These questions have appeared over in various skill posts in the last week. If you have questions, please ask and we will answer them to the best of our understanding and knowledge. If you can add anything further please also do.

Question 1: Dropping the Ball Incorrectly

My 10yr old son is now into his 4th year of playing (QLD) and no matter how much we try, he just hasn’t mastered the drop punt. When releasing the ball he always appears to tilt, turn or flick the ball so that it hits his foot on a slight angle. What techniques are there they can help alleviate this problem.

• 1st tip would be practice.
• I would then ask how is the ‘guiding hand’? If he is kicking the ball on the right, he should be dropping and guiding the ball using his right hand. This guiding hand will help the ball not tilt etc as it drops to the foot. The closer the hand is to the foot when guiding the ball, there is less room for the ball to divert.
• Focus on the guide hand, the thumb should be in line or there abouts with the top stitch of the footy, or if no stitching then about 5-7cm from the valve, and slightly to the side so that the little finger sits on the bottom half of the ball. the hand should lock in that position and the ball almost cupped.
• A good way to practise is to get you hands in position then have someone place the ball into your grip. This will avoid flicks and so forth)
• Another question is to ask if he is moving his hands and arms around when kicking the ball? It is best to keep the arms and hands as still as possible when in the run up/ walk up to kick the ball.
• Another good way to practice is using rolled up socks, balloons, small footballs etc, anything that would help.

Question Two: Kicking the Ball to High

When i go to kick a drop punt I usually kick it really high what do i do to keep it lower?

• A high kick usually means you dropping the ball to high and to far from your body.
• If you watch AFL you will see that at times when under pressure an afl player may kick the ball with their Knee or shin by mistake, this is because they drop the ball very close to there body to keep it low and fast.
• The best way to practise is to:
  • Off one leg kick the ball in to a wall low and hard (use an old ball).
  • Standing still will stop the ball moving far from your body and being on one leg will ensure you ball drop remains close.
  • Its also good to try and catch the ball of the wall as it will help with you reaction time. as you get more confident move further from the wall and gradually move into a normal kicking style and the rest should follow

Question Three: Drop Punt vs the Torpedo

Me and my friends were wondering whether an AFL footy goes further with the traditional punt or the torpedo…and why more players don’t use the torpedo more.

• Yes a Torpedo does indeed have the potential to cover the most distance, however the reason it is not used as widely as the traditional ‘drop punt‘ is because the torpedo is harder to master and if not kicked properly it becomes ineffective.
• (Linear Scale) As distance goes up, accuracy goes down, The torpedo is basically inaccurate
• In todays AFL players only use the torpedo as a last resort like when kicking at goals from 60m+ or when the risk of an ineffective kick is greater than a drop punt.

Question Four: Some Ruck Lessons/ Drills

I’m doing a football assignment and I’m in Year 9. I was just wondering what type of basic training (minimum of 4 exercises) does a ruckman need to be successful?

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
5. Body Work/Man on Man mimicking boundary throw ins

Thanks for all the guys who asked the questions and Jermayn, John & Michael who helped answered them. If you can add your own thoughts, tips please do. Also if you have your own question, add them in the comments section below or contact us. We will answer any AFL related question.

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