Coaching Point #17

There are but a few keys to winning goal kicks, and they are not all what you think they might be!

1. There is the first “rule” of any play—make yourself available.  From the beginning of a player’s experience he hears the refrain—“move.”  As he matures, he hears variations on this theme—“show yourself”, “make yourself available,” “go to the open space,” etc.  These all focus on the same theme—it is easier to receive a ball if you are not closely guarded.  This is good advice, always, no matter where on the field the ball is being played.  It applies to restarts and in-play opportunities.

2. For goal kicks (and other restarts), there is more than just moving.  As players grow in size, strength, and speed, it takes more than just movement.  The chief requirement is improved accuracy.  We have seen over the past two years, as strength increases, a tendency of players to kick the ball as far as they can, without much regard for where exactly it goes.  This tendency is one of the hardest to overcome, for several reasons: first, pride—sending the ball a long way equates with power, which equates with “feeling good;” second, praise—too frequently parents cheer the “long ball” no matter where it goes.  Cheers of “great kick” are a common refrain; third—panic—players view the goal kick as an opportunity to clear the ball, when it is not.  As we have emphasized, possession is the key to restart success.  Until we can pass accurately 40 yards or more, it is better to pass accurately for shorter distances, including on restarts.  Anything else is just a 50-50 ball.

3. Seeing the defense.  This key is required not only of the player taking the goal kick, but of any player within its reach.  While the kicker has the “bird’s-eye” view of the field, he cannot see everything.  Each player must plan in his own mind one of two strategies.  He must either make himself available, or act as a decoy.  Making himself available usually means making eye or verbal contact with the kicker to let the kicker know you are moving to an open spot.  Acting as a decoy, which sometimes comes unintentionally, occurs when you vacate a location and take one or more defenders with you.  When this happens, you open up the space for someone else to enter it.  Either way, the result is to provide a better opportunity to create an uncontested, or mildly contested, opportunity to receive the ball.

As you grow and get stronger, these principles remain the same.  Only the distances change.  Think back to when you player 8 v 8, and placing a goal kick at midfield was but a dream.  “If I could only kick it over their heads,” you thought, as they opposing team crept in and closed down on you.  Now, although you might have a better chance to reach midfield, if you are just kicking the ball, the result might be just as bad as when you tried to kick it over the other team’s head in 8 v 8.