Afl Skills Guide

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United States Australian Football League

8902 N Swan Circle


St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Australian Rules Football Skills Guide


Topic Page no.
Fundamentals of Skill Teaching 1
Kicking 1
Handball 6
Ruckwork 8
Marking 10
General Skills 13
Checking 18

FUNDAMENTALS OF SKILL TEACHING

Like all sports, Australian Football is made up of diverse and varying components. It
should be simple and fun for juniors and physically challenging and rewarding for developing
players. By following this basic coaching and teaching philosophy (S.P.I.R), those passing on the
various skills will be rewarded, just like the players they are teaching.

Show Name the Skill


Demonstrate three times
Provide three coaching points (Maximum).
Practise Have players practise immediately via an appropriate activity.
Instruct Give feedback on their performance based on what they have been taught.
Reward Encourage and reward effort and achievement.

KICKING
Kicking is probably the most important individual skill in Australian Football. The basic
skill of kicking should be taught at a young age and any faults rectified before it is too late. It is
important players learn the right technique while they are young. Later in their career they will
demonstrate the ability to
a) kick under pressure
b) pass the ball accurately to a teammate
c) use the ball to the best advantage of their side when kicking from a set position.

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

 Line up your body with your target.


 Have your head slightly bent over the ball.
 Hold the ball over the thigh of the kicking leg.
 Guide the ball down with one hand.
 Point your toes at your target – see the ball hit the foot.
 Follow through straight towards the target.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
THE DROP PUNT

1. The Grip
The fingers are spread evenly along each side of the ball, with thumbs extending to the lacing.
The grip is the same for both left and right foot kicks.

2. The Release
The ball is guided down and is kicked on the bottom point, along the lower laces of the boot. It
should spin backwards, end over end.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
THE TORPEDO PUNT
1. The Grip
The ball is held on an angle across the body. For a right foot kick, the left hand is slightly
forward and the right hand slightly behind the lacing. For a left foot kick, the hand positions
are reversed.

2. The Release
The ball is guided down at a slight angle to the ground, and is also angled across the kicking leg.
When the foot makes contact with the ball, the ball should spin in a spiral motion.

THE BANANA KICK (CHECKSIDE PUNT)


1. The Grip
The ball is held like a reverse torpedo punt, with the right hand forward for a right foot kick and
the opposite for the left foot kick.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. The Release
The ball is guided down so that it drops at an angle across the boot. The boot makes contact
under the right side of the ball, causing a curved spin on the ball.

The banana kick is generally used when shooting for goal from close to the boundary line, near
the behind post.

FIXING FAULTS
Faults that generally occur with young footballers include:

• Player leaning back too far


• Dropping the ball with two hands
• Throwing the ball into the air prior to contact
• Trying to kick the ball too hard
• Throwing the ball on to the kicking foot
• Ball spinning before hitting boot

There are a number of remedial techniques designed to overcome this ball guidance problem.

1. Bouncing is an excellent aid to kicking since it teaches the guiding of the ball down with one
hand.

2. The one hand technique can also be helpful. This involves holding the ball underneath with
one hand and then releasing it in a vertical position by simply taking the hand away.

Always use a football that is appropriate in size to your age group.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________

MASTER CLASS
1. The Approach
The arms are extended to a natural but not strained distance from the body. The ball moves
with the hands in the approach, but the side to side movement should be minimal. Bend
forward so you are looking directly down on to the ball. The ball is carried over the thigh of
the kicking leg. Keep moving in a straight line to your target.

2. The Release
Immediately prior to release, the ball is brought up to about waist height. The hand on the
same side as the kicking leg guides the ball down at the correct angle to the foot.

3. Contact
The foot meets the ball when it is approximately knee height. The foot should have a straight
instep on contact with the ball. At contact, the eyes should "see the foot kick the ball". A
natural movement of the opposite arm out to the side keeps balance. Hand should be at
shoulder height.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. The Follow Through
The follow through should be straight to the target. Continue moving for a couple of steps
towards your target.

HANDBALL
In the late 1960's and early 1970's, handball became one of the game's most important
skills. Earlier, players were generally told never to handball in defence and to use handball only
in emergency. In today's modern game, handball is a major attacking weapon as players run the
ball from defence into offence. It is a skill that needs to be practised regularly and by watching
experts you can improve your game.

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

• The ball must be gripped firmly with the platform hand and hit with a clenched fist.
Players should have their eyes on the ball.
• Placing the thumb outside, not inside, the fingers forms the punching fist.
• The stance is nearly side-on to allow the punching arm to swing through freely. Knees
slightly bent to maintain balance.
• For a right-handed handball, the left foot is forward, and vice versa for a left-handed
handball.
• Punching arm also slightly bent
• After contact is made with the ball, the fist remains on the platform hand — "catch the
fist".

TYPES OF HANDBALL

Floater
The ball is hit at the crossroads, ie, where the seams cross at the back of the ball. Once
hit, the ball floats with no particular spin.

The floater is used in a game when a quick handball is required. It can be set up in the
hands quickly.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Rocket
The ball is hit just above the crossroads. Note that the ball is set up at an upward angle
in the platform hand. The ball will spin end over end backwards -- like a drop punt.

The rocket is ideal for long and accurate handpasses, and is easiest to catch in the
hands.

Overspin
The ball is hit upwards just below the crossroads. The ball will spin forward – end over
end. The ball should be held closer to the ground and the player does not always have to "Catch
the fist".

The overspin is used to place the ball out in front of a teammate so that it runs along the
ground.

FIXING FAULTS

Common faults in beginners include:

• Throwing the ball up off the platform hand before punching it.
• Dropping the platform hand away on impact.
• Punching the ball with the wrist area.
• Punching arm is too stiff and rigid – relax!

One method to keep the platform hand from leaving the ball is to have the coach hold
the platform hand until the ball is hit from it. The same effect can be achieved by resting the
player's platform hand on a partner’s back.
Another technique, "catch your fist", is also useful. The player should grab his punching
fist with his platform hand after hitting the ball. This stops you throwing the ball up and ensures
you punch directly to your target and not across your body.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________

RUCKWORK
The role of the ruck player is a crucial one in Australian Football. A good ruck sets up
play from a variety of contests such as the centre bounce or boundary throw-in. To create
opportunities for their smaller, running players, it is important that a ruck has the skill to direct the
ball to his teammate's best advantage.

The techniques involved in ruck work are needed to move the ball toward goal or to get
the ball to teammates from a ball-up or boundary throw-in.

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

• At first, practise in a standing position extending to a run-in and jump


• Practise without opposition and then extend the practise to include an opponent.
• Hit with the palm and then later use the fist.
• Attempt two-handed hitting and then progress to one-handed palming.

PALMING

Palming to the front- one hand


1. Watch the ball through the air and leap off one foot using the arms and other leg to gain lift.
2. The arm is swung forward.
3. The ball is hit with the open palm and finger and directed with a straight follow-through.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Palming to the front – two hands


1. The hands are positioned behind the ball and the ball is hit with both open hands
simultaneously.
2. The ball is directed with a follow-through towards the target.

Palming to the forehand


1. The player leaps for the ball and contacts it with the open palm.
2. In the hitting action, the arm should be straight with a follow-through in the desired direction
across the body.

Palming to the backhand


1. The player leaps (off one leg or two) and the arm is bent immediately before impact.
2. The arm is straightened at the elbow and the ball directed to the backhand side with the
open hand.

Palming over the back


1. The player leaps and with a straight arm reaches forward and overhead.
2. The ball is hit with an open hand over the shoulder towards the target.

CENTRE BOUNCE

• Jump off one leg


• Turn body sideways to protect yourself
• Hit with an outstretched arm at highest point of jump

MARKING
One of the most spectacular features of Australian Football is marking, particularly the
high mark. However, it is just as important to be able to pull in a safe chest mark on a consistent
basis without fumbling the ball. Like all skills, marking needs to be practised. No matter what
your size, there will always be a situation in a game where you are in a position to mark the ball

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

1. Eyes must be focused on the ball all the way from the player's boot to your hands.
2. Position your body in line with the flight of the ball.
3. Move forward to meet the ball; never wait for it to come to you.
4. Skilful players should take the ball in their hands with their fingers spread and thumbs close
together. Beginners should use the chest.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Arm or chest mark

1. Keep your eyes on the ball and line up the body with the flight of the ball.

2. The fingers and hands are extended --- palms up. Tuck the elbows in to the side.

3. The ball is taken on the hands and arms and guided to the chest.

4. The ball is hugged tightly to the chest. This is an important marking style if the ball is wet or
muddy.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Hand Mark

Skilled players should practise taking the ball in the hands at all times, in preference to
letting it hit the chest. This will help quick disposal and prevent opponents from punching the ball
from behind.

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

• Eyes must be on the flight of the ball


• The fingers should be outstretched, pointing towards the ball. The thumbs are positioned
behind the ball.
• The arms must be extended – "Long Arms".
• The ball is firmly gripped in the fingers.
• Ensure your body is behind the flight of the ball.

Overhead Mark
This is the mark fans and commentators love to see. It takes great skill and athleticism to
launch yourself in the air, but a consistent high mark can inspire teammates and bring other
players into the game.

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

• Line your body up with the flight of the ball. Keep your "eyes on the ball".
• Jump off one foot and swing the other knee up to gain maximum height.
• Eyes are kept on the ball, fingers are outstretched and thumbs almost together.
• The ball is met slightly in front of the head with arms extended – "long arms". It should
be firmly gripped in the fingers.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________

GENERAL SKILLS
PICK UP: MOVING BALL

Many different situations occur during a game when the ball must be picked up off the
ground. Young players need to become competent at meeting and handling a moving ball.

1. The body is in line behind the path of the ball in a semi-crouched position.
2. The arms and hands are extended with the fingers almost touching the ground,
palms towards ball.
3. The ball is picked up cleanly in two hands. The elbows are kept close together.
4. The ball is then brought into the hands for disposal. Eyes on the ball at all times.

PICK UP: STATIONARY BALL

One-Handed Pick Up

1. The ball is approached to the side.


2. The player runs slightly past the ball then swings one arm down with his hand
scooping under the ball.
3. The free arm can be used to steady the ball, once it is picked up.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Two-Handed Pick-Up

1. The ball is approached from the side.


2. As the player draws level with the ball, he bends down and picks up the ball cleanly
with two hands.

General Coaching Hints

Begin with:
• a two-handed pickup and progress to a one-handed pickup
• a slow pace, and then build up the speed.
• no opposition, and progress to practise with opposition.
The one-handed pickup is more difficult than the two-handed, but can be done with no loss
of speed.

The players should be instructed to look at the bottom half of the ball and to move the arm
through quickly.
Insist on a two-handed attempt for most players, using the body as a last resort if the ball is
over-run.

HAND DRIBBLING

The skill of hand dribbling - or tapping the ball along the ground in front - is a necessary
component of picking up and is a useful tactic in a game. Often a player cannot pick up the ball
cleanly or is in danger of being tackled from behind by an opponent.
The ball is tapped out three to five metres in front and the player can accelerate to get
clear of his opponent before picking up. This is also useful when a number of players are
contesting the ball.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
General coaching hints

Begin with:
• Hand dribbling without an opponent and then introduce opposition
• A slow speed and then build up to a fast speed
• The ball rolling slowly away from the player and then moving faster with unpredictable
bounce
• Use both hands and keep your body behind the ball

BALL HANDLING

When learning skills it is important to handle the ball as much as possible. A football is
an odd shape and the more familiar you become with the ball, the easier it will be to master the
skills. You won't always have someone to practise with, so these drills can be done before or
after training or in your spare time.

1. Lay on your back and using both hands tap or throw the ball from hand to hand. Vary the
height and speed of the throws, as you become more competent. This is great for hand-
eye coordination and learning how to mark effectively.

2. Pass the ball in a figure eight in and out of the legs. This will develop your grip strength,
making it easier to mark, handball and guide the ball on to your foot when kicking.

RUNNING

Running has become a major skill in modern day football with the emphasis now on
running with the ball to maintain possession. Similarly, defensive and offensive players are
required to run and chase. There is great value in teaching youngsters how to run correctly, in
order to improve their running speed.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Running speed and acceleration are the product of stride length and frequency. The
distance covered with each stride taken and the speed with which the legs move are key factors
in sprinting.

Good running technique involves:


• Moving arms and legs in a straight line and not across the body
• Slight forward body lean
• Keeping head and trunk steady, eyes looking ahead
• High knee lifts

BOUNCING THE BALL

Players are required to bounce the ball every fifteen metres when running.

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

• The ball is held slightly on top by the bouncing hand


• The ball is pushed down with one hand
• The ball strikes the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees
• The ball is bounced far enough in front so that it will bounce into the player's hands as
he runs forward.
• The distance at which the ball is thrown out in front is directly related to the player' speed
- the faster he is running, the further out in front it must be thrown.

General coaching hints

Begin With:
• Standing and bouncing, and then extend to walking and bouncing
• Running in straight lines, and extend to weaving and dodging

• Add an opponent to chase


• Being able to bounce the ball with both hands will enable you to guide the ball down
better and kick with either foot.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
THE SIDE STEP

MAIN TEACHING POINTS

1. Watch your opponent closely


2. Hold the ball out to the side as the opponent approaches
3. Push hard off the foot planted on the same side as the ball
4. Pull the ball back quickly as you move around the opponent
5. Ensure that you change direction and don't run in a straight line.

BLIND TURN

The blind turn is used to evade an opponent when the player is being chased from
behind and you are heading away from the direction of your goal.

To turn to the left side:


1. As the opponent gets closer, hold the ball out to the right hand side.
2. Dig the right foot into the ground and push hard to step to the left-hand side as in the
side step.
3. Pull the ball back "inside" towards your team's goal and accelerate quickly away.

THE DUMMY (FAKE)

The tactic known as “selling the dummy” is used when in possession of the ball to dodge
an oncoming opponent.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MAIN TEACHING POINTS

• As the opponent approaches, shape to handball or kick in forward direction. The player
must look in that direction, so as to give his opponent the impression that he will pass in
that direction.
• As the opponent moves to smother the football, the player draws in the ball and moves
around him by pushing off hard as in the side step.
• The player is then in the clear and can accelerate away past the opponent. Again,
changing direction is important.

CHECKING SKILLS
All footballers, no matter what their position, must recognise the crucial role of defence.
From the full-forward who must chase hard to the full-back who spoils a mark, they all contribute
to the eventual success of your team.

Beginners should practise the skills that result in your team regaining possession such as:
• Spoiling marks
• Tackling

Competent players can add these components to their game:


• Shepherding
• Blocking
• Smothering

It is important to practise all these skills correctly so that you don't give away free kicks.

SMOTHERING

A good smother can deflate the spirit of a player who thinks they are about ot get an
easy kick. It also lifts the side that has made the smother because of great courage it takes
putting your body on the line.

1. The hands are brought from the hip level, close together.
2. "Shoot from the hips" with the fingers pointing straight ahead.
3. The arms and hands are extended at about 45 degrees over the kicking boot.
4. Smother the ball when it is on or just left the kicker's boot.

The smotherer must keep his eyes on the ball at all times.

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
TACKLING

From Behind

Approach the player who has the ball, from one side, so he is not pushed in the back.
The head should be placed to one side. The player is grabbed on the arms just above the
elbows and then swung or spun off balance.

From the Front

The tackler approaches the player with his arms at waist level. The tackler places his
head to one side of the player, with his chin tucked into his chest. He then pins the arms of the
other player and spins or turns him off balance. Your shoulder and arm make first contact to an
opponent's chest.
Ensure your head is behind the opponent's back and out of any danger. Use your body
weight to slow down your opponent.

General Coaching Hints

• Begin with the opponent stationary and the tackler walking in.
• Extend to the tackler jogging in.
• Players may be tackled below the shoulders and above the knees (when in
possession of the ball).

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8
United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
BUMPING (HIP-AND-SHOULDER)
A player can legally hip-and-shoulder (bump) an opponent when the ball is within five
metres.

• Lean towards the opponent, pushing hard from the foot furthest from the opponent.
• The arm is bent, with the elbow tucked into the side.
• Make contact with the shoulder and upper arm – preferably when an opponent is
settled on one foot, so he is easier to unbalance.
• The bumping player should keep his feet on the ground at all times.
• Only bump when an opponent does not have the ball. If he does have the ball –
apply a tackle.

SPOILING

Spoiling is knocking the ball out of the hands of an opponent who is attempting to mark.
It is an effective method of preventing an opponent from marking or gaining possession of the
ball. Once again, when spoiling, especially from behind, the spoiling player must not infringe by
making contact with his opponent's back, head or shoulders. If performed correctly, spoiling can
be an attacking skill, whereby the ball can be placed to the advantage of teammates.

Chest mark spoil

• Approach the opponent from one side.


• Keep your eyes on the ball.
• Punch the ball with a clenched fist before it reaches the opponent's arm.

Overhead mark spoil

• This spoil should be used when a player is not


confident of marking.
• The fist should be clenched and arms
outstretched ("long arms") at point of contact with
the ball.
• As with marking, the spoiling player's run must be
timed to gain maximum height with the arm
following straight through the flight of the ball.
• Be careful not to put the other hand on the back
of an opponent's neck (this is an infringement).

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United States Australian Football League
8902 N Swan Circle
St. Louis MO 63144

http://www.usfooty.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________
SHEPHERDING

The aim of a shepherd is for a player to block the approach of an opponent to stop him
making contact with the player's teammate.
A shepherd is achieved by using the arms and body to form a barrier to protect a
teammate. The fingers are outstretched with the arms spread below shoulder level. An
opponent can be legally shepherded by placing the body between the player and the ball, as
long as the ball is not more than five metres away. Bend your knees and be strong but do not
hold or grab your opponent.
A shepherd can also be used when contesting an overhead mark. The player
shepherding must communicate clearly with his teammate, telling him he is all clear to mark.

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