AFL, or “footy” as it’s colloquially known in the southern states, is one of the ultimate sports to combine match IQ with physical ability. Players must be able to outrun, out muscle and outlast their opposition whilst making intelligent decisions to move the ball toward the forward 50. This, as thousands of Aussie kids and teens find out, is no easy task, and requires ongoing passion and practise to reach an advanced playing level!
With this in mind, here are a few imperative tips for improving your skill on the footy pitch:
- Set & stick to your goals
Grab your best AFL merchandise online because it’s time to take your game to the next level. What parts of your game do you think need improving? Is it your kicking? Is it your tackling? Is it keeping your head up when in possession to find a teammate?
Perhaps you are already aware of what parts of your game could use some improvement. Or, perhaps you could chat with your coach or position coach about what you could work on to take your game to the next level. Regardless, it’s important to write these elements down and work on them at training.
Break down your goals into smaller aspects. For example, you might be a centre half-forward who is just not finding the middle sticks as much as you would like. To improve, you might want to break down your kicking sessions at training to work on things like:
- Balance
- Ball handling
- Kicking motion
- Run up
Once you know the elements of your game that could use some improvement then you can break down those elements to their finer points. Working on those finer points will help you become a better player in just a few training sessions!
- Consistent practice is imperative
Sure, training can get repetitive, but any great knows that it is the surefire way to improve your game. Plus, if you’re a passionate player then you will be pumped to join your teammates out on the training field and work on those elements that can improve your individual game and the team’s overall performance.
Therefore, it’s imperative to embrace training as an essential part of your footy game. After all, the only thing you really gain when playing the opposition is match experience, and whilst this is obviously imperative to your game, it’s important to get the fundamentals down before taking to the pitch.
So, embrace your training sessions. Take the time to think about your game and how your training sessions can improve it for when you next take to the pitch. Was there something you weren’t too thrilled about your game over the last weekend? Well, request to work on it for a while. Your coach should be more than happy to allow you to fix that part of your game if it helps the team!
- Embrace active learning
Your coaches have years of experience in the game and know their way around the pitch. They also appreciate players who want to learn and take their game to the next level. By asking questions, taking notes and showing an active interest in improving your game, you will be far more likely to get more game time than someone who passively participates in training sessions.
So, if you’re looking to take your game to the next level, and get more game time in the process, be sure to follow these sports rules of discipline for improvement!
