ability to clear the field has become that much more simpler. This has given rise to the concept of Power Hitting. Also the standards of fielding has drastically improved because of the emphasis on Physical Fitness. He also felt that with the modern game in place, there are different formats in place-Test, ODI and T-20 each requiring different skills and so each format requires specialized skill sets

On Home Conditions Versus Foreign Conditions:

As per Coach Srinivasan, every team has the advantage of home conditions. In England they have swinging conditions.In Australia they have bouncy tracks and in Asia you have spinning tracks. It is not very easy to adapt to a condition. You can adapt and become a master of particular condition. Over a period of time you can become an expert on other surfaces as well. For that you have to play on different surfaces right from your childhood.  This is where we at Gen-next make a difference by making our children to play on different kinds of surfaces. We make play matted surfaces,concrete, and turf. The young boys have to understand the bounce and deviations, how to position themselves, adapt themselves to different playing conditions and adjust their games accordingly.  

On Coaching:

Srinivasan says that  coaching  can help to a certain extent, beyond that match exposure is required,basis which the coach understands their strengths and weakness. Technique is very important, here is where a good coach helps in correcting a faulty technique. Once this is done it all depends on the player and how he performs. The coach or the parents should not pressurize, but encourage the child. Cricket like any other sport has its own fair share of ups and downs.The coach should give only small targets initially. Coaches need to understand the temperament, or lack of it, concentration, physical condition, of each and every player and accordingly plan out his own coaching methods.

Role of Parents:

Coach Srinivasan feels that the Parents have a very important role to play for their success in a sport like Cricket. They have to instill a sense of discipline in their children. Parents need to send the children in time for practice, for that they need to insist that the child is in bed by 9 pm, and that get up in time.  The child's diet requirements needs to be taken care of. Parents need to first of all understand what diet best suits their child, how of proteins and carbohydrates is required. This will thus ensure that the child gets a balanced diet. It is indeed the duty of the parent to keep encouraging the child by giving them confidence. 

On Ashwin:

Srinivasan feels that Ashwin is a self made cricketer. He has his own thoughts on the game and is a very fast learner even today. He recalls that ahead of the New Zealand series Srinivasan had suggested a few changes in his batting style which Ashwin practiced and implemented immediately as a result of which he got a lot of runs against New Zealand and England.

On setting the Expectations Right and the Goals right for the Child:

Every child wants to enjoy the game. It is the Parent who has this expectation that his child should play for the country. The child has to learn to play the game,he has play matches , and perform his role to the best of his abilities. he has to go through a selection process,either at city level or the district level.Once they clear this they are selected by the state board to play matches within the state. Every child is not destined to be a cricketer but will be a success in his own chosen field. Every child has a unique talent, It is the duty of the coach and parents to identify and develop those talents.  At Gen-nest it is our responsibility to create a sportsperson, we alter lifestyles.  We focus on physical fitness, and help in developing a love for the game. Srinivasan says that he does more of parenting, tries to understand what a kid can achieve according to his skills and abilities and takes him one step ahead. The child has to enjoy the game, learn the game, be a good human being, focus on physical fitness, and nutrition.  Cricket is a team sport so at Gen-Next we also focus on inter-personal relationships.

Coach Srinivasans message to budding young cricketers:

Srinivasan stresses and rightly so that cricket being a physical game, firstly prime fitness is required. Secondly, skill is required. To develop Skill practice needs to be purposeful. The Cricketer has to get closer to what he faces in the center. he needs to be scientific in his approach to food,and  most importantly, measure his performance, whether you are lagging behind, or on in line with his goals. He feels that the world is only about performance. same is with cricket. Pressure has to be taken in a positive sense. t will do a world of good to talk to different people or read about people who have played the game.Inspiration drawn is very It needs to be insisted that the youngster right from his childhood gets to watch matches in the stadium especially international matches.  Srinivasan even today loves to read a lot of cricket. For him state cricketers,Kedar, and balaji are mentors.  Coach Srinivasan draws inspiration from international players like Martin Crowe and Greg Chappel. In conclusion Srinivasan says that not everyone who is good at academics gets to be a topper in life while those who are average or mediocre are doing really well. It is the duty of the coaches and parents to bring out the unique qualities in each and every child and that is our prime responsibility at Gen-next. Let the tribes of the likes of Coach Srinivasan grow in abundance.