This is not a review, but if it was, I’d draw it from my unfortunate stint as a township cricket club chairwoman and the occasional hikes we championed for our players to undergo, not only as team building strategies but as fitness work for pre-season and post mid-season recess.

As someone who has served in club leadership and continues to work at the intersection of creativity, sport, and community, I’ve often returned to one central question: how do we influence the preperation of our teams our teams not just physically, but mentally and collectively, for a strong season ahead?

Over the past few months, I’ve committed to a hiking routine, nothing fancy, just consistent now, often steep, but always grounding. And I’ve come to believe that this underestimated practice could offer immense value to teams in their pre-season phase, particularly in grassroots, women’s cricket, and semi-professional sports  environments.

So, allow me to make a pitch. Not from a whiteboard or a technical report, but from the trail.

Hiking as Pre-Season: A Full-Body and Full-Mind Approach

Traditionally, pre-season is defined by cardio sessions, fitness tests, and bat and ball work, I am no coach, so I won’t be technical in terminologies, but allow me to land… While these elements remain essential. Hiking, when integrated with intention, can complement this structure by:

• Building natural endurance and leg strength through long inclines and variable terrain
• Improving balance, coordination, and core engagement without the repetition of gym drills
• Encouraging injury prevention by working muscles that often get neglected in standard training.

What’s more, it’s done outdoors, away from devices, in environments that challenge and heal at the same time.

It’s a Team Bonding Catalyst
One of the hardest things to manufacture in pre-season is authentic team chemistry. Hiking helps facilitate that naturally. I’ve seen it first hand. When teammates walk side by side, breathlessly but determined, they speak differently. They help each other without instruction. They share snacks, stories, and space in a way that drills can’t quite replicate.

Imagine starting the season with a memory: a group hike that was difficult but unforgettable. The kind of experience that informs how they show up for one another on the field or at the crease of a tough game.

It’s also very practical
From a club operations perspective, especially in environments where resources are limited, hiking is accessible. No gym memberships, no booking time slots, no special equipment beyond a good pair of shoes, and a willingness to climb.

As someone who has managed club resources and player morale, I’ve seen the value and know the value of low-cost, high-return ideas. This is one of them.

Rethinking What Pre-Season Could Be :
This isn’t a call to abandon the structured work that pre-season demands. It’s an invitation to expand it. To allow nature to shape part of the process. To trust that leadership, accountability, and fitness can be built in surprising places.

So, to the coaching staff, club execs, and team leaders, I definitely recommend the consideration of taking your squad on a trail. Not as a break from training, but as part of it. And to players: when the season gets hard (as it always does), you might just remember the mountain you conquered before it all began.

See you on the hill,

From a creative who’s been on both sides of the game and stuff.