Build up the skill to kick accurately and then kick to where the defence are not.
Often kicks in open field are aimless. In this session, challenge the players first to kick to where they intend to, and then to kick to where the defence are not. In other words, look before kicking.
Put two players 5m apart.
They kick the ball six times to each other.
Once they have completed six in a row (kicked and caught), one of the players steps back a cone, so the kicks are now 10m.
Finally the other player does, once six more are completed.
Have a feeder pass the ball to the kicker, who then has to turn and kick to a target.
Keep rotating the players.
Have a feeder pass the ball to the kicker.
As the pass is being made another player runs to one of the boxes.
The kicker then goes for to kick for the spare box.
In the meantime, the other player can run back to the spare box, or stay in his own box.
This keeps the kicker looking to make quick decisions.
Score a point for a kick into the box, and a point for the receiver if he catches the ball.
TECHNIQUE
Drop the ball down the middle of the body before kicking.
Stuart Alred from the School of Kicking shows us the ideal position to start the running drop punt to make sure we engage the most powerful leg muscles. MORE
This simple session helps players discover ways to return kicks with good angles, passing and communication. It’s very open and allows players the chance to experiment as well as build up a repertoire of plays. MORE
Stop the high ball “bombs” destroying the confidence of your players by creating training sessions that challenge the players to think under pressure.
One reason why players drop “high balls” is because they have so much time to think about them. They tense up at the prospect of dropping the catch. Experts seem at ease in comparison. And that probably explains why they seem to catch the most difficult kicks more often. MORE
This session works on developing running and passing skills against different defences. Players should run angles at a defensive overload and straight lines if they have an overlap. MORE
All players may need to catch a high ball - forwards from kick-offs, backs from open play. The principles of “fielding” include being aware of your support players and thinking about what to do next. This session builds on those principles. MORE