Coaching Footy Aussie Rules from scratch - how to teach it?

[MoscowHawk]

Dear BFers.

I've recently started a footy competition in Moscow, Russia. We've got heaps of people turning up every week, where we have a bit of training and a short practice match.

Obviously none of these people have ever played footy before, and it's been a massive challenge to get them using even the most basic skills of the game.

We will send a team to the Euro Cup in October and I want the boys to be at least competitive. They are mainly from rugby backgrounds, so they can run, tackle and their attack on the ball is excellent.

We've been training for about 1.5 months and the problems we have are:

-They can't kick to save themselves
-They can't hit targets with handballs

No matter what I do, they just CAN NOT get these skills right.

Is there some universal technique which I can use, which will get these skills embedded in their brains, or do I just need to be patient?

Would appreciate any help.

 

[MoscowHawk]

Bump.

Dying for some assistance!

 

[LadyPants]

try to get them bouncing it until it feels natural

 

[Ghossein]

start off with hand passing, it's a relatively easy skill and will get their hands used to the new ball shape

 

[Hawk Since Birth]

If you want them to hit targets with handballs start with the players in pairs facing each other a metre apart. Get them to handball to each other and get them to take a step back every time they 'hit the target'. If they miss, get them to take a step closer and go from there. It works with little kids so you should be able to get them up to speed given time.

Kicking is much the same, keep it as easy as possible until they develop better skills.

 

[MoscowHawk]

Thanks all for the advice so far.

Seems so simple when you think about it. Handballing especially. But it's so excrutiatingly difficult.

Had some success with them yesterday, playing keepings off using handpassing. 3 in the middle, 8 in the circle. Got them talking a lot, backing each other up, and some accurate handpassing.

I think the main problem is that they're all 25+ years old and have never seen a match in their lives. Therefore have nothing to compare it to, never grew up with it.

It's taken 2 months for them to stop throwing the f****n ball Yesterday we had a practice match, and there was only one throw!

I think I'll burn a few games onto disc and give them out at the next training. 2008 GF for starters.

 

[Dean3]

Aim for 100 touches of the ball per player per training session.

 

[Covertackle]

how did it go?

 

[MoscowHawk]

how did it go?

Well in the end we went to the Euro Cup and managed to win two matches which wasn't bad!

The season is starting up soon, so I'll try a few new tactics with them. I like the 100 touches idea.

 

[The Big Sticks]

Have a look on youtube. The main skills are explained pretty well on there.

[youtube]Do2plgdfYYw[/youtube]