This post will feature extracts from a book I used during my playing days as a guide for playing Aussie Rules Football. The book is titled Football Skills by David Wheadon and if you can find it, I recommend you get your hands on it.
What I liked about the book is that the information it proves is very simple and practical and these are often the things we forget about when it comes to the modern day version of the game. It is too easy to get caught up in the new fitness crazes or the latest sports energy supplement to find that edge but if you complicate the game, you will get lost!
Every time I felt myself getting lost or over analyzing a situation, I would go back to this book and it usually helped me to remain focused.
Sure Australian Rules Football has benefited from advances in sports science but this book is a little reminder that the basics work if you stick to them.
Winning The Contest
The first rule of football is go and get your own ball. It means:
- Going into heavy traffic
- Picking up the crumb, Loose Ball Get when the ball spills and is in hot dispute.
- Taking the Contested Mark in the battle for the ball in the air.
Big Bang Theory
For Ruckmen starting to learn their craft they should look at what makes the leading big men of the game so successful at the centre bounce and around the ground.
Dean Cox is a great example for young Ruckmen to watch & learn how he rucks.
Ruckmen like Dean Cox will often hit the ball with their opposite hand to their leading knee when jumping or at a Ruck contest (e.g if left knee is leading right hand hits the ball). This technique allows you to be side on and reduce the chance of injury.
The arm that is not used to make contact with the ball then can be used as a barrier to restrict the reach of the opposing Ruckman’s arms.
Good communication from a ruckman enables a centreman to time his run.
The best Ruckmen seem to palm the ball down to space that their players can run into. By palming the ball rather than punching, it makes it more predictable for their teammates.
Your Comments, Feedback and Hints
This is the first part of around 10 simple skills, hints & coaching tips that will be published to help you become a better AFL footballer from a young kid to adult. Please comment if you can add anything to this topic and if you know someone who can benefit from this, please pass it onto them.
If you would like to contribute in any way in the area of coach drills, tips, skills to learn at training etc, please get in contact with us.
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May 17th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hi,
I’m doing a football assignment and i’m in Year 9. I was just wondering what type of basic training (minimum of 4 excersises) does a ruckman need to be sucessful?
Many thanks if you reply
Leanne
May 18th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
hi,
the post would have a few tips, along with the how to ruck and tap post.
1) Practice is always good using both hands.
2) Watching the best ruckmen in the AFL (Sandilands, Cox etc)
3) Throw the ball up in the air and practice twisting in air, your jump (off both feet), target to tap to etc.
4) Jump up against a trampoline, someone else, jumping bag etc
hope that helps and thanks for your comment Leanne