Developed by Level 3 Cricket Coach & former Teacher, Michael Middleton, as an aid to help learners get the correct ‘feel’ of a ‘legal’ delivery in the bowling sequence.
What is the BendaMenda™?
- A coaching / teaching aid made of flexible / moulded plastic, the BendaMenda™ is designed to fit all arms. It is fixed in place by two double-sided Velcro straps.
- Its main use is for novice players, who are having difficulty learning how to bowl correctly and only during part of the bowling action.
- The BendaMenda™ can convert current 'throwers' into 'bowlers'.
Research
Research conducted by NSWCA, SA Women’s Cricket Association, New
Zealand, and University of NSW has shown that the use of the BendaMenda™ bowling
aid can significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
learners, coaches and teachers at all levels. BendaMenda™ has
been in use for some time in Australia and is now being distributed to
an increasing number of cricket playing Countries.
Testing shows by using BendaMendaTM with novices learning to bowl, a return of
up to 70% better than traditional coaching, can be achieved.
What some people think about the BendaMenda™ …
…just
a selection
Mike Whitney- Former Test Cricketer, and Level
3 Cricket Coach.
" The value of the BendaMenda™ is that it is a simple way of bowlers
getting the 'feel' of the correct arm position at release point, and
therefore is a great way of involving more youngsters in the game ".
Max Shepherd - Cricket NSW Development Officer; Level
3 Coach
" At present, it is difficult to guarantee all young country cricketers
and potential cricketers face to face coaching which develops the correct bowling
technique. In this respect, the BendaMenda™ will
help us achieve more in our state coaching and development plan of providing
the best possible assistance to young cricketers ".
Warren Smith- NSW Development Officer, Wagga Wagga, NSW
“The BendaMenda is an excellent piece of equipment for bowlers of all
ages, and will rectify the bowler’s throwing problem within a few balls
bowled”
Joanne Broadbent - Development
Officer, SA Women’s
Cricket Assoc; Aust Rep.
“ During 97/98 season we had some excellent results. In one group
of 38 girls, 17 couldn’t bowl. After applying BendaMenda for 6 deliveries,
15 of the 17 bowled successfully”.
Gary Stead - Coaching
Director, Canterbury Cricket Association, NZ
“ We’ve had some astonishing results in our first year of using BendaMenda. In
one group of 23 girls who couldn’t bowl, 22 bowled successfully after using
BendaMenda for 6-10 deliveries”.
Sue Hancock - Primary School Teacher/ former NSW Country Women's Cricket
Rep. (deceased)
" I believe the effectiveness of the BendaMenda™ lies in its simplicity
and its ability to improve the bowling technique over a very short space of
time. As a primary coordinator, teacher, coach and ex-player, I can
see an immense amount of value in this piece of equipment as a teaching aid. While
it is often easy to determine an incorrect action, it is not always as easy
to correct the error. The BendaMenda™ provides an easy form of
remediation. It can be easily used by both the experienced and the inexperienced
coach or teacher ".
Rob Emerson - Primary
School Teacher, and Level 1 Coach
“You can talk, demonstrate, even show a CD of an incorrect technique – all
of these are either time consuming, expensive or both. BendaMenda fits
kids of any age in seconds and gives them the actual feel of what you,
the coach, is talking about. It’s simple, compact, durable, transportable
and a set can be used and re-used by any number of individuals simultaneously. Save
time, your voice and your dollars – let BendaMenda do the talking for you. BendaMenda
is simple to use and the results are immediate. Kids quickly get the feel
for bowling with a straight arm”
Keith Peasley - Head Teacher
(PE/Health) Orange High School, NSW
“ The BendaMenda works. It has enabled students at our School to
become competent and has given each of them a real lift. Using BendaMenda is
a proven and cheap method of assisting athletes to become competent bowlers.
My faculty will continue to use it and thoroughly recommend it for use in schools”.
Rod Rice- Manager, Greg Chappell
Cricket Centres – Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney.
“BendaMenda™ has become a popular coaching aid and is now being
purchased by coaches and teachers in an increasing number of countries that
play the game”.
John Harmer[Sports
Biomechanist] – as Australian Womens’ Cricket Coach.
“BendaMenda™ is a simple and effective coaching aid that will assist
the “learn- to- bowl process”. It has the potential to dramatically
increase numbers taking part in the game, along with associated enjoyment and
success rates”.
Dr Ken Chrichton- Sports Med.
Specialist, Nth Sydney Orthopaedic & Sports Med. Centre
“When used as planned, I believe that there is absolutely minimal risk
of a biomechanically related injury”.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Issues we have faced…and our answers.
“Won’t kids be resistant to putting a piece of plastic
on their arm?”
Answer: On the contrary, our experience
shows kids up till about Year 10 at High School, probably because
of the novelty, are quite happy to wear the brace. Their response
is related commonly to the teacher’s / coach’s attitude.
“The BendaMenda™ is only a remedial device.”
Answer: BendaMenda’s value
is now being realised for its potential in the important early stages
of learning. It can be used in a remedial way, but our aim is to
help all children learn to bowl at the best stage of their development – not
as a “fix it up later” device.
Just think! The three R’s + BendaMenda …in
the School Curriculum!
“I have never been interested in cricket before as a teacher
and I wouldn't know how to make it work.”
Answer: Our model makes it easy for even
non-cricketers to teach youngsters how to bowl. Our instructions
outline easy-to-follow steps.
“How can you prove the BendaMendaTM will really work?”
Answer: Independent studies carried
out by NSW, SA and NZ cricket development staff, and at Uni of
NSW, have shown that the use of BendaMendaTM can give better results
than traditional coaching / teaching methods.
“What do I do when I’ve got half the class that can
bowl and half the class that can’t ?”
Answer: Our recommendation is that those
who can bowl should be paired off with ones who can’t bowl
and so assist the learners. Our Instructions will help you
with this issue.