Testimonials
My son Jack is 16 years old and has been having one-to-one coaching with Andy Hobday at Serious Cricket for the last two years. Andy came highly recomended by a cricketing friend of ours.
Jack did not play cricket seriously until he was fourteen old. In his first year, Jack played for the District and in his second year, he progressed to make it into the Country squad for their winter net sessions.
I am convinced that Jack's rapid progress is due to Andy Hobday's coaching techniques. Andy is a first class coach in both the technical and mental aspects of the game. During his weekly one-to-one coaching sessions, Andy worked hard to improve Jack's batting, bowling and mental focus. I could not speak more highly of him.
I would not hesitate to recommend Andy to anyone who is serious about cricket and looking for a quality coach for themselves or a member of their family.
Following a growth spurt at the end of the 2006 season, my son Will Allum's bowling action had completely collapsed. At the time he was playing for Royal Ascot Colts and Berkshire Under 12's. The problem was so serious that two options were open to us, concentrate on batting and give up the bowling or find someone good enough to sort out the problem.
By pure good fortune, we happened to be buying some kit at Serious Cricket in Thatcham and got talking to Andy Hobday. Andy had just taken up the position of Head Coach at Serious Cricket and offered his services. Eight weeks later, after much hard work from Andy and Will, a complete transformation had taken place. Andy had identified the problem areas and put coaching plans in place to remedy the situation. The rest, as they say, is history:
The following season Will went from 1st change to opening the bowling for his County age group. He ended the season as leading wicket taker and was put on the newly formed berkshire EPP programme for junior elite players. 2008 proved to be equally successful and at the end of the season he was approached by Middlesex to be part of their Academy programme. This season has continued well and Will has made his debut for Henley, as a 14 year old, in the Home Counties Premier League. We have just been informed that Will has been selected to play for The South and West of England Under 15 side to play in the prestigious Bunbury Regional Festival at the end of July.
Andy's skill as a coach covers two vital areas. He has the technical knowledge to identify and correct potential problems, but also the ability to make the recipient of his advice enthusiastic about undertaking the hard work that is necessary to bring about the required change.
We are very grateful to have found Serious Cricket and Andy Hobday, they might very well be the people to bring about a similar change in your child's cricketing future!
I am the proud parent of a current under-13 boy Hampshire county player, having watched my son Calum play for the county team for the last three seasons.
Calum showed a certain ability for the game from an early age and, after a few attempts, he got into the Under 11 summer county team in 2007. Unfortunately he did not have the best of seasons in 2007 and was not re-selected for the winter development squad that year.
We recognised that he needed to improve his techniques and with this in mind he signed up to an intensive one-to-one coaching programme at the Dummer Cricket Centre. Over the winter months Calum’s techniques showed steady improvement and had significantly improved by the spring of 2008 when he re-gained his place in the county team.
Since then, Calum has continued with the coaching at Dummer, has continued to improve and has kept his place in the county side.
As one of those parents who has watched and listened to every word over the years Calum has received coaching, I can freely state that there is no better place to go for coaching than the Serious Cricket Centre at Dummer. The coaches are always encouraging, highly qualified, humorous and friendly.
Calum is old enough to realise the benefit he is getting technically out of one-to-one coaching and works hard during the short hour sessions. However, the best thing Calum gets out of the sessions, in his own words, is “Brilliant fun”.
~ Alastair Maciver
Ever wondered about the value of coaching? Three years ago I took my then 10 year old son to his first one to one session at the Dummer Cricket Centre. Since then we have been regular visitors and a combination of quality coaching and regular net practice sessions has resulted in a real improvement in his cricketing skills.
As well as improving technique his cricketing development is now regularly monitored: a clear benefit. In particular, the bowling sessions with Richard Hindley have helped to take him from decent club cricketer to the county training squad.
I can’t think of a better recommendation than that.
Matt just loves playing cricket and has been very fortunate to experience playing for his school, club, district and at county level. However, he has always been keen to develop his technical skills.
In 2007, Matt and I visited Dummer’s first class indoor cricket facilities for the first time and by chance Andy Hobday was coaching a boy in the next lane. Matt and I were immediately taken by Andy’s positive coaching style, his fun approach together with his rare ability to articulate his ideas in such a way that they were clear not only to his pupil but also me who was listening intently in the adjoining lane!!
Andy has since become a great friend and confidant, who has provided Matt with continued direction, support and the confidence to believe in himself. We count ourselves very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time and will continue to recommend Dummer Cricket Centre to anyone who has both a love of this wonderful game of cricket and a passion to improve.
Benjamin began having lessons at Dummer Cricket Centre in late 2008 and the impact was visible almost immediately.
Through the collective coaching skills of Steve Oliphant, Simon Hammond and more recently Richard Hindley, they have taught Benjamin some of the core batting and bowling skills. Training has always been conducted with an element of fun but at the same time, he has been encouraged to push himself with individual targets being set during various drills.
The greatest compliment I can pay Dummer is that his lessons cannot come round quick enough and Benjamin leaves with just as big a smile as he arrived with.