KICKING SCIENCE
CONSIDERATIONS IMPOSED BY THE GAME
1) ACKNOWLEDGE THE SHAPE OF THE FOOTBALL
An AFL ball is oval in shape with the ends narrower than the middle part of the football which is its maximum girth or width. The sides of the football have the leather components stitched together which forms a groove. Much like tennis, golf, and cricket, there is an optimum method for the placement of the hands on the football which forms the grip.
2) KICKING A FOOTBALL TAKES TIME
​
A matter of seconds. If the player is not given enough time to perform the kick at its optimum level then player holding the ball is required to make a decision. The player must choose between selecting an alternative method for disposal or to continue with the kick albeit in a compromised manner.
3) BALL ROTATING BACKWARDS THROUGH THE AIR IS IDEAL
​
In order to achieve an accurate delivery of the football from the player kicking the football to the player receiving the football, the ball should rotate backwards through the air. This increases the ball’s ability to achieve a straight flight path during its destination. It reduces the ability for lateral deviation through the air.
BIOMECHANICAL PRINCIPLES THAT GOVERN THE OPTIMUM KICKING ACTION
1) THE PLAYER MUST BE IN CONTROL OF THE BALL DURING THE KICKING ACTION
Strong ball control leads to increased kick performance. The ball, at various stages throughout the kicking action, will need to be held with one hand. The player must transport the ball from hand to foot, often while running at a high pace under tackling pressure.
​
The ball must be held in a position that complies with natural human movement; therefore, the method for holding the ball should add unnecessary body movements and the relationship the hand has with the ball should ensure efficient, organic movements that can be executed quickly.
​
The ball also needs to be held in a position that benefits the remaining key principals. This means that ball needs to be held in a way that enables the torso to achieve an upright position at impact as well ensuring the distance from ball release to impact is minimised.
2) THE TORSO, AT IMPACT, SHOULD BE UPRIGHT AND STABLE
The torso should be upright and stable at the point of impact. This enables the kicking leg to perform the swinging arc with maximum force and control. If the body is hunched at impact, this limits the kicking leg’s range of movement.
3) THE DISTANCE FROM BALL-RELEASE TO IMPACT SHOULD BE MINIMISED
The hand needs to be released from the ball prior to the kicking leg making contact with the ball. The ball is not placed into position; rather, the ball is directed, through a series of body movements, into a position that allows the kicking leg to make contact with the ball during its swinging arc.
This means there is a distance the ball must travel, without human contact, to the desired impact point. Therefore, the reduction in distance from release point to impact point is a critical component of the kicking action. The greater the distance between the point at which the hand releases the ball and the point at which the ball makes contact with the striking foot increases the chance for deviation.