AFL Coaching Manual - Western Bulldogs Football Club

the coach
chapter 5 – team play and tactics
3. Kick-outs
Traditionally, the full-back delivered the ball long out of the danger zone,
directing it towards a high-marking ruckman, with teammates flooding
to the area in support.
Today, with the emphasis on possession football, kick-out strategies are
employed in an effort to maintain possession or restrict the opposition
when they have the ball.
Defence
With the opposition kicking out, two main forms of defence are possible.
a. Man on man
In its simplest form, each player picks up an opponent and follows
him closely to prevent a lead or an easy mark.
b. Zone defence
The zone defence, based on a tactic employed in basketball, involves
zoning an area to restrict movement into an open space.
The 12-man defence as illustrated, shows players evenly
distributed in ‘open spaces’ in an attempt to restrict opposition
leading into these areas.
Offence
Kicking out from full-back becomes an important consideration simply
because you are in possession of the ball.
a. All players must have a role to play and be fully aware of their responsibility.
b. The ground and weather conditions, along with the age and standard
of the competition, will determine the tactics adopted.
c. The player kicking off must be able to read the situation and select the
best option.
d. Ultimately, this will depend on the tactics of the opposition and whether
they adopt a zone defence or play man on man.
e. A simple kick-out strategy to combat a zone defence involves ‘flooding a zone’.
f. Players are directed to one area to outnumber the opposition, thereby
improving their chance of maintaining possession.
g. All kick-out strategies may include a ‘play on’ option to gain more
ground before kicking.
h. Kick-out drills, whether offensive or defensive, require a great deal
of practice and rehearsal.
i. Pre-season period is the time to introduce and develop your team’s
kick-out strategies.
j. They can be further refined and expanded during normal
in-season training.
FP
FF
FP
HF
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CHF
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RU
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