Published: August 13, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Coaching is not just about giving instructions, asserts former India player Noel David. “A coach has to observe, communicate, demonstrate, challenge and, most importantly, understand the player,” says the Hyderabadi who was the fielding coach at the NCA’s Under-19 Elite Camp, which was held at the Centre of Excellence in Pondicherry.
Noel, after retirement from the game, had taken up coaching because of his passion of passing on his knowledge to the future generation of cricketers. Noel has had quite a successful stint as a coach at several levels and with many teams including Hyderabad and Assam.
Speaking about the Under-19 Elite camp, he said: “The Under-19 Elite camp was a very valuable and enriching experience for me as a coach. Being part of the camp as the fielding coach gave me an opportunity not only to work closely with some of the country’s promising young cricketers, but also to understand their individual requirements, mindset and approach towards fielding. For me, fielding is not simply about catching the ball or stopping runs.
It’s about developing habits: Noel
“At the Under-19 level, it is about developing habits, creating awareness, improving movement and building the confidence to take responsibility in the field. My objective throughout the camp was therefore to make the boys understand that fielding is an important part of their identity as cricketers and not something that should be treated separately from batting and bowling,” Noel told Khelkhiladis.com.
How did the young generation of players respond to his methods? “One of the most encouraging aspects of the camp was the response I received from the boys. They were receptive to the ideas and methods introduced during the sessions and showed a genuine willingness to improve. Initially, some of the players approached fielding mainly from a technical perspective. As the camp progressed, I felt that they began to understand the importance of preparation, anticipation, communication and decision-making.
“The boys responded particularly well when the sessions were made competitive and closely related to match situations. Introducing challenges, reaction drills, catching under pressure, ground-fielding exercises, throwing accuracy and scenario-based fielding helped create greater intensity and purpose.
“What impressed me was their willingness to ask questions. Several players wanted to understand not just how to execute a particular skill, but why it was important and when it should be used in a match. That interaction made the sessions more meaningful,” he said.
Building a fielding culture
As a fielding coach, Noel believes it is his job to build a fielding culture.
“A major focus of my coaching was to develop a fielding culture within the group. At this age, players need to understand that fielding standards are created through daily habits. Body position, first movement, balance, catching technique, throwing mechanics and communication all have to become natural. I encouraged the boys to take ownership of their individual fielding positions.
“A player should know his role, understand the likely scoring areas of the batsman and anticipate what may happen before the ball is delivered. The emphasis was therefore not only on physical ability but also on awareness and game intelligence,” he said.
Noel, who had struck a double century in Hyderabad’s massive 944 for six declared against Andhra in 1993-94, which incidentally is India’s highest first-class total, said intensity and match relevance were the key aspects of focus in the camp.
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“Another important aspect of the camp was bringing match intensity into the fielding sessions. We worked on situations such as saving boundaries, attacking the ball inside the circle, creating run-out opportunities, backing up throws, boundary fielding, catching under pressure and communicating during critical moments. The intention was to ensure that the boys understood that fielding is often about making the right decision in a fraction of a second.
“The more we progressed through the camp, the more I could see players becoming comfortable with this approach. They began to compete with each other and, importantly, started encouraging one another during the sessions,” he added.
Focus on individual development
Noel also spoke about individual development. “Every player has different strengths and areas that require improvement. One of the key learnings for me was the importance of identifying those individual requirements rather than treating the group as one unit. Some players required technical corrections, while others needed greater confidence. Some had good physical ability but needed to improve their anticipation and positioning. Others needed to become more consistent with their catching and throwing. The camp provided a good environment to identify these differences and work with the players individually,” he stated.
The camp was not all about the players acquiring skills. Noel says that he too had so much to learn at the camp. “The camp was equally important for my own development as a coach. Working with a group of talented Under-19 players allowed me to evaluate my coaching methods, understand how young players respond to different forms of communication and identify better ways of transferring technical information into match performance.
“It reinforced my belief that coaching is not just about giving instructions. A coach has to observe, communicate, demonstrate, challenge and, most importantly, understand the player. The response of the boys gave me confidence that when players are given clarity, responsibility and the right environment, they are willing to work hard and improve,” he said.
Players taking ownership of their fielding
“Overall, my experience at the Pondicherry Under-19 Elite Camp was extremely positive. The boys showed enthusiasm, commitment and a strong desire to learn. Their response to the fielding programme was encouraging, and I believe the camp helped them appreciate the importance of fielding as a major component of modern cricket. For me, the most satisfying aspect was seeing the players gradually take greater ownership of their fielding.
“When a player starts demanding higher standards from himself rather than waiting for the coach to demand them, that is when real development begins.
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“The Pondicherry camp was therefore not only an opportunity to work on fielding skills, but also an opportunity to contribute towards developing the mindset of the next generation of Indian cricketers.
“I believe that with continued exposure, individual attention and consistent high standards, these young players have the potential to develop into outstanding all-round cricketers. As a fielding coach, my aim is to ensure that they understand that every ball matters, every run saved matters and every opportunity in the field can change a game,” Noel said.
