Tutors

John Morrison
Terence McWilliams
Aim:
To give coaches a better understanding of
how to kick a ball accurately from a placed
position on the ground or out of the
hands in order to pass, score a point or
goal.
 What We Hope To cover…
• Master The Movement
• Key Phases of the Kick
• Types of Kick
• Parts of the Foot
• Foot Angles for Kicking
• Target Points On The Ball For Kicking
• Game Kicking Requirements
• Field Parts To Kick Into
• Tactical Kicking v Hand Passing
• Kicking Mechanics
• Videos - Kicking
 Master The Movement
1. Observing the whole skill
2. Chunk it
3. Break the skill down – slow motion
4. Exercising the process
5. Learn to feel it
 Mechanics of a Kick:
Master The Movement – Effective Training Methods:

Based on Heads, Hand & Feet For Better Technique

1. Head – keeping body in alinement

2. Arms/Hands – Stabilising, coordinating & controlling body

3. Legs/Feet – Power – Fast leg & a ‘Hard’ foot – Weight of Pass

4. Chest – Chest on/Leg on for direction & power

 Analysis

The key feet stages identified:

1. APPROACH 2. BACK 3. FORWARD 4. CONTACT 5. FOLLOW
PHASE SWING SWING PHASE THROUGH

• Observe four key areas in each phase:

– Head,
– Hands/Arms,
– Trunk/Chest,
– Legs/Feet
 Types of kick used in Gaelic
PUNTS: 3 Main Categories
Football
1. Swerve – Outside of ‘hard foot’ – On the Loop
2. Hook – instep – On the Turn
3. Drive Punt – Top of Laces - Straight Line Kicking – on the
Run

Others:
4. Drop Kick – as ball meets ground
5. Ground Kick – frees, penalties
6. Overhead – facing away from goals
7. Volley – airborne ball
8. Dipper - Topspin – dipping ball over goalie but under
crossbar
9. Backspin – stopping ball on grass pitch
 Parts of
Foot: 1.Instep - Hook
2.Front – Straight Line
3.Outside - Swerve

Instep- Use big toe

to chip ball Right Footed Kicks
Use instep for Hook
Top Of Lace Punts
For Power kicking
The ‘Sweet Spot’
Use outside of foot
to swerve the ball
 Foot Angle Effect:
Long leg – Long punts or passes
Full extension of ankle

Short leg – Close in frees

Dipper – Shot dipping over keeper

Short leg – penalties, low shots on goals

 The Ball – Where & How to
Kick:
Kick The Clock – Right Foot
Backspin – 12 to 6 O'clock
Pull foot down the Sweet spot to impart
12 anti-clockwise spin.

Sweet Spot
Hook – 9 to 3 o'clock
Kick left to right across the
Sweet Spot to send ball 9 3 Swerve – kick across
anti-clockwise sweet spot 3 o’clock to 9
o’clock - from right to left
to send the ball clockwise

6
Topspin – 6 to 12 o'clock
Pull foot up the Sweep Spot to
move ball clockwise
 Situations in a game where
accurate kicking is required
1. Passing from open play – ground or punt
2. Passing from a free kick – ground or punt
3. Passing from a side-line kick - punt
4. Goalkeeper – Ground Kicks - kick outs v restarts
5. Scoring/Passing from open play (goals/points) – ground - volleys punt
6. Scoring/Passing from a free kick (off ground)
7. Scoring/Passing from a free kick (from hands)
Long Ball V Short ball – Kicks v Hand Passes?
Advantage Ball

SET UP
Back -
Forward -
PLAY
PLAY
 Restarts:

Non kicking hand moves up & back

behind body to counteract leg action on
opposite side & help
lock body from rotation, for
preparation of kick

Kicking hand to side of body – to help

stabilise body

Kicking Right Foot -back lift & speed

determines power in kick

Non kicking foot – Side of ball – heel

toe on contact
 Kick Outs v Restarts:
• Is it a pass or kick out?

• Keeper not shown his/her intentions – shoulder to chest

kicking

• Standing foot parallel to the ball at the point of contact with

its ankle bone facing the ball

• Short run up for quick reaction time with accurate delivery –

2/3 strides – passing range – 13m -60m

• Low v High Kicking Tee

 Floaters v Drivers For Restarts?

Floaters

Catching Height

Low Driven Ball Catching Point

 Kick Outs v Restart:
Floater Driven
Difficult to judge catching height due to trajectory Easier to judge catching height – Arc of ball easier to judge
of ball

Lower % of gaining possession due to more Higher % of retaining possession when kick executed
numbers around the ball correctly

Little control from a tactical point It is more controllable from a tactical point

Little team confidence in going control It inspires confidence in a team when they know they have
more control at gaining possession

No attacking platform to attack from Gives an attacking platform from a defensive position

Ball does not travel as far up the pitch Retainment of possession much higher up the field
 Ground Kicks –
head hands & feet
Kicking Leg:
Preparation for kick – generating force &
speed of contact determines power in
kick.

1. Addressing ball – Activate muscle

memory
2. Identify the contact stich
3. Step back - consistency
4. Step side – angle of approach
5. Focus – Deep belly breathing –
centreing
6. Eye on stich of ball
7. Run up – focus on ball
8. Kick
 Common Faults
Non Guiding Arm Arc
• Many players don’t use their non-guiding arm (also known as the balance arm) to
balance during the kicking action.

• It is important to keep the arm out at shoulder height, with it preferably moving in an
arcing motion during the kick.

• It may help when learning the skill to bring this arm to the halt position for balancing
the body during the kicking phase

• Effects of not utilising the balance arm on the kick include reduced distance and
accuracy.

• A simple remedial drill to address this is “Fence Kicking”, in which a player kicks off one
step with their balance arm holding onto a fence rail, partner or post.

• You can also use another drill called “Hang Kicking”, where a player stands on one leg
(support leg) and tries to kick the ball as far as they can. Without the balance arm, it is
very difficult for them to retain their balance.
 Common Errors - Internal:
Fault Correction
Cross kicking- Foot coming too far across Don’t break the glass
the centre line of the body.
Head up too early Count ‘1, 2’ before lifting head
Leg speed too slow for power kicks Heel to hip & fast leg to generate power

‘Soft foot’ Toe Up - Little power Fast leg & and a ‘Hard’ foot

Kicking off target -‘kicking hand’ coming Don’t let kicking hand cross the mid-line of the
across the body body

Body off balance – Non Kicking Hand not Non Kicking Hand moving to ‘Halt’ position
controlling trunk during execution of kick

Kick off target – Non kicking Foot not Position Non kicking Foot in right position for
positioning in relation to kick being execution of kick
executed
 Common Errors - External
Fault Correction

Wind Using the wind to your advantage i.e. low driven kicks into the
wind. Using the wind to your advantage for long kicks.

Distraction Crowd, supporters, players referee etc.

Poor Decision Making Not scanning properly

Wrong studs Proper studs – clear mud before kick

Ground conditions Handling ball v Kicking

Poor flexibility Lack of flexibility will hinder kicking power

 Summery: Future coaching

For the punt kick simple exercises such as single leg

balances and core stability activities could easily be
incorporated into coaching sessions and warm ups to
improve overall balance and stability for both dominant
and non dominant sides which could have a considerable
knock on effect on improving technique, balance, stability
and overall control of the movement.
 Conclusions:
• Results found that the non kicking arm and support leg accounted for over
50% of overall errors when executing the punt kick

• Significantly higher than the number of errors made by the kicking arm and
kicking leg which much of the coaching literature has been focussed on.

• By improving fundamental movement skills, balance, stability, control and

coordination of both dominant and non dominant sides it can be a huge asset
when coaching and improving fundamental skills of the game.

• The results also highlighted the need to maintain focus on the fundaments
elements of the skills such as ball release and ankle plantar flexion