A clean catch from the kick off can be a defining moment in the game. Whether it’s at the start of the half or after a score, it can have a massive psychological effect on the team. Your catchers, most likely the forwards, need to practise receiving a kick off under pressure and in the air.

Warm up time: 5
Session time: 5-8
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7

What to think about

Good drop kickers are few and far between. This has two consequences for your kick-off training:

1. It is best to start by throwing the ball to the receivers to give them more chance to practise rather than race after the ball. Or you could have a player punt the ball for greater accuracy (i.e. kick the ball on its point).
2. In the final stages of the practice, revert to proper drop kicks. It is good practice for the drop kickers. It also recreates the match-like unpredictability of where the ball may end up.

If your catcher can jump and take the ball mid-air then he is learning an important skill to protect himself from being tackled while trying to catch ball, as well as getting above any challenges for the ball.

set-up

1. Move towards the ball with your hands in at shoulder height.
2. Jump, if you can, to receive the ball, turning slightly in the air.
3. Land with a wide stance and wait for support to either bind on to you or for you to pass it away.

What you get your players to do

Warm up by throwing high balls to the catcher. You can do this in pairs. Check for technique. Put a catcher at the end of the box. One player throws the ball into the box from about 10m away and another player (the chaser) runs into the box to pressurise the catcher. To start with, have the chaser jog into the box. Then increase his speed. Allow him to challenge for the ball in the air, but not touch the catcher. Finally, make the situation full contact. Rotate the receivers and chasers before each development.