AFL Coaching Manual - Western Bulldogs Football Club

the coach
chapter 2 – basic skills
DevelopING
SkillS
Young players pass through
various stages from first
learning a skill to mastering it.
The length of time this
takes will depend on the
individual player and the
quality of coaching.
Factors to be considered include:
n The ability of the coach to
teach or demonstrate the skill.
n The skills must flow from
simple to complex.
n Some players will learn
at a faster rate.
Phases of skill learning
In general, footballers pass through three stages of skill learning:
1. Early Stage
Where large numbers of errors occur as the player attempts to perform the
skill. The coach needs to provide demonstrations, verbal instructions and
positive corrective feedback to encourage the player.
2. Intermediate Stage
Where the footballer has achieved a basic level of competence and can start to
perform the skill at a faster rate and practise it in an appropriately structured
competitive situation. The coach is required to have the player practise with
opposition and in game like situations.
3. Advanced Stage
When the skill becomes automatic the player is able to perform the skill under
pressure without consciously thinking about it. The coach extends the players
by working on advanced skills and team plays and players are encouraged to
evaluate their own performances.
neat skills:
Australian Football requires
players to execute their skills
constantly under pressure,
as Brisbane Lion
James Polkinghorne
shows here.
Individual
Skills
Skill can be categorised
as an individual skill or
team skill.
Once the player has learnt the
basic individual skills, they
should be further developed into
game-like situations at training.
The player is then required to make
decisions about what to do with
the ball, when to do it and how to
execute the skill under pressure.
However, it is vital that the basic
skills of the game are taught
correctly. The effective coach must
break the skill down into simple
manageable segments before
progressing to more advanced skills.
The skills of Australian Football
Individual skills in Australian Football can be classified under three
general headings:
Disposal
Skills
Kicking
Handball
Ruck tap
Possession Skills
Marking
Receiving Handball
Bouncing
Picking Up
Evasion
p Baulk
p Side step
p Spin
CONTACT
Skills
Tackling
Bumping
Shepherding
Smothering
Spoiling
RELAXED:
Collingwood’s Scott
Pendlebury has an
excellent kicking style.
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