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Rugby kicking basics

Master the rugby kicking basics. You will be a more valuable player and enjoy your rugby more. Create options - get right the things common to good rugby kicks.

You need good handling for good kicking

You will be off to a good start...
...when you control the ball well.

So you use the ball well and with outstanding skill...
...when you make good kicks...
...start with skills...
...you learn at rugby handling skills

How do you kick a rugby ball well

You have great ability to kick a rugby ball...
...when you concentrate on just a few rugby kicking basics...

keep your eyes and mind on the ball
you have good eye/body coordination
place the ball correctly
point the ball where you want it to go
kick in the direction you want the ball to go
follow through

Some of these points may seem so obvious...
...as rugby kicking basics...
...they are not worth mentioning...
...but you must strive to remember them...
...in stressful situations.

You keep your eyes and mind on the ball...

In a game of rugby there are many distractions.

If you spend enough time practicing...
...you will improve you basic skills.
This will also help you concentrate...
...on the physical task in hand.

This in turn will train you...
...to keep you eyes and mind on the ball.
Also spend time training them deliberately.
Toss the ball from hand to hand.
Toss the ball in the air and catch it.
All the time keep your eyes wide open...
...focus them on the ball...
...all the time.
Think about the ball as you do it...
...notice the colours...
...notice what it feels like...
...see how it spins and rotates.

Do some every day for a while.
Make it a habit to look at the ball.
Watch it right into your hands.

You will be better prepared...
...to guide the ball onto your foot...
...an important part...
...of rugby kicking basics...
...when kicking the ball in general play.

You have good eye/body co-ordination

You know about one of the rugby kicking basics.
You concentrate your eyes and mind...
...on the ball.

To actually kick the rugby ball...
...you must ensure you have good eye/body co-ordination.

How?

You practice!

You concentrate on the ball...
...think about kicking it...
...and your subconcious mind does the rest.
It will move your body to the correct position.
It will make sure all your body parts...
...work in a co-ordinated way...
...to achieve the result you want.

How will it know?

Because you have done it correctly...
...enough times before this one!

Because you have trained it.
You have done the same things over and over...
...kept your eyes and mind on the ball...
...and thought about kicking the ball.

If the result was a perfect kick...
...you attempted to repeat it...
...otherwise you made an effort to improve.

Rugby kicking basics are about...
...physical movements...
...but also about what goes on...
...in your mind.

For good kicking...
...your body is like a well oiled machine...
...just producing one more repetition...
...of a previously honed set of movements.

You place the ball correctly

When you kick well...
...part of the reason is because...
...you place the ball well.

This is true for rugby kicking basics...
...that apply to conversions, penalties and dropkicks...
...where you place the ball...
...on the ground or on a kicking tee...
...and for other kicks...
...where you place the ball on your foot.

Think about all the angles involved...
...and how the ball must be placed well...
...to get the ball to your intended target.

Is the ball upright or leaning to one side.
How will that affect the distance, height...
...or the direction the ball travels.

Is the ball leaning forwards or backwards.
How will this affect the kick.
Is it likely to affect the distance the ball travels...
...the height the ball goes...
...or the direction.
It does matter...
...but importance varies from kick to kick.

You point the ball where you want it to go

Why mention this...
...it seems so obvious...
...it is one of the rugby kicking basics.
Have a bit of fun...
...when you watch televised games.
Look closely at conversions...
...when you are given a good view...
...of the ball and the posts.
Is the ball actually pointing...
...at the black dot on the crossbar?
Make a prediction.
Base it simply on whether you see or feel...
...the ball is pointing at the centre of the posts.
I do this...
...and I`m very often correct with my prediction.

It`s true strong winds are an exception.
They affect your aim...
...and you have to allow for that...
...by slightly changing where the ball is pointing.

Kick in the direction you want the ball to go

Again...it seems pretty obvious!

Even when you use a special kick...
...like the spiral punt...
...you kick in the direction...
...you want the ball to travel.
The spin is applied even though...
...you kick straight.

Practice your kicking along...
...straight lines marked on the field...
...or towards specific targets.
That way you measure...
...how well you kick..
...and how much you have improved

You follow through

It`s important to kick through the ball...
...one of the more important...
...rugby kicking basics

This means you keep...
...all your kicking actions going...
...long after actual contact with the ball.
In other words...you "follow through".

When you practice...
...it may help to place a marker...
... on the ground...
...several paces in front...
...of where you intend to kick.
Aim to finish at the marker...
...rather than at the point...
...where you strike the ball.

Try with and without a marker.
You may find...
...you achieve more distance...
...with the marker.
Then let it become a habit.

Click on the link below...
...to find more information...
...and apply your rugby kicking basics...
...to the individual types of kick.

Return from Rugby kicking basics to Rugby kicking

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia