Open field kicks super training

Kicking in open play certainly has its downsides. You risk your possession and invite the opposition to have their turn with the ball. Even when you use contestable kicks, you are contesting possession when you could have just as easily retained possession. Kicking’s a risk but rewarding if you prepare in the right way.

First, you need to make kicking part of every training session. It might be a warm up exercise, a break out activity or an element in a game. Players can learn when to kick, how to communicate it and how to read the kicker’s intentions. While you might work on kick and catch skills in one session, you must also develop a better awareness of the rewards.

Second, you should make kicking risky in training. When playing a game, players should choose when to kick wisely. It’s no point them just kicking because they can.  Give them a purpose. And give them a consequence.

Kicking consequence game

Play a game where possession is hard to get. Play endless touch rugby where the attacking team have no limit on the number of touch tackles they can receive. The attacking team would be foolish to kick unless it gave them a reward. So, it’s not only endless touch rugby, but every time there is a touch, the ball carrier goes to ground and another attacker goes over the ball. Finally, the ball must be passed (or can be kicked) by the dummy-half.

The attackers are always faced by an overload of defenders and though they can maintain possession, they won’t make much headway. If they kick, the defence now must decide whether to keep players in the backfield or not.

A good kick which is retrieved would mean more possession. Plus, probably, if the attacker who retrieves the ball is touched immediately, lots of defenders are in offside positions if the ball is recycled quickly.

Now the attacking team has a risk and reward: giving up possession v regaining possession when the defence is out of position.

Kicking communication

Communication is a vital element of open field kicking. As with lineout throws, since the ball is in the air for some time, if the attackers can move before the defenders, anticipating the destination of the ball, they have a better chance of outwitting their opposite number.

Pre-called kicking tactics are one method. The other is a simple arm gesture from the kicker to their intending target receivers. The receivers, who are primed from training games, will be ready for that signal and pounce.