Categorized | Skills

How to Ruck and tap the ball

Posted on 05 March 2008 by Jermayn

Ruckwork is one of the unique plays of Australian Football, it consists of two men running into each other and knocking the ball to their team mate when the game restarts.

It is normally played by tall players (6.5 or taller) but the skills of tapping the ball is handy to learn by everyone as it allows you to knock/ tap the ball from a contest to the advantage of your team.

Steps on how to Ruck and tap the ball

  1. Your aim is to reach the ball before your opposition ruck man.
  2. When the umpire bounces/ throws the ball watch the ball
  3. Jump to met the ball when it reaches its high point
  4. Use your hands to reach and tap ball to your teams advantage

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

It helps to tap the ball directly to a team mate as it allows them more time to get away from a tackle from the opposition. The second video shows just how much more time is wasted trying to gather the ball.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

Extra tips

  • It does help to wear protective gear like thigh pads and ankle guards.
  • Apart from tapping the ball you can also punch the ball which means it clears the area which is also advantages at times.
  • Practice tapping/ punching the ball using both hands (see video one).

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Discussion elsewhere

  1. 2008 Round 4 AFL Wrapup | Kick2Kick.net Says:

    [...] the game, do they have any real leaders? In the first half they had no ’sweeper’ at the ruck contests and three or four times the Kangaroos scored. Melbourne is in need of a leader, Neitz is a forward [...]

  2. AFL/ Australian Football jargon explained | Kick2Kick.net Says:

    [...] When the ball has gone to the ground after a contest and a player picks them up off the ground. Example: Second video on How to Ruck. [...]

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