|
 |
Bulletin
25
The Punt Kick - Old Habits Die Hard
Two interesting kicking references in the press this week. The
first comes from Chris Daddo of Hazelwood (Herald Sun Thursday
July 5th) who writes ‘... the AFL legends game showed how you
kick for goal with the proper technique. Today’s AFL players
take note ...’ The second comes from Brendan Goddard of St Kilda
(Herald Sun, Sunday July 8th) who passes on the advice given
to him by his brother ‘... you have to place the footy on your
foot, mate, guide it down for as long as you can ...’
And
therein lies the problem. The first quote suggests that she skills
of the long-kicking game have gone by the way due to the greater
emphasis on handball in the faster modern game, and the demise
of the set kick. The second, we feel, gives junior players the
wrong visual image. As we state in ‘The Science of Kicking’,
(Chapter 6, Ball Set and Drop) the ball can never be ‘placed’
on the kicking foot. Observation of slow motion film of any elite
kicker will reveal that at the instant the ball is released,
the kicking leg is still in contact with the ground behind the
player. It has yet to commence its forward journey towards impact.
The ball can never be placed on the foot and any thoughts by
juniors to achieve the impossible can only disrupt the approach.
Look at the photograph of Riewoldt. We note that he has just
relinquished control of the ball with his right hand some three
one hundredths of a second earlier. The full ‘V’ position of
this leg has not yet been achieved (see Chapter 7) and the ball
hangs in mid-air no longer under his control.
We note too, the precise angle of the ball which will have it
nestle nicely into the foot at impact. This frozen moment in
time suggests the most controlled ball set prior to release,
and the ensuing drop. This does not happen by chance. It is a
learned skill that must be introduced early in the junior ranks
and honed to perfection over time. It will result in a muscle
memory that is never lost. Sadly it seems this skill is taken
for granted and to use the phrase ‘... place the ball on the
foot ...’ is to risk impressionable young minds interrupting
a fluid approach which should be devoid of stutter steps.
Put in the hard yards on the little things and reap the rewards
later. Houses built on solid foundations stand firm, and in Goddard’s
words, ‘... if you can’t kick you won’t play ...’
Happy Kicking!
|