AFL Skills and Coaching Tips

AWKWARD MARKING – AFL MARKING GAME

Grab a bunch of AFL footy balls (of course one will do!) and a set of markers or cones. Position yourself, as the coach, roughly 5-10 metres away from your child (and their mates if you are running a group activity). Then, throw one AFL footy up toward one player on the full, without the ball touching the ground to replicate a teammate kicking the ball. The aim of the game is to mark the ball cleanly and for players to keep their eyes on the ball at all times. For the game to run smoothly, position players behind markers or cones so players clearly understand where they need to be.

To progressively increase the difficulty of this game or to introduce more variety, you may want to try the following modifications:

1. players run forward toward you and complete the mark at the chest.

2. players run forward toward you and complete the mark overhead.

3. players run forward toward you and complete the mark at the knees.

4. players turn around and run back to complete the mark.

CONTEST MARKING – AFL MARKING GAME

Grab a bunch of AFL footy balls (of course one will do!) and a set of markers or cones. Position yourself, as a kicker, roughly 5-20 metres away from your child (and their mates if you are running a group activity). As the players become more confident, you as  the AFL Coach could move beyond 20 metres. As the kicker, you are to kick one AFL footy up toward player A (attacker) and player B who are in a contest to mark the ball.

Player A’s job is to take the mark cleanly whilst player B attempts to spoil the mark for player A by either taking the mark themselves or punching the ball mid air before it gets to player A. Whoever collects the AFL footy then kicks the ball back to you as coach.

The aim of the game is to mark the ball cleanly, kick to a target with accuracy, using agility skills and body positioning, preventing the ball from reaching its intended target and for players to keep their eyes on the ball at all times. For the game to run smoothly, position players behind markers or cones so players clearly understand where they need to be.

To modify this game, players could be kickers and you could become player A or player B alongside your child and their mates.

ACCURACY COMPETITION – AFL GOAL KICKING GAME

The aim of this game is to enhance your child’s accuracy as a goal kicker as well as developing the strength in their legs needed to kick moderate to long distances. This game works best when taking part at an AFL ground with installed AFL posts. Of course, you can use makeshift AFL goal posts such as agility posts or set up markers as goals or targets to kick at.

Position five different cones at various distances and angles from the goal posts. Your child then begins at cone/marker one, and when successful (they successfully kick the ball through the six-point goal posts) your child should be instructed to move onto the next cone/marker.

To modify this game, you could position markers/cones on very tight angles forcing your child to use their banana kick and snap kick skills. Or, have your child use their non-dominant foot to kick the ball between the six-point goal posts.

TRIANGLE KICKING – AFL KICK PASSING GAME

The aim of Triangle Kicking is to enhance your child’s accuracy as a kick passer to their teammates, marking skills, hand passing skills as well as developing the strength in their legs needed to kick moderate to long distances. This game works best when your child has at least four mates to participate in the game. Position three cones in the shape of a triangle. As the coach, you will be positioned on cone A. There need to be two players positioned on cone B and another two players on cone C.

As the AFL coach, you are to kick an AFL footy to one player on cone A. That player on cone A completes the mark then runs toward one player on cone C, handpasses the ball to that player and joins the end of the queue on cone C. The player who receives the ball on cone C then kick passes the ball back to you on cone A and joins the end of the queue on cone B.

To modify this game, you replace hand passing with kick passing.

For more information about AFL for kids, or other activities and games you can practise at home, please contact the expert contributor.