Kicking Guide for Coaches
Learn the kicking skills of the modern game of Australian Football from the current stars of the game.
Garry Lyon and Matthew Lloyd present the basic mechanics of effective kicking.
Purchase a copy of the Kicking Guide for Coaches at the AFL Development Resources Shop
The major skill required in Australian Football is kicking. This video introduces this fundamental skill.
Basic Mechanics of Kicking
Impact - The best place to start when teaching kicking is at the point of impact. A player’s ability to make strong and precise impact with the ball will ultimately determine if the kick reaches the intended target. This video introduces the point of impact as a starting point for kicking and outlines three critical learning points to ensure good impact is made with the ball:
- Control of the ball onto the foot
- Acceleration of the lower leg
- Firm foot
This video also considers the look, feel and sound of the kick as vital information to assist the player in learning and for possible improvements in their kicking.
The video also introduces model kicks and explains that young players can model themselves on AFL players with sound kicking technique to aid their development.
Teaching Kicking
A trap for coaches is to tell players how to kick. The coach needs to structure training so that players have the opportunity to utilise different types of kicks in game situations. This will allow the player to learn how to kick.
Watch the following video:
Types of Kicks and Kicking Situations
Players will be faced with match day situations that require different types of kicks. The Kicking Guide for Coaches video shows large group activities that can be used to develop the different types of kicks that can be used in the following kicking situations.
Watch the videos on activities to develop:
- Static Field Kicking
- Dynamic Field Kicking
- Penetrating Kick
- Weighted Kick
- Kicking to Advantage
- Kicking Around Corners
- Kicking Off One Step
- Dribble Kick
- Switch of Play Kick
- Goal Kicking
- Kicking In
Specialised Kicks
Various specialised kicks are used in Australian Football including the torpedo, banana and snap kicks. Watch the following video which outlines the technique for these specialised kicks:
Remediation Activities
When observing a players kicking action the first thing a coach should view is the outcome of the kick. If the ball flight is poor and inconsistent the coach should revert to the starting point for kicking technique – impact. The coach should revisit the critical learning points to ensure good impact is made with the ball:
- Control of the ball onto the foot
- Acceleration of the lower leg
- Firm foot
View the following video that identifies some of the common errors associated with these critical learning points and some activities designed to remedy these common errors:
Volume of practice
Community football coaches are challenged by having limited opportunities to work with their players to develop their kicking skills. View the following video that reinforces that technique learnt in isolation from decision making is less efficient.
Bonus Videos
Watch the following bonus videos:
Purchase a copy of the Kicking Guide for Coaches at the AFL Development Resources Shop
