RUGBY GOAL KICKING COURSE

Uno de nuestros colaboradores, Stuart Lierich, presenta un nuevo curso para pateadores. 

Éste excelente entrenador muestra metodología y ejercicios para mejorar la técnica de la patada y está orientado a jugadores y entrenadores.

Pueden obtenerlo en > http://tinyurl.com/zhow4zz

De forma progresiva, todas las indicaciones de éste experimentado entrenador las iremos traduciendo al idioma español. 

Our rugby blog presents a new kicking course for coaches and players. Stuart Lierich is an internationally regarded specialist kicking coach who has worked with clubs and programs at all levels of competition in both Australia & Europe.

His methodology is underpinned by an educational focus on the technical fundamentals of kicking in rugby. Stuart provides a framework to build mechanically sound technique, Whilst in match Continually driving performance excellence through the education of strategy & decision making.

Progressively, indications of SL's we will translate into Spanish.


His new contribution is as follows in the video link > http://tinyurl.com/zhow4zz 

GOAL KICKING

Goal kicking is without a doubt the most poorly performed aspect of coach and player development in rugby. 

Yet, almost no other isolated skill can have such an impact on winning matches. 
From U13 through to Test matches games can be decided on the back of a shot at goal, often after the final siren.

For coaches the impact of improving your goal kickers is simple. 
Better kickers will lead to better results for your entire team.

For players being a better goal kicker allows you to not only help your team but it also helps YOU by improving your contributions and possibly lifting you to a higher team.

The major problem is most coaches and players don't know how to improve their goal kicking and simply spend a bit of time after practice taking shots. THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

That's why we have teamed up with Stuart Lierich from the Rugby Kicking Institute to change all of that. 

Stuart as developed an exclusive place kicking practise session us and you can get your hands on it right here http://www.rugbycoaching.org/rugbyandfitness1 and next to this project adds www.rugbyandfitness.com

Take advantage of launch pricing and pick this up for a mere $15 but only until Sunday.

Video link: 

CATCHING TIPS I

Durante el presente año www.rugbyandfitness.com ha sumado a su equipo de colaboradores / especialistas a Stuart Lierich (contact).

De forma progresiva, las indicaciones de éste experimentado entrenador las iremos traduciendo al idioma español. Su nuevo aporte es el siguiente video link:

Our blog adds a new contributing author. Stuart Lierich is an internationally regarded specialist kicking coach who has worked with clubs and programs at all levels of competition in both Australia & Europe.
His methodology is underpinned by an educational focus on the technical fundamentals of kicking in rugby. Stuart provides a framework to build mechanically sound technique, Whilst in match Continually driving performance excellence through the education of strategy & decision making.

Progressively, indications of SL's we will translate into Spanish.
His new contribution is as follows in the video link:



www.rugbyandfitness.com 
Twitter @rugbyandfitness 
Facebook.com/rugbyandfitness

CATCHING A HIGH BALL IN RUGBY (Part II)

In this article I want to challenge your thinking on catching an attacking high ball. For the moment, at least, we will consider the important skill set of defensive catching on a separate occasion.









This wil be the parte II.
Part I on: http://www.rugbyandfitness.blogspot.com.ar/2013/09/catching-high-ball-in-rugby-part-i.html

“How often do we see this, for safety’s sake?’…

The image above could very well be another missed opportunity to score or further promote the ball in phase play that often presents with broken defensive shape. If the try line is near then clear possession will often equate to a try scored, even if not from that phase.

It is a non negotiable that a player enters an aerial contest with the intention of “owning”the rugby ball. Half-Hearted attempts and a fear of knocking forward have no place with so much at stake.

With this in mind a catcher must only have eyes for the ball, and this begins the momentthe ball is kicked. The best catchers I have observed, have less self preservation andmore focus on the ball.

A catcher that is watching the kicker “shape-up” will gain necessary visual cues that will determine timing, angle and tempo of approach to catch. In other words, pay fullattention to the kicker.

• With eyes fixed on ball in flight, the catcher makes his approach to where he judges the ball to land. Note- this is not necessarily where the contest forms, they must use only their judgement of this situation. This is the opportunity for the player to adjust stride length, pace & tempo.

• At the point the player judges the ball to be landing, it is time to transition into theVertical Leap Phase. Players should always turn into the catch.

• The aim is to meet the ball at its highest point possible, no good to jump but catch the ball after you land or on the way down.

• The last stride into the leap is important for generating power ( a bit like long jump but aiming for height, not length). For vertical leap the player must jump off inside leg powerfully driving through the ground.

This “external cue” may help get extra height! I call this a J-Line, the body now follows the twist and moves into the line of the ball.

At this point it is critical for me to say that each catch attempt, the player must bring their body behind & into the line of flight path of the ball to be successful with this. It’s easier to stay strong, stable and balanced from this position.

• The arms should now 3/4 extended outwards and above the head, ensuring eyescan still see the ball.

• Hands will come close together forming a W shape behind the ball. It is important that players maintain strong hands with soft fingers when catching.

An upright and balanced body position allows for better chance of landing on feet andtransitioning to pass, run, fall and score etc…

Start with using players catching off hit shields held by stationery players within the vicinity of the try line.

Practice throwing balls up first getting the fundamentals right before progressing to having your kickers put the ball up. Remember it’s a catching drill and sometimes poor kicking lets this drill down so its ok if you throw balls up to practice good body position first.

This is of course is a simple instruction format made up of some important fundamentals. Successful transfer is achieved from having your kickers deliver under pressure, andcatchers having to negate and compete with defenders in the air. As a coach, you be the judge on how you provide those progressions within your training structure, but you must be able to identify with the technical aspects of catching to be able to instruct and improve your team.

“Dominant vertical leap, with eyes behind ball, hands in W position”…

So it is, that in the modern era of rugby we are all looking for a sustainable attacking advantage over our opponents. Defensive systems are becoming rather sophisticated with try scoring opportunities far from abundant. Whilst I’m not suggesting this is the only option, I do believe a good team is far from predictable and may offer several attacking avenues to penetrate defences.

Is it time that you looked to the air?

By Stuart Lierich / Twitter @KickCoaching

Link: http://kickcoaching.com.au/2013/07/31/rugby-catching-and-the-high-ball/

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CATCHING A HIGH BALL IN RUGBY (Part I)

In this article I want to challenge your thinking on catching an attacking high ball. For the moment, at least, we will consider the important skill set of defensive catching on a separate occasion.

I want to discuss a long term observation of mine regarding “safe” catching. I am referring to the age-old technique of catching on the chest with a body rotation to protect the ball. Traditionally speaking, this has been the preferred method for players at either end of the paddock. From a young age junior ruggers are taught these fundamentals of securing the ball in the air.

But what if this is part of an attacking opportunity?

Then that’s where some “ownership” of the ball must be demonstrated by the attacking players in a contest. At this point I am resisting any comment on players that leave a high ball to bounce, risking losing possession and a counter from the opposition! By ownership I am referring to a dominance of the contest that will give the best opportunity of securing possession outright and perhaps a win result from the play. Unfortunately it is far from safe in the traditionalists eyes, but I am here to promote attacking rugby AND the fact that the required skills can be coached…..At the level of competition where winning is paramount, this weaponry is gold for any outside back.

The only sustainable advantage in an aerial contest with opposition players is to create aheight advantage using good vertical leap and catching in the hands. For me the days of safe chest catching are over for “high ball” attacking attempts. Let me qualify, there is time and place for chest marking, but so much is to gain from coaching outside backs to catch above their head in an attacking raid.

We, as coaches, should empower our players with all the tools for them to make in-match decisions to their advantage. For development coaches, this is understandably a difficult concept to promote, but we must facilitate an environment where players are trusted to make decisions as they see fit in any given moment or play. This is in fact how they will learn, right? Give them the tools and trust.….

Ok so tell me more about this catching technique….

A successful outcome will see a clean(er) catch that is easier to transition to further phase play, pass etc and using commanding height clears other arms and distractions in the air.

Many players are reluctant to train this way as it has been ingrained to catch safely on the chest. In my coaching, I work towards educating these players that with the following elements they too can catch safe and strong above their head with correct positioning of the arms, hands and pressure of the fingers.

To be continue in part II...

By Stuart Lierich / Twitter @KickCoaching

Link: http://kickcoaching.com.au/2013/07/31/rugby-catching-and-the-high-ball/

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WHY YOU NEED A COMPACT KICKING TECHNIQUE

So even though your favourite rugby place kickers all deliver with a different style, there is one significant signature that exists between them all...

As a specialist kicking coach it is a goal of mine to develop kickers to become more Compact in the way they kick. Specifically in the execution phase of the routine. We would all agree that some of the traits that distinguish a skilful kicker from the rest are: they appear smooth, they don't kick too hard and they appear rather deliberate with their approach.

Better kickers have a well developed system and process!

So what exactly is a Compact Technique? 

Watch the video below where I explain my take on the subject...

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE1gFbUNV60&feature=youtu.be

By Stuart Lierich / "Specialist Rugby Kicking Coach"

www.KickCoaching.com.au

Contributor / author on www.rugbyandfitness.com

Twitter @rugbyandfitness.com

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KICKING & CHAOS

So you have been a rugby coach for some time now. You dedicate much time and resources to gathering the latest drills to teach your troops, in an effort to find an edge over your opposition.

Well, I have news for those that are focused only on structure in an attempt to impart knowledge and develop skill. "Chaos Rules!"

Let me explain:

It is well understood in skill acquisition circles, that

Technique + Pressure = Skill

The real test of whether your players have learnt or mastered a skill is to see how they perform the movements on game day. Why? Because this is where the real pressure exists, from an unpredictable opposition trying to shut you down.

Whilst drilling improves technique & players memorise movements, the nature of a match requires players to be adaptable to various situations.

Richard Shuttleworth, a renowned Skill Acquisition practitioner (RFU) has spent much time in Rugby educating the benefits of developing game awareness. He calls it a "Hands Off Approach to Coaching."

He argues that skilled players "learn by doing and have a sound game understanding". He goes further to suggest that game awareness should be considered before individual skill development. To some traditionalists this may seem the wrong way around, but Richard is not alone. Many more rugby coaches are beginning to understand and harness this evidence based approach to player development. By presenting "problems" in a training environment, and asking players to find solutions, goes a long way to assisting skill development and game awareness (decision making).

Another globally respected skill development consultant, Mark Upton, preaches the importance of a concept called "Perception-Action Coupling" in practice design. This essentially is creating a learning environment by facilitating training activities that closely match the requirements of the game. Make Sense? How often do you run around a field marker before kicking to a target?

So it comes to my world of Kicking...

The skill generally breaks down, or only slowly develops when game awareness is poor.

I am very much committed to individual skill development, spending ample time with players on corrective measures for technique. In a group session I generally run "drop out" stations that run alongside a kicking game. These technical stations may be used for players to spend time in before being reintroduced to the game. If the game has a particular theme (punt for territory) , then the dropout stations may contain elements such as contact point, alignment to target or weight transfer.....

Start designing modified games that will have players make decisions similar to a match situation. I enjoy the chaotic nature of games for learning. It may appear of little value in the short term as often execution is compromised. But developmentally, over time learning is deeper from creating these environments with your players. This is regardless of what level of Rugby you compete.

Generally in any given session I will consider what aspect of kicking I want to teach or improve. Let's say its tactical kicking for the sideline in an attempt to gain territory and place pressure on the opposition lineout. Then I will set up a competitive game with a kick chase, defensive pressure and points for accurate kicking. All the while I am monitoring individual execution, and sometimes "freezing" coachable moments for the benefit of teaching.

What principles are you trying to teach? Can you develop a game for that principle? Don't worry if it doesn't look tidy, if you are promoting the search for solutions then the players will adapt to that. You must provide variability with session design as well.

Relax, learning is messy!

In my sessions I like to mix up the types of kicks within an activity. Box, Chip, Up & Under.....always conscious of not setting predictable patterns. Then we might play a game where the player will need to make their own decision on which kick is best, then execute it.

So now it's over to you....and while there is definitely a place for some "drilling" in a technical setting, it is the nature of well designed modified games that will develop game awareness and skill that is required in a match.

So that's why Chaos Rules!

By Stuart Lierich / Specialist Kicking Coach & Consultant

Web Site: http:/kickcoaching.com.au 
Twitter @KickCoaching

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INGREDIENTS OF EFFECTIVE KICKING

www.rugbyandfitness.com suma a su equipo de colaboradores a Stuart Lierich.

De forma progresiva, las indicaciones de éste experimentado entrenador las iremos traduciendo al idioma español. Su primer aporte es el siguiente:

Our blog adds a new contributing author. Stuart Lierich is an internationally regarded specialist kicking coach who has worked with clubs and programs at all levels of competition in both Australia & Europe. 
His methodology is underpinned by an educational focus on the technical fundamentals of kicking in rugby. Stuart provides a framework to build mechanically sound technique, Whilst in match Continually driving performance excellence through the education of strategy & decision making.

Progressively, indications of SL's we will translate into Spanish.
His first contribution is as follows:

2 Ingredients of Effective Kicking

If a Kick was a Recipe, then here’s two ingredients!

Of course there are many inter-relating factors that govern a kick’s quality of execution regardless of type. No longer is it good enough for coaches to ‘project manage’ kicking drills and expect great results come match day. In order to empower improvements from their players, coaches must get to know the relationship between sound movement principles and great kicking. In the video below I outline two fundamental elements that must be present for an out of hand kick to be effective…..YES only two in this clip, but by paying attention to these will net positive results and a great place to start!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUMPw9OE4#at=47

Link: http://kickcoaching.com.au/2013/08/01/2-ingredients-of-effective-kicking/

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