SIMPLE FUN GAMES TO IMPROVE YOUR KICKING
Kick-to-Kick
Games are the best way to get started with improving AFL kicking skills. Kick-to-kick is the most basic of all games but you can easily add excitement by extra incentives like how many times in a row you can kick to each other without the ball hitting the ground.
You can also add some running elements after each kick to increase fitness and make it more interesting.
Kicking at goal is always fun (no matter how old you are) and is a great way to develop kicking technique. It also helps to make your child feel confident and comfortable when kicking for goal in a game (something that some of the pros still need help with)
You can turn this into a simple drill that helps replicate a real game by adding some pressure and making them kick for goal on the run.
Kicking at Goal Drill
- Depending on how old your child is and how far they can kick, start a reasonable amount of distance away from the goal on a 45 degree angle. Your child should be 25-30 metres further out in the centre of the ground.
- Kick the ball to your child so they can attempt a mark
- When they mark they start running towards you again until they are close enough to kick the ball.
- After kicking the ball to you the child keeps running to receive a handball back from you.
- When they receive the handball the child then turns towards goal, running in for a shot, as you give chase to create some real game pressure (and extra fun) when you child kicks for goal.
This is a great drill that incorporates field kicking, goal kicking, handballing, marking and fitness.
Unconventional Practice
Any time your child can practice hand eye and foot coordination is going to improve their AFL kicking skills. So there really are endless options to make practicing kicking fun.
Using a soccer or tennis ball is always good to learn how to kick a different shaped and different weighted ball. You can blow up balloons or buy a soft AFL that can be kicked around the house without breaking anything.
You can really get creative in many different ways that will all help to develop your child’s kicking skills.
The above is a great starting point to become a reliable kick.