Richo's kicking

[itsintheblood]

Positive thinking the key to kicking goals
By Matthew Richardson
August 15, 2004


I'll give you an example of what a fine line there is in football. In the past two weeks I've kicked two goals and six behinds in both the Geelong and Collingwood matches, obviously a disappointing conversion rate.

All of a sudden the focus goes back to my shooting for goal, and it's as if I've been spraying them all season. It totally obliterates the fact that before those two matches I'd managed 52 goals, 32 points - a conversion rate of 62 per cent.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not making excuses, and I know that as a full-forward probably your most important assignment is to kick goals and finish off your teammates' hard work.

Ultimately, missing half-a-dozen shots in a close game can have a deflating effect on the team and, of course, can make a forward feel like he's let his team down.

That's fair enough. While forwards might get frustrated when they feel like the delivery into the attacking 50 metres could be better, so, too, midfielders and backmen have a reason to get frustrated if they're pumping it forward, only to see that dominance frittered away on the scoreboard.

But what I find most annoying about any discussion of my goalkicking is when people suggest that I mustn't be working hard enough on my conversion, or don't care enough about it.

That's certainly not the case. What's worth remembering is that kicking for goal is as much a matter of controlling your mind as it is controlling your kicking boot. Quite often it can come down to having a positive attitude, and not putting too much pressure on yourself.

It's about not having any doubts. Some days you can't miss, other days, when you've missed a couple of shots, the goalposts look about one metre apart. Converting your first chance is crucial, it can set you up for the day.

Having said that, having a routine is definitely important.

That's why you'll see Matthew Lloyd always toss a few blades of grass in the air, even indoors at Telstra Dome. Some people would ask why he bothers, but it's all about him feeling relaxed and confident as he runs in to kick. If he didn't do it, I'm sure it might be in the back of his mind, and stop him focusing 100 per cent on his shot.

When I'm kicking well, I know that I'm doing the same thing each time. I'll pick a target behind the goals - whether it be a letter on an advertising sign or a particular person in the crowd - and aim and run directly at that. Through repetitive work at training, you know how many steps to take in your run up.

During the last couple of steps, it's important to watch the ball on to your boot, and keep your head down after you've kicked.

It all sounds easy, but it's not.

After taking a mark within range, it's easy to get a rush of blood and take a low-percentage option - like I did with a left-foot snap against Geelong. But it's better to go back, assess your options, and then make a decision.

Another part of routine is repitition. Every AFL full-forward would do a session a week - above and beyond normal training - having shots for goal. Not just set shots from 40 metres out. Different angles and distances, as well as on the run and snaps.

While it's important to have your routine, it's also important to develop it yourself. Listen to what people say, and take some advice on board, but you're the one who has to decide what works, and be comfortable with it.

I'd love a dollar for every person who's told me how I could improve my goalkicking. But if I retained it all in my mind every time I had a shot, I doubt whether I'd even make contact with the ball.

But there have been some who have offered some sound advice that has genuinely helped. The basic philosophy behind my routine was worked out after a few sessions with former Tigers great Michael Roach early in my career.

From what I can gather, the same scenario happened early in his career, when he picked up a few tips from the legendary Royce Hart.

Another who I have done some work with, is former Richmond assistant coach David Wheadon, who has a genuine passion for goalkicking analysis.

So much so that he has done an in-depth study for the AFL website. He was another with a strong belief in routine.

Perhaps one of the more interesting people we've had at Punt Road to talk to us about goalkicking was a bloke called David Aldred, a British rugby union coach who has done a lot of work with England's World Cup hero, Jonny Wilkinson.

There was a lot to be learnt from Aldred, although having spent 10 years making sure I run in on a straight line to approach my kicks, I wasn't convinced about his belief that we should have an angled run up like the rugby kickers.

At the end of the day, what it comes down to is that every forward is going to have the odd off-day in terms of having more misses than goals. It's important to try to minimise these days by going back to working on what you know: plenty of practice and staying positive (remember, at least 2.6 means you're getting a kick in the first place).

If you start second-guessing yourself, as I did a couple of times over the past fortnight, it's probably going to make matters only worse.

I guess the best way to turn it into a non-issue is to make sure you drill them through the middle the next time you play. That's what I'll be looking to do against Adelaide this afternoon.

 

[TiGeR221277]

Positive thinking the key to kicking goals
By Matthew Richardson
August 15, 2004


I'll give you an example of what a fine line there is in football. In the past two weeks I've kicked two goals and six behinds in both the Geelong and Collingwood matches, obviously a disappointing conversion rate.

All of a sudden the focus goes back to my shooting for goal, and it's as if I've been spraying them all season. It totally obliterates the fact that before those two matches I'd managed 52 goals, 32 points - a conversion rate of 62 per cent.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not making excuses, and I know that as a full-forward probably your most important assignment is to kick goals and finish off your teammates' hard work.

Ultimately, missing half-a-dozen shots in a close game can have a deflating effect on the team and, of course, can make a forward feel like he's let his team down.

That's fair enough. While forwards might get frustrated when they feel like the delivery into the attacking 50 metres could be better, so, too, midfielders and backmen have a reason to get frustrated if they're pumping it forward, only to see that dominance frittered away on the scoreboard.

But what I find most annoying about any discussion of my goalkicking is when people suggest that I mustn't be working hard enough on my conversion, or don't care enough about it.

That's certainly not the case. What's worth remembering is that kicking for goal is as much a matter of controlling your mind as it is controlling your kicking boot. Quite often it can come down to having a positive attitude, and not putting too much pressure on yourself.

It's about not having any doubts. Some days you can't miss, other days, when you've missed a couple of shots, the goalposts look about one metre apart. Converting your first chance is crucial, it can set you up for the day.

Having said that, having a routine is definitely important.

That's why you'll see Matthew Lloyd always toss a few blades of grass in the air, even indoors at Telstra Dome. Some people would ask why he bothers, but it's all about him feeling relaxed and confident as he runs in to kick. If he didn't do it, I'm sure it might be in the back of his mind, and stop him focusing 100 per cent on his shot.

When I'm kicking well, I know that I'm doing the same thing each time. I'll pick a target behind the goals - whether it be a letter on an advertising sign or a particular person in the crowd - and aim and run directly at that. Through repetitive work at training, you know how many steps to take in your run up.

During the last couple of steps, it's important to watch the ball on to your boot, and keep your head down after you've kicked.

It all sounds easy, but it's not.

After taking a mark within range, it's easy to get a rush of blood and take a low-percentage option - like I did with a left-foot snap against Geelong. But it's better to go back, assess your options, and then make a decision.

Another part of routine is repitition. Every AFL full-forward would do a session a week - above and beyond normal training - having shots for goal. Not just set shots from 40 metres out. Different angles and distances, as well as on the run and snaps.

While it's important to have your routine, it's also important to develop it yourself. Listen to what people say, and take some advice on board, but you're the one who has to decide what works, and be comfortable with it.

I'd love a dollar for every person who's told me how I could improve my goalkicking. But if I retained it all in my mind every time I had a shot, I doubt whether I'd even make contact with the ball.

But there have been some who have offered some sound advice that has genuinely helped. The basic philosophy behind my routine was worked out after a few sessions with former Tigers great Michael Roach early in my career.

From what I can gather, the same scenario happened early in his career, when he picked up a few tips from the legendary Royce Hart.

Another who I have done some work with, is former Richmond assistant coach David Wheadon, who has a genuine passion for goalkicking analysis.

So much so that he has done an in-depth study for the AFL website. He was another with a strong belief in routine.

Perhaps one of the more interesting people we've had at Punt Road to talk to us about goalkicking was a bloke called David Aldred, a British rugby union coach who has done a lot of work with England's World Cup hero, Jonny Wilkinson.

There was a lot to be learnt from Aldred, although having spent 10 years making sure I run in on a straight line to approach my kicks, I wasn't convinced about his belief that we should have an angled run up like the rugby kickers.

At the end of the day, what it comes down to is that every forward is going to have the odd off-day in terms of having more misses than goals. It's important to try to minimise these days by going back to working on what you know: plenty of practice and staying positive (remember, at least 2.6 means you're getting a kick in the first place).

If you start second-guessing yourself, as I did a couple of times over the past fortnight, it's probably going to make matters only worse.

I guess the best way to turn it into a non-issue is to make sure you drill them through the middle the next time you play. That's what I'll be looking to do against Adelaide this afternoon.

i wonder what letter or person he looks at when his 5 meters out directley in front of goal and hits the post ????????????????