Rugby kicking
Good rugby kicking can be vital. Learn and practice these special kicks for different situations. When you know how to kick a rugby ball well you are a key player.
Kicking basics - common to good kicks
Before you can do anything with the rugby ball in a game you must control the ball.
Rugby kicking
Handle the ball well and it is more likely you will kick well.
Put the ball in the right place so your foot strikes it correctly and your kicks will be accurate.
You place the ball consistently well when you have good handling skills
Be sure you develop both skills at the same time. (See picture links, right menu)
Best start at rugby kicking basics.
Different kicks in rugby
There are a number of different kicks in rugby, used for various reasons in different circumstances.
Just scroll down or Select a kick...
- Spiral punt - accuracy and distance
- High ball - up and under
- Chip and chase - short, into space for chasers
- Rolling grubber - best into ingoal area
- Bouncing grubber - difficult for opposition
- Drop kick (field goal) - bounce ball, kick as it rises
- Place kick - penalty shots at goal, conversions
Spiral punt - accuracy and distance
You kick with various objectives in mind.
Often your rugby kicking is to gain ground.
You can do this with a long kick into unoccupied space on the field or with a kick for touch.
In both these cases a spiral punt would do the trick.
When you make the kick you release the ball from your hands and kick the ball before it touches the floor.
Some call it "kicking out of hand".
You place the ball at an angle and kick the ball so that spin is applied.
Find out exactly how to do a spiral punt.
The high ball... the up and under
The ball is kicked often in rugby, probably too often.
When you catch, pass and run with the ball you control the ball.
Up and under kick of a rugby ball
When you kick the ball you lose control.
Rugby kicking sends the ball into a grey area where neither team has control.
If you must kick, make it difficult for the opposition. Your team then has the best possible opportunity and may re-gain possession.
One way of doing this with rugby kicking is to kick the ball high.
You will usually gain ground and give team-mates time to run and be under the ball when it returns to ground level.
You give your side the opportunity to get the ball back.
Find out how to kick the ball high, exactly how to do an up and under.
Chip kick - short, into space for a chaser
You use the chip kick to move the ball over defenders instead of carrying the ball through their defensive line.
Chip kick of a rugby ball
The chip is usually a short range kick perhaps in the 10 - 25 metre range.
You make the kick by dropping th ball onto your boot and gently kicking so as to get the ball over the opposition and into the space behind them.
Find out exactly how to do a chip kick.
Rolling grubber kick - best into ingoal area
You put grubbers through defensive lines.
Rolling grubber kick of a rugby ball
In rugby, kicking rolling grubbers is a clever ploy.
They travel on the ground and you kick them through for yourself or other attacking players to run on to.
The rolling grubber is a short kick.
The ball stays on the ground, rolling on the short circumference and the path it travels is fairly predictable.
This is an attacking kick.
You use this kick when you are close to the opposition try-line to put the ball into the in-goal area.
It`s on the ground most of the time so it is easy to "ground" the ball for a try.
Find out more about how to do a rolling grubber kick.
Bouncing grubber kick
The bouncing grubber in rugby kicking is a short to medium kick.
It is similar to the rolling version except that it rolls end over end which makes them bounce up from time to time, a little unpredictably.
Because the ball bounces high at times it is ideal for attacking players to run on to and take it in full stride, around waist to chest height.
The bouncing is also a real problem for defenders. They may misjudge the bounce and knock on, or it may even bounce over them.
They then have to turn and chase it with attackers right behind them.
This grubber requires skill and timing by both the kicker and the chaser and is an important part of your rugby kicking toolbox.
Find out exactly how to do a bouncing grubber kick.Drop kick - bounce ball, kick as it rises
Drop kicks are used only in special circumstances.
Drop kick of a rugby ball
When you perform the drop kick you drop the ball to the ground on one of the pointed ends.
It must touch the ground before you kick it.
After the ball strikes the ground and starts to rise you kick it.
The drop kick is used for starting and restarting the game and in some circumstances for attempting to convert tries.
You can kick drop kicks so as to maximise height gained so you allow your players more time to get to the ball.
You can also kick them to maximise distance so you gain as much ground as possible and move the ball away from dangerous defensive situations.
Find out just exactly how to do a drop kick.Place kick - penalty goal shots, conversions
Place kicks are one of the types of rugby kicking you can use to score points for your team.
When you take a place kick you place the ball on the ground or on a kicking tee then kick the ball towards the goal posts.
Place kick of a rugby ball
You use the place kick for attempting to convert tries and when you`ve been awarded a penalty and decide to kick for goal.
Two major styles are used for place kicks.
- The toe place kick where you approach the ball straight on and kick using the toe of your boot
- The instep place kick. Also known as "round the corner" kicking where you approach from an angle and kick the ball with your instep
Aim of both toe and instep kicks
Whichever method of kicking you use, you place the ball so it is pointing towards the posts. It may be upright or sloping.
You then take several steps backwards.
You then walk or run towards the ball and kick it with the aim of getting it both between the uprights and over the cross-bar of the posts.
Successful place kicks are rewarded, you gain points for the team.
Find out exactly how to take a place kick.
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