With rugby fixtures and training sessions all over the world being called off recently due to the global outbreak of Coronavirus, we’d like to give you some ideas and tips to help fill the time you may have on your hands, and make sure you’re not getting rusty in your kicking game.
While you may find yourself out of action in terms of games and training in the coming weeks, there is no need for your journey to becoming a better kicker to be curtailed. Instead, all you need is a net or goal to kick some balls into, and adequate space in which to do so. Working purely on technique in what we refer to as; ‘Repair sessions’.
During a Repair session, we’d recommend you kick at between 45 - 70% effort with 100% process focused concentration. What we mean by this is that while you work below your maximum physical intensity, you retain full focus on making sure your foot contact and shape during your kicking is in perfect order. Not exerting yourself fully physically will allow you to practice every day without too much physical stress, developing solid and healthy routines in your technique.
We recommend every 4/5 kicks you change the type of kick you make or try using your weaker foot. This will break up your sets and allow you a lot more first shot opportunities, replicating something closer to in-game scenario’s.
Furthermore, when doing your goal kicking practice why not also try using a football or kicking a rugby ball off the ground? Both of these will help support good posture and shape through the kick as well as being a great indicator of what weight you are getting through the ball by the manner or direction in which the ball flies.
With all of this in mind then, this is what your Repair goal kicking session might look like.(Remember you are always kicking between 45 - 70% of your physical effort but with 100% focused concentration.)
Firstly warm up by drop shunting a Football or Rugby ball into your goal or net using alternate feet for 10 kicks.
An example of this can be found in the video below:
Followed by:
5 goal kicks off the ground
5 drop shunts (drop kicks)
5 goal kicks off the ground
5 drop shunts
5 goal kicks off tee
5 drop shunts weaker foot
5 goal kicks off tee
5 goal shunts weaker foot
3 kicks - Strong foot drop shunt - weak foot drop shunt - Goal kick x 5
This short but simple routine should allow you to keep on top of your kicking game for the time being and make sure that once fixtures start to come around again, you find yourself with a slight edge over opponents who have spent this time fully out of practice.
You can buy our very own Rugby Kicking Goals used in the videos above by clicking here.
Finally, all of us here at the School of Kicking would like to take the time to ensure that you continue to follow the necessary measures and precautions that are being taken around the world right now regarding the safety of yourself, and the others around you. We want you to keep enjoying and growing your kicking game, but also want you to make sure that you are in a safe environment in which to do so and don’t put yourself and other’s at risk.
