Skills Centre Half Forward tips

[Lockie 1]

Hi all,
Recently I started playing at Centre Half Forward (CHF) for the first time and I have been playing all right but my coach expects more from me and I'm not sure how I can give it.

I play under 13's. I'm 177 cm tall, 75kg and part kiwi.

Any tips will be great! Thanks in advance!!

 

[Big Bad Buddy]

Basically :
- Stay infront at all times
- Always lead, But not too early.
- Try to take the mark out in front of your face which gives the opponent less chance to punch the ball away.

That's about all i know.

 

[AG]

It's about timing your leads. On big grounds you can easily get lost out on the wing so you need to make sure you stay in an area where you will be the target for the next kick forward. You'll get better at reading the play with the more games you play at CHF but try not to get drawn forward too quickly.
If you are just starting don't get yourself too frustrated if you aren't taking grabs or kicking goals. As long as you are splitting packs and making a contest then you are being a big help to the team.
It's a damn good position to play, so good luck.

 

[Lockie 1]

Thanks for the help and I'll try and use these tips to my advantage
Thanks again

 

[pacemaker]

your huge for 13 and i doubt any defenders at that age could beat you in a one on one contest. Thats why i believe the coach is asking for more as for your size at that age you should be unbeatable. Those tips as mentioned above are great. Thats all you need to be doing at this age. Always practice to mark in front. If you have a brother or mate get him to kick the ball to you and always take it out in front. You can try this while your running towards the ball as its coming towards you

All the best

 

[Lockie 1]

Thanks pacemaker and I generally do take the ball out in front but I can hardly ever get a one on one with the Centre Half Back as the flanks always run in to help spoil.
It gets really annoying because I know I can take every CHB one on one easily but I NEVER get the chance.

 

[Damon_3388]

your huge for 13 and i doubt any defenders at that age could beat you in a one on one contest. Thats why i believe the coach is asking for more as for your size at that age you should be unbeatable. Those tips as mentioned above are great. Thats all you need to be doing at this age. Always practice to mark in front. If you have a brother or mate get him to kick the ball to you and always take it out in front. You can try this while your running towards the ball as its coming towards you

All the best

Good advice IMO. Try to do more than just rely on your size. I haven't played footy before, but I've played basketball for years, and some guys who are bigger in juniors just get by on size alone at that age, and when the other kids catch up in growth or they face bigger opposition when they're older, they lose that size advantage so they struggle. It's easy to just fall back on your size advantage, but make sure you're always working hard and develop the skills, smarts and fitness to play your position, as the size part seems to come naturally to you. By the sounds of it, you'll probably naturally end up a similar size to Jonathan Brown once you're fully grown, which is obviously good. I was the same height as you at about the same age, but 10kg lighter, and I'm now 194cm and 104kg.

 

[J_Moore]

Christ, I'm glad I didn't line up against you in the Under 12s. You weigh as much as I do now.

 

[Lockie 1]

Thanks for the advice Damon and will do.

 

[DoggyMania]

I just played Under 14's and I also started to play at CHF. I few things
that I learnt when playing there was, that it is good to
tell your teamates who are playing in the foward line
to push out and give each other space. That way
you have got space to lead and you can verse your
opponent 1 on 1 because your teamates have taken
there players out of the way. (You would probably beat your
opponent 1 on 1 because your pretty big.) Also, always give
2nd and 3rd leads and when leading, push your
opponent so he is on the backfoot, that way you have
got a good 2-3 metres on him. If your coach wants a
bit more from you, just give everything you have and
make the ball yours. Take your work rate to a new level.
All the best and good luck.

 

[pacemaker]

Thanks pacemaker and I generally do take the ball out in front but I can hardly ever get a one on one with the Centre Half Back as the flanks always run in to help spoil.
It gets really annoying because I know I can take every CHB one on one easily but I NEVER get the chance.

Clearly this is a tactic by the other coach to limit the impact you will have on the game, and if i was a coach on the other team i would tell my half back flanks to do the same thing.

As you get older and you become more skillful and the players you play with become more skillful they will learn that as you lead, you want to ball out in front and not over your head where you have to reach and where spoiling is easy.

Below i have written what should happen at a older age group perhaps 15s and over. 13s Football is the stage where you are starting to make the transition of playing more serious football but if i was coaching at 13s, for me its still giving everyone a go and trying out new posys.

Those half back flanks coming to spoil you isn't your fault, now i haven't seen one of your games so it is difficult for me to comment but what your Half forward flanks should be doing is also offering leads of their own in between the wing and half forward. That way those half back players that are spoiling you have to chase them. If your half forwards leads are ignored and the player who has the ball selects to kick to you at this stage you should be 1 on 1 and even if you dont take the mark these half forwards should sprint to the contest so when the ball hits the ground they quickly pick it up and either have a shot on go to the full forward.

However in summary learning to deal with having to play on 2 players now is only going to benefit you as you get older as this tactic from the other coach may be used all the time on you to limit your impact on the game. Its never hard having to beat 2 players but if you learn to beat them now as i said previous you will be an awesome player

All the best

 

[pacemaker]

I just played Under 14's and I also started to play at CHF. I few things
that I learnt when playing there was, that it is good to
tell your teamates who are playing in the foward line
to push out and give each other space. That way
you have got space to lead and you can verse your
opponent 1 on 1 because your teamates have taken
there players out of the way. (You would probably beat your
opponent 1 on 1 because your pretty big.) Also, always give
2nd and 3rd leads and when leading, push your
opponent so he is on the backfoot, that way you have
got a good 2-3 metres on him. If your coach wants a
bit more from you, just give everything you have and
make the ball yours. Take your work rate to a new level.
All the best and good luck.

yes and as the ball is heading your way at CHF the HFF who should be in front of you by now about 15 metres away should be ready to get front and centre if your unable to complete the mark. Good advice

 

[Lockie 1]

Thanks Doggymania I will tell the HFF that tommorow when we play.

Pacemaker again you have great advice and I thank you again.
And yes it would be great if I could learn to play on 2 players as it would then give me the edge over other CHF's and may help me get selected for Typans next year (an under 14 team that plays other teams in QLD)

Again I thank both of you for the advice and if you have any more I'd be glad to hear it.

 

[Big Bad Buddy]

Thanks pacemaker and I generally do take the ball out in front but I can hardly ever get a one on one with the Centre Half Back as the flanks always run in to help spoil.
It gets really annoying because I know I can take every CHB one on one easily but I NEVER get the chance.

If this is what happens, Try to drag your CHB back toward the goals more which gives you more of a chance to have a one-on-one contest because the flankers will be further up and wont have the time to get back to spoil you.

 

[bigbrev]

Well young man, u could do a youtube search for w.carey...Im sure theres plenty of hints there on how to play the possie..

 

[Lockie 1]

Ok so if I play deeper I'll get more of a chance, ok then I'll try it.
And I'll watch wayne carey on youtube and try to pick up as many tips as possible.

Thanks for the info guys!!

 

[Big Bad Buddy]

Ok so if I play deeper I'll get more of a chance, ok then I'll try it.
And I'll watch wayne carey on youtube and try to pick up as many tips as possible.

Thanks for the info guys!!

How did you go this week by the way mate?

 

[CupsKing]

Playing CHF is a difficult position to play as you can easy be caught in no-mans land and out of a position where the ball can be delivered to you.

If you draw an imaginary line from the behind posts to the centre wings on each side of the ground this will give you a guide to the area that you have to work in. Not the rules but a guide that you can look to so you aren't getting the ball too wide.

As each ground is different in size as well you will find yourself working harder on the bigger grounds so your mobility and endurance will have to be better. The small grounds will involve more contested footy.

From your starting point at the centre bounce you have to learn where to stand once the ball is in general play. Try to stay between the ball and the goals but you may sometimes have to push way up to create a two-on-ones by manning up the ruckman who is dropping back between you and the contest.

It is just as important to work up the ground to apply defensive pressure than it is to sit inside 50 and kick goals.

Reading of the play ahead and have an idea of where the ball is going to end up as your defence bring it out is crucial. A quick switch of play may mean you have to get on your bike and sprint across the ground to get to a contest.

Also knowledge of your team-mates who are kicking the ball to you is another thing. Knowing if the are left or right foot or the distance they can kick the footy is something you can pick up on while training. This makes playing the position easier.

Good luck

 

[wp25]

The key to centre half forward at any age I believe is work rate. You have to work double as hard as the full forward. Most CHFs in your comp will be lazy if the ball isn't kicked to em, or will only lead when they think they can get a goal in the end. The key is to be the focal point - everytime the ball is coming forward you should be an option. Its bloody tough to be physically and mentally fit to keep leading, but if you do that instead of standing 40 out waiting, you will do well.

Also was about that size in 13s, great feeling, was unbeatable in marking contests. 4 years later and ive only grown to 183/87, and playing full back not chf. Never know whatll happen

 

[Lockie 1]

Ok thanks for the advice you guys, much appreciated and will try and incorperate these tips into my general style of play

Thanks again!!

 

[Future Star]

CHF is i believe the hardest position on the ground to play well (coming from a CHB). Its all about not leading to early, timing your lead to when the midfield are ready to hit you up your leading. If that doesnt work put 2-3 leads in, in all different directions also try running back with the ball to open up space.