Kicking Essentials: The Ultimate Guide for Players and Coaches

KICKING ESSENTIALS

The Ultimate Guide for Players and Coaches

Gareth Ashton

Published by Calypso Sports & Fitness at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Gareth Ashton

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is also available in paperback.

ISBN 978-0-473-24088-2

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There are many people who have contributed to the production of this book in some form or another. Too many to name here individually, but you know who you are, and I sincerely thank you for your time, feedback, perspective and encouragement.

Special mention goes to Nick Elrick, one of the kickers featured, for your time and patience in front of the camera – thank you.

Finally, this book simply would not exist without the expertise of Leigh Ashton. You had a hand in every aspect of its production from editing and formatting through to photography, not to mention putting up with my obsessive attention to detail as the finish line drew near. Words aren’t enough. Forever indebted. With love.

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DISCLAIMER

This text is intended to provide coaches and fitness professionals with concepts and activities for training. Implementation of any philosophy, exercise, activity, or idea contained within this text is done so at the individual’s own risk.

Calypso Sports & Fitness and the authors assume no liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss, injury, or damage of any kind, including but not limited to death, from use of this text.

Always consult a licensed medical professional before commencing an exercise program.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION & HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

FUNDAMENTALS OF KICKING

Balance

Energy Transfer

Ball Contact

Non-Kicking Side

TYPES OF KICK

Drop Punt

Spiral Punt

Place Kick

Drop Kick

Bomb

Grubber

Box Kick

Banana Kick

PHASES OF KICKING

Approach

Ball Position

Leg Swing

Contact

Finish

SELF-COACHING AND TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

Common Errors and the Solutions

KICKING IN THE GAME

KICKING DRILLS AND GAMES

Ball Control

Punting Drills

Place Kicking Drills

Contestable Kick Drills

Drop Kick Drills

Games

SESSION PLANNING AND GUIDELINES

Sample Sessions

STRENGTH EXERCISES AND GUIDELINES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TESTIMONIALS

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FOREWORD

Before my first game of rugby when I was 8 years old, my Dad told me to Kick a ball and have some fun.

From that point on my whole rugby career has been about having fun and striving to become more accurate in all aspects of kicking the ball. This was my attitude while playing for All Blacks and Super 14 teams and is still relevant today.

Being involved in professional sides for a number of years has allowed me access to top level coaching and quality opportunities for skill development. Kicking Essentials now makes this knowledge available to players of all levels.

Kicking Essentials will help players learn to kick a ball and help coaches teach the skills of kicking. This book provides specific technical information, simple and effective drills, and a valuable troubleshooting guide. This enables problems to be rectified immediately – whether practicing with a friend at the park or playing in a competitive game.

Gareth and I have been great friends since playing Australian Rules Football together many years ago. As I have progressed into a professional career in Rugby Union we have continued regular kicking sessions and competitions (which I usually won!!!) to improve my kicking and also to develop this kicking tool.

I highly recommend this book to players, coaches and parents at any level that wish to learn the art of kicking. So lace up your boots, head out to the park…

Kick a ball and have some fun!!!

Nick Evans, All Black

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INTRODUCTION & HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

The kicking game is one of the most exciting aspects of rugby. Few other plays have such an impact on field position and can change the course of a game in an instant. From landing the game-winning conversion in front of thousands of screaming fans, to competing with a mate in a game of Forceback down at the local park, few other skills evoke the same kind of emotions as kicking.

The game has undergone many changes over the past couple of decades and yet the importance of quality kicking has, and always will be, an integral part of the game. A capable kicker enables teams to employ a variety of game plans and options when competing. Different kicks can be used to manipulate and control an opposition team, and become weapons in both attack and defense situations. The importance of having a reliable kicker in your team cannot be overstated; the more competent and skilful the kicker is - the better position the team is in to win games.

For most, the journey to be the best kicker (as in any field) can be an incredibly lonely endeavour. Up-and-coming players don't often have regular access to a kicking coach so the reality of kicking practice is a lot of time spent alone before or after trainings, or with a friend returning your seemingly endless number of place-kicks and punts. The positive side to this is that players are truly accountable for their training and progress; responsible for the success or failure of every kick. But the down side is that if players don’t know what a good kick should look and feel like, or how they can improve, then there