Cricket Practice Academy
Global practice-net and training-facility workbook
How to use this workbook
Work through only the modules relevant to the project. Record confirmed decisions, unresolved questions and information still needed. The live Academy can save the same decisions into Your Facility Plan and My Apollo Project.
This is a planning workbook, not a construction drawing, professional design, accreditation or approval document.
Define the cricket training programme
Start with batting, bowling, wicketkeeping, coaching, age groups, pace and simultaneous users before choosing cage dimensions.
□ Who trains here?
□ Do bowlers need full run-ups?
□ How many lanes operate at once?
Choose indoor, outdoor or mixed training
Match the enclosure, surface, lighting and weather strategy to how the facility is expected to operate year-round.
□ Indoor, outdoor or covered?
□ Seasonal or year-round use?
□ What weather and wind exposure applies?
Set lane count, length and training flow
Plan run-up, batting end, safe access, waiting and coaching positions before the support structure is designed.
□ Single or multi-lane?
□ What run-up length is needed?
□ How do players enter without crossing active lanes?
Select the practice surface
Choose synthetic or other practice surfaces around desired pace, bounce, base, drainage and maintenance.
□ What training response is required?
□ What base exists?
□ How will outdoor drainage work?
Plan side, rear and roof containment
Coordinate mesh, net height, dividers and rear protection around ball trajectory and adjacent users.
□ What ball speeds are expected?
□ What lies beside and behind the lanes?
□ Is roof containment required?
Engineer the frame for the destination
Treat posts, supports, anchors, foundations and wind exposure as a project-specific structural system.
□ Freestanding or building-supported?
□ What local wind criteria apply?
□ Who provides foundations and structural design?
Plan lane dividers and retractability
Decide whether lanes operate independently, open into a larger training space or need retractable divider systems.
□ Do coaches need lanes combined?
□ How are dividers operated?
□ Where do retracted nets store?
Plan lighting and visibility
Coordinate indoor or outdoor lighting around ball tracking, roof netting, frame shadows and training hours.
□ Daytime only or evening use?
□ Do luminaires conflict with roof nets?
□ What maintenance access is needed?
Plan coaching, analysis and technology
Allow positions for coaches, bowling machines, cameras, power and data without reducing player safety.
□ Are bowling machines used?
□ Is video analysis required?
□ Where are power and data points?
Plan storage and maintenance
Provide for balls, mats, machines, replacement nets, cleaning and safe maintenance access.
□ What equipment stores on site?
□ Can damaged net panels be accessed easily?
□ Who inspects frames and netting?
Protect future expansion
Allow a school, club or academy to add lanes, indoor cover, lighting or technology without rebuilding the entire facility.
□ Could more lanes be required?
□ Is future indoor conversion possible?
□ Are services positioned for expansion?
Build the cricket-practice project brief
Bring users, lane geometry, surface, containment, structure, lighting, technology and local responsibilities into one package.
□ Are lane count and run-up needs confirmed?
□ Are site exposure and base documented?
□ What structural, civil and installation work remains local?
Facility Plan summary
Use this page to consolidate the project before moving into the Sports Project Brief.