2012 Youth Coaching Manual - AFL Community

Kicking
Kicking is the most important skill in Australian Football. The basic skill should
be taught at a young age and major faults rectified.
The key to kicking well is to have a sound basic technique. While players’ kicking
techniques may be different, and each player will develop their own natural kicking
style, there are some critical actions that should be consistent for all players.
Starting point – IMPACT
The best place to start when teaching kicking is at the point of ‘impact’. The term
impact refers to the point when the player’s foot makes contact with the ball. If a coach
has identified that a player’s kicking performance is ineffective due to the ball not
spinning backwards, or having a poor flight pattern, then the first point of the kick
to examine is the point of impact.
The coach should then work backwards to evaluate other possible causes of the error.
With every kicking technique and every kicking situation in a match being different,
a focus on grip, approach, leg swing and follow-through is not as critical as what
happens at impact.
Players will learn to adapt these elements of kicking to the game situation they find
themselves in. Some kicking situations in a match may mean the player does not have
time to grip the ball normally, has to kick off one step, or has to produce a low flat
kick that results in little follow-through. However, one thing that doesn’t change with
kicking technique, regardless of the environment or pressure on the player, is impact.
A player’s ability to make strong, precise impact with the ball will ultimately decide
if the kick reaches its intended target.
Critical learning points
To ensure impact is effective, there are three critical learning points to follow:
Control of the ball onto the foot
A player must be able to control the ball into the impact zone and on to their foot,
striking the bottom third of the ball to make it spin backwards (drop punt).
Making the ball spin backwards is the first priority when learning to kick. Once the
player gains confidence and an understanding of what it feels like to get the ball to spin
backwards, they can move on to other aspects of the kick.
Ideally, the player guides the ball down with the guiding hand (as the kicking foot
leaves the ground). It is released from around hip level, with the guiding arm and hand
controlling the path and orientation of the ball. The aim is to place the ball consistently
in position. As this process begins, the non-guiding hand comes off the front of the ball
and swings up and back in an arc.
Acceleration of the lower leg
To kick the ball with penetration and distance, a player must generate a high level of
lower leg speed. Lower leg speed is generated through a number of elements, including
taking a steadying and long last stride trailing the kicking foot behind. The kicking foot is
driven forward in an explosive action to make contact with the ball.
A large wind-up is not needed to create an accelerated lower leg action; however, a quick
knee extension is required. The kicking action is a very natural movement, with the lower
leg accelerating around the knee joint.
The follow-through of a kick is not of great consequence to the effectiveness of the kick;
it is a part of the kicking action that flows naturally from the actions prior to impact.
176 AFL Youth Coaching Manual