AFL KICKING STUDY - 17% PROFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT IN 4 WEEKS

I'm not sure if I've referenced this study in the past but I came across it again over the weekend and it's definitely worth a look from all coaches.

Here are my notes and some diagrams to help you set this up yourself.

• Small sided same (6v5) v traditional training (cone/no opposition)
• SSG used varied shaped areas x approximately 272m2/player approx + changing constraints (rules/tempo etc)
• Each ssg ran for 4 x 3mins, 1min rest in the last 20mins of each training session, 2/week x 4 weeks
• Enhanced kick proficiency x 17% but also improved adaptability, players performed more longer kicks over 20 – 40m, made quicker decisions (more kicks within 1sec of taking possession) and applied more pressure to the opposition when they were executing a skill
• Players were also more likely to take the game on by decreasing the amount of times a skill was executed from a stationary position
• Kick proficiency assessed in small sided games is 97% successful in identifying players as novice or sub-elite
• Skill adaptability refers to having the ability to perceive/interpret their environment (ball/teammates/opposition/space) and then act on those perceptions (mark then stop/run and/or run/kick to open/marked teammate for possession/territory)
• SSG area size was 3000m2/55mx55m approx
• Week 1 was pre-testing and week 6 was post-testing.
• Week 2 was played inside the forward 50m area playing across the ground

                                           

• Week 3 was played in a rectangle area requiring players to mark the ball in a circle to score

                                           

• Week 4 was again played inside the forward 50m area requiring players to kick as soon as they took possession used 6v6 instead of 6v5
• Week 5 was played in squared area with slow/fast play responses to coaches whistle
• Variables assessed in the pre/post testing were non/dominant side kicking
• Kick proficiency rated 1 – 5
• Handball proficiency rated positive/neutral/negative
• Kick distance x 0 – 20m/20 - 40m/40m+ (there were more 20 – 40m then any other)
• Time before skill execution x less then 1sec/1 – 2secs/2 – 4secs/4+secs (a significant increase in less then 1sec kicks/a decrease in more then 4secs kicks)
• Pressure x opposition within 3m or not
• Execution movement x yes/no (saw an increase in on the run possessions)
• Receiving player movement x leading and covered/leading and open/stationary and covered/stationary and open
• Coaches and players both strongly agreed small sided games were more specific to match play, enhanced skill proficiency more, increased adaptability, physically/psychologically more challenging, enhanced tactical awareness and enjoyable = greater overall buy in