Fielding Assessment

In this lesson you will learn how this assessment is structured. After the review lessons, you will answer 20 questions drawn from every module in the WFA Fielding pathway. Most questions have a single correct answer, some are true or false, and some ask you to select all the correct options, so read each question carefully. You will have 30 minutes and up to three attempts. You will learn that the best preparation is to work through the review lessons, revisit any module you feel less sure about, and watch the reference videos. Answer every question, because there is no penalty for an incorrect answer. Where a question refers to playing conditions, the answer reflects standard T20 conditions, and you should always check the WFA competition regulations in real matches.

• 20 questions from across the pathway
• Single, true or false and select-all formats
• 30 minutes, up to three attempts
• Review weaker modules before starting

In this lesson you will review the foundations of fielding from WFA501. Remember that every fielder is involved on every ball, and in T20 every run saved counts. Concentrate in short bursts, switching on as the bowler runs in and relaxing once the ball is dead. Walk in with control so that you arrive balanced as the ball reaches the batter, and time a split step as the batter plays the shot, landing on the balls of both feet. Your ready position should have feet about shoulder width apart, knees bent, weight forward, head still and hands relaxed in front of the body. Watch the ball from the bowler's hand, then switch to the bat. Always warm up gradually before hard throws or sprints.

• Concentrate in short bursts
• Controlled walk-in and timed split step
• Balanced ready position, weight forward
• Warm up gradually

In this lesson you will review ground fielding and throwing from WFA502, WFA503 and WFA504. Attack the ball and get your body in line with it. Use the long barrier, with knee and heel forming a solid barrier, for fast balls in the outfield where a fumble would cost a boundary. Use the short barrier or attacking pick-up when speed of release matters. Collect with soft hands, fingers pointing down. The underarm throw is fast and accurate over short distances; stay low and follow through towards the target. For the overarm throw, grip the ball in the fingers, get side-on, use a crow hop for long throws, keep the elbow up and follow through across the body. Aim for flat throws arriving around bail height.

• Long barrier for fast outfield balls
• Short barrier or pick-up for quick release
• Underarm: low, short range, follow through
• Overarm: side-on, elbow up, flat throw

In this lesson you will review catching from WFA505, WFA506 and WFA507. For catches below chest height, use fingers down with little fingers together. For higher catches, use fingers up with thumbs together, or the reverse cup, and never point your fingers at the ball. Watch the ball into your hands, keep your head still and let your hands give. Under Law 33, a catch is complete when the fielder has control of both the ball and their own movement, and no catch is possible from a no-ball. For high catches, judge the flight in the first second, turn and run rather than backpedal, and call loudly and early. For close catches, set a low, still base, watch the bat and let the hands react.

• Fingers down low, fingers up or reverse cup high
• Soft hands, head still
• Control of ball and movement completes a catch
• Close catching: low, still, hands react

In this lesson you will review boundary fielding from WFA508 and WFA512. Start a few metres inside the rope, walk in, and cut the ball off on an angle. Use flat, fast throws, and relay throws when the distance is too great. Under Law 19, a boundary is scored if the ball touches the boundary or the ground beyond it, or if a fielder touching the ball is grounded beyond the boundary. An airborne fielder may knock the ball back into play if their last contact with the ground before touching it was inside the boundary. Under the latest playing conditions and the 2026 MCC Laws, a fielder who has jumped from beyond the rope may only touch the ball once while airborne. Always walk the boundary for hazards before play.

• Start inside the rope and cut the ball off
• Relay throws for long distances
• Boundary if a fielder touching the ball is grounded beyond
• Only one airborne touch from beyond the rope

In this lesson you will review run-outs and backing up from WFA509 and WFA510. Shy at the stumps when the batter is clearly short and you can see the stumps; otherwise return firmly to the keeper. Aim for middle stump at around knee height. The fielder taking the throw should stand just behind the stumps on the side of the throw, collect cleanly and then break the wicket. Under Law 29, the wicket is put down when a bail is removed or a stump is struck out by the ball or by the hand holding the ball. A batter who has grounded and then loses contact while running or diving through is protected. Backing-up fielders should stand about ten to fifteen metres behind the stumps, in line with the throw.

• Shy only when the chance is clear
• Stand behind the stumps on the throw side
• Wicket broken by ball or hand holding it
• Back up ten to fifteen metres behind

In this lesson you will review close fielding from WFA511. The slips stand beside the keeper on the off side, spaced so that their outstretched hands nearly touch, with first slip slightly deeper than the keeper. Gully is squarer and the ball often arrives faster. Short leg and silly point are very close to the bat and need a helmet with a faceguard, a box and shin pads. Under Law 28, no fielder other than the bowler may be on or over the pitch before the ball reaches the striker, and a ball in play hitting a fielder's helmet on the ground behind the keeper earns five penalty runs. ECB guidance sets minimum distances and helmet rules for juniors close to the bat, so always check the ECB and WFA guidance.

• Slips a hand's reach apart
• Gully squarer and faster
• Helmet, box and pads for very close positions
• Grounded helmet struck: five penalty runs

In this lesson you will review T20 tactics from WFA513. In standard T20 playing conditions, the inner circle has a radius of 30 yards. During the powerplay, the first six overs, no more than two fielders may be outside the circle; after that, no more than five. Under Law 28, no more than two fielders other than the keeper may be behind the popping crease on the leg side at delivery. Breaking these restrictions results in a no-ball, and a front-foot no-ball in T20 is followed by a free hit. Captains attack in the powerplay, spread the field in the middle overs and protect the likely boundary areas at the death. Fields are mirrored for left-handers. Fake fielding is unfair under Law 41. Always check the WFA competition regulations.

• Powerplay overs 1 to 6: two outside the circle
• After the powerplay: five outside
• Maximum two behind square on the leg side
• Fields mirrored for left-handers

In this lesson you will review athletic movement and fielding under pressure from WFA514 and WFA515. Warm up with jogging, dynamic movements and progressive sprints, and save long static stretches for the cool-down. Drive your first step from the balls of your feet, decelerate by lowering your hips and shortening your stride, and keep your knee in line with your toes when you change direction. Dive by landing on the side of your body, never on the elbows or knees. Under pressure, use the same routine every ball, focus on the process, know the situation before each ball and reset quickly after a mistake. Stay honest about catches and accept umpires' decisions. Fitness guidance is general and not a substitute for professional or medical advice.

• Progressive warm-up, static stretches after
• Lower the hips to decelerate
• Same routine every ball under pressure
• Reset quickly and play fair

In this lesson you will prepare to sit the assessment. Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for 30 minutes. Read every question fully before choosing an answer, and look carefully for words such as not, all and only, which change the meaning. For select-all questions, check each option on its own merits, as more than one may be correct. If you are unsure, eliminate the options you know are wrong and choose the best of those remaining. Keep an eye on the time but do not rush. You will learn that if you do not pass on your first attempt, you can review the explanations, revisit the relevant modules and try again, with up to three attempts in total. Good luck.

• Quiet place, 30 minutes uninterrupted
• Watch for not, all and only
• Judge each select-all option separately
• Up to three attempts