Here's an article that looks at the strategies used by NFL football players to deal with the huge pressure of playing in professional sport. It's simplicity can be applied perfectly to cricket:

1. "Pressure is a reflection of ambition. Rather than viewing the pressure as a negative, look at it as a great opportunity. It means that you know what you want, and that you actually have a chance of obtaining it.

It's been an exceptional start.

Millfield School started the cricket season this week with two unbeaten Festival wins in the Under 15's and Meyers XI (U18's). We have seen lots of evidence of the winter work paying dividends. A number of players have hit personal best scores or wicket hauls.

However, the rigours of match play exposed a couple of glaring holes in the U15s bowling attack from both a mental and tactical perspective. This forced Steve Wilson (Assistant Coach) and me to think on our feet.

In the first game of the festival, our bowling attack conceded 22 wides in only 50 overs.

Mental preparation is often overlooked in cricket. We all say how important it is, then go back to the nets for another hit. But it's simple to improve your mental game without ever having to see a shrink. You simply need to be aware of how to do it.

Iain Brunnschweiler knows his stuff. He is England Development Programme Coach and runs Inspired Cricket. What coach or player wouldn't want to pick his brains?

That's exactly what PitchVision Academy did recently. In frustration at seeing net sessions wasted, I turned to Brunchy for some advice, and his answer was so simple it shocked me.

From today, Runmaker, the cricket coaches guide to developing high-class batsmen and runmakers from Graham Gooch , is available exclusively on PitchVision Academy.

Click here for full details.

The man with over 67,000 professional runs has - for almost 30 years - coached batsmen for both Essex and England to emulate his technical knowledge, powers of concentration and incredible work-ethic. Now, through his streaming video course, he will show you how to develop the next generation built for scoring reliable, "daddy" innings in all situations.

To do this, Gooch has developed a system of player development that brings out the best technical skill, attitude and concentration in each individual. If you coach batsmen at any level, the Runmaker system shows you how to get the best from them no matter what their personality and individual skill.

All the streaming videos are split into chapters to make it totally relevant to your needs, and the accompanying eBook lets you take the advice anywhere:

• Batting drills used by Gooch
• The technical "non-negotiables" of batting
• Ways to deal with talented but difficult players
• A systematic coaching method that covers the four most important aspects of coaching runmakers
• Ways to coach a better work ethic into batters

The course was filmed at the Essex County Ground, with detailed streaming video demonstrations of techniques and drills alongside an insightful interview that taps deeply into Gooch's thinking as a coach.

Unlike a traditional coaching manual or DVD, you can interact with others on the course, take on the advice and video tips and apply them immediately. The eBook can be downloaded and read anywhere, any time.

It's a coaching masterclass.

I am building a new team at Millfield School this year. This is a huge challenge for the coach, captain and the players who will make up that team.

Whilst I have worked individually with a couple of the players in the one to one programme, I am starting from scratch with 9 of the group. The brutal reality is that we have a 10 week period together to form a team and to work towards playing some really good cricket together.

With that, I was searching for a way to get a deeper understanding of the players within the squad so I "borrowed" a great trick from Olympian swimmer Euan Dale.

Here's a story that might make you think.

Not long ago I was playing in an away match in a team with a lot of younger players. Unusually, I was late and arrived close to the start time. We had already tossed and were about 10 minutes from going into the field.

Nobody had warmed up.

Not a gentle throw on the outfield. Not a few half-hearted slip catches. Nothing.

How to Become a Cricketer, the total guide to achieving your cricket dreams from respected coach Monty Desai, is out now, exclusively on PitchVision Academy.

As you know, recently we announced the Rajasthan Royals Talent Scout and Academy Coach was revealing his methods in his first ever online coaching courses. Tody you can get your hands on three courses that teach you how to become a cricketer

Get them now. Click here to buy the online coaching courses.

This is an exclusive excerpt from How to Become A Cricketer, from IPL Coach Monty Desai. For more information about the videos and eBooks, click here.

When we are looking for players at cricket trials there are some important qualities beyond runs and wickets and stat figures.

This article is an excerpt from the Graham Gooch Runmaker eBook available on PitchVision Academy. For more details, click here.

Anyone can score 30 if they can play a bit, but to make a big score your concentration has to be better and stronger. Whether it's a long match, one day match or even Twenty20, it doesn't matter. If concentration is sharp, alert and in tip top nick, then you make less mistakes.