AFL CHANGE POINT ACTIVITY DURATION STUDY

                                          

Here's another AFL-specific study looking at how long you let training activities run based on a umber of factors.

Most of the time we see activities run for too long and the players lose interest,which us coaches see as "a drop in talk" - if there was something interesting to talk about then they would be.

Drop the footy cliches, they're just holding your coaching and your players back from improving in the current form of the game, of which I'll touch on in my next post.

Here were my notes from it:

• 5 behaviors were analysed being disposal frequency, efficiency, pressure, possession time and player movement velocity in an even numbered small sided game and each team scoring at each end of the ground
• There were 10 – 12 players/team on a 90x60m playing area with a minimum activity duration of 4mins
• For each rep, coaches chose teams mostly based on position but had different players in most sessions
• Skill data composes was disposal (kick/hb), type (in/effective), possession time (-/+2secs), physical pressure (within 3m yes/no)
• A kick longer than 40m is effective if kicked to a 50/50 or outnumber advantage for the attacking team
• Kick under 40m are effective if the intended target maintained possession
• There were 4 sequences to describe the skilled behavior during each training activity x disposal frequency (possessions/min), efficiency (%), pressured disposals (%) and disposals under 2secs (%)
• 6 iterations of a training activity were also evaluated resulting in common change point locations between 196 – 252secs (alterations in player behavior) x disposal frequency x 5 – 7/min, 71 – 88% efficiency, 24 – 54% pressured possessions, 8 – 38% possession time, velocity x 120 – 135 meters/min
• All 6 reps totaled 185 skill involvements and 29mins
• Players had reduced aggregate physical/technical performance following periods of peak high intensity in match play during 2^nd halves + 2^nd half physical activity is influenced by 1^st half activity meaning training can be designed more specifically to player activity levels
• Change point for pressure was 124secs probably from fatigue and thus defender's adapting to how they defend (space v player)
• Use change point to identify the moment a behavioral change occurs that signals the end of an activity rather then just going for time, or for a coach intervention and an added perturbation to preserve the metrics above such as number advantage to make it easier/harder for the offensive team

THE 3 WORSE FOOTY TRAINING DRILLS IN HISTORY

All cone-to cone drills can completely die off for me but there's 3 in particular that I still see constantly and that's lanework, 5 star handball and triangle kick.

I mean if I have to do these again then I'll just flat out refuse - it's lazy training design and it's lazy coaching.

At local/amateur level there's only so much time we have available to train and to waste any of it on something that is close to completely useless just does not make sense to me.

"It's just for the warm up though" I'll hear but really what are you actually warning up?

Decision making? No.

Thinking? No.

Learning? No.

You might argue that a) you're working on skill development/acquisition, or, b) getting the legs going but 1) no you're not, and, b) there's you can do other warm up activities that do that as well as the other aspects listed above.

What ends up eventuating when starting with drills that are too basic such as lanework is that then we then move to something like I'm going to describe below but we've already wasted time at the start that could be going to something far more representative later in the session and over a year this equates up to a hellava lot of time dedicated to pretty much nothing.

Now I know change is hard so I'm just going to give you 1 kick and 1 handball option that can deliver a proper warm up that activates your players physically, technically, tactically and psychologically.

Hopefully these training activities will get you thinking about how you can alter your current cone-based training activities into something with closer representation to the game and dramatically increase your chances of training transferring to games, which is kinda the point!

HANDBALL OPTION...

For full access to this coaching/training article then register for a level 1 membership at https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFL REPRESENTATIVE LEARNING STUDY

                                   

I've got a bunch of AFL-based studies from this year that provides great statistical insight into the inner workings of training and games that you can use to base your own training game plans around.

Today we look at representative learning which refers to how much your training includes literal game information and this study compared the constraint interactions and their frequency in training.

Here are the notes I took from it:

• The constraints of pressure and time in possession were assessed alongside disposal effectiveness through an association rule algorithm and then expanded to determine whether a disposal was influenced by the preceding disposal
• Disposal type differed between training and competition environments, with match simulation yielding greater representation v small side games
• The subsequent disposal was generally more effective in small sided games compared to the match simulation and competition matches
• Pressure possession is graded when the opposition defends the ball carrier from any direction
• Time in possession is graded on less or more then 2 seconds
• Effective kicks are graded as over 40 meters in length, to a 50/50 contest or better or a kick less then 40m that maintains possession
• Association rules were a) kick/under no pressure/possession time under 2secs, b) kick/under no pressure/possession time over 2secs, c) kick/under pressure/time in possession under 2secs, d) kick/under pressure/time in possession over 2secs, e) handball/under no pressure/time in possession under 2secs, f) handball/under no pressure/time in possession over 2secs, g) handball/under pressure/time in possession under 2secs and h) handball/under pressure/time in possession over 2secs
• The lowest support was rule E and highest was rule G
• Match simulation greater reflected game representation v small sided games
• Rule G has highest support in match simulation v rule D in small sided games
• Occurrences of sequential rules were similar in match simulation v small sided games
• The 3^rd disposal in the sequence was more likely to be effective in small sided games relative to games and match simulation
• The frequency of the 3^rd disposal being effective ranged from 54% – 89% for games, 49% – 84% for match simulation and 77% – 88% for small sided games
• 3^rd disposal effectiveness in games was +70% with only 6 sequences less then 70% v 28% sequences in match simulation resulting in -70% effectiveness
• Match simulation was more similar to games v small sided games in regards to disposal type but games incurred a greater frequency of pressured handball’s performed with in 2secs (Rule G) relative to match simulation
• The difference between training and games can be from activities intentionally favoring a specific disposal type (kick or handball) as well as less pressure v games and this can help with task manipulation to ensure adequate representation such as big and small spaces to encourage no pressure and/or pressured disposals

AFLW GRAND FINAL GAME ANALYSIS

 

North Melbourne were just far more superior over the weekend, not even giving the Lions a sniff of a sniff!

Hopefully teams go to work on what North do and how they do it and we get a more aesthetically pleasing product in the years to come, after a drop in quality this season.

In the last game analysis for the year we look at:

• Excellent deception used by Brisbane
• Brisbane wing crossing over the mid-line then causing confusion
•  Garner forward run
• 4 clips looking at North's around the ground stoppage set up

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

TRANSFORMING CONE DRILLS TO LIVE TRAINING ACTIVITIES

A lot of coaches are still stuck in the traditional methods of running training which means a lot of cone-to-cone stuff which is a massive misrepresentation of what the demands of a game are but it's always a case of teaching how you were taught.

I'm here to right that and have been for some time so here's another way to start your move from cone-to cone drills to  live training activities without having to do an immediate 360 flip on how you train your players and creating a huge sense of being overwhelmed and then simply resorting back to your traditional, but out-dated, ways.

What I'm presenting below is a step-by-step progression of transforming a traditional cone drill to a live training activity and if you'd like me to transform other drills you run regularly, then have a crack at developing your own progressing to transforming to a live training activity, send it to me and we can work through it together.

The cone drill we'll start with is something I ran yesterday at the school I'm doing some academy coaching at and what I've simply titled Wide Switch to Inboard Kick. Another coach actually thought to run it and had a far better name for it than mine!

LAYER 1 - Normal Cone Drill

Simples - 1 kicks to 2 kicks to 3 and so on. Red is player movement. Ball is ball movement. No decision making, no pressure, no constraints - just technique rehearsal - limited game learning - that is all.

LAYER 2...

For full access to this training activity, register for a level 3 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

MY TOP 5 REQUIREMENTS OF LOCAL/AMATEUR WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

 

For season 2025, I''ll be taking the reigns of Head Coach for the Senior Women at Reservoir Football Club, a team being re-booted after falling away during Covid, as many teams did.

Avid reader's of this blog are well aware of the game analysis I do for each and every round of AFLW that looks at different clips of how specific game moments were carried and how they could have been carried out differently to greater advantage then they were.

Some might suggest most of that is high level coaching material but this new position has forced me to go back to the basics of what will most likely need teaching and constant reinforcement on basic elements of football for the players we are able to recruit.

Here are 5 basics that I will be constantly be working on with my playing group once we start training in a couple of weeks, 4 technical and 1 tactical.

#1...

For full access to this a training/coaching article, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/. 

AFLW FINALS WEEK 3 GAME ANALYSIS

Both of my Grand Finals predicted teams made it through over the weekend in similar ways but in very different games.

North Melbourne put the foot down from the very onset with 4 goals in a blink of an eye where the Lions had to wait until the 3rd quarter before they were able to do the same.

It sets us it up for an all-timer of an AFLW Grand Final!

From both preliminary finals we look at:

• North Melbourne selfless teamwork inside forward 50
• North Melbourne's defensive plan v Port's territory-based offensive 
• North creating length on offense
• Adelaide showing layers of forward press defense
• The mechanics of the defensive wing run

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 17: MICRO GAME MOMENTS

                                                     

The last chapter covers a variety of micro game moments that didn't really fit a chapter of their own but are still critical in attending to the details of coaching modern football.

The micro game moments covered are:

• Team Pressure
• Inside Forward 50 Kick
• Full Leads
• Stay in the Play
• Space Manipulation
•  Adapatability

This follows the previous 16 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

#11 - Playing Between the Lines

#12 - Kick Out Strategies

#13 - Creating/Utilising Outnumber Advantages

#14 - Manufacturing Corridor

#15 - Overlap

#16 - Ruck Runs

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

This week I'll release the remaining 4 chapters that I have currently completed so all 17 will be available at the time you need them - right at the start of pre-season training.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 16: RUCK RUNS

                                                

If you've watched any of my game analysis videos then you'll know that I love a ruck that is proactive in becoming involved in more interactions then stoppages.  

Having another bog body around the ground is always handy and if you opposition ruck is happy playing the traditional ruck role as described above, then it's a very easy way to create outnumber advantages all game long.

This follows the previous 15 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

#11 - Playing Between the Lines

#12 - Kick Out Strategies

#13 - Creating/Utilising Outnumber Advantages

#14 - Manufacturing Corridor

#15 - Overlap

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

This week I'll release the remaining 4 chapters that I have currently completed so all 17 will be available at the time you need them - right at the start of pre-season training.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW FINALS WEEK 2 GAME ANALYSIS

A close one and a not-so-close one in week 2, with Port Adelaide coming back from the highest 3/4 time margin in AFLW history of 22pts to get the win and go through to the prelim.

Unfortunately it doesn't get easier for them going up against unbeaten North Melbourne but they've already exceeded expectations  by a week or 2 so they have nothing to lose and that makes for a tough opposition if your North Melbourne.

This week we look at:

• Fremantle defenders relaxing their focus of attention
• Fremantle not capitalising on an excellent phase of transition offense play 
• Fremantle defender with the perfect opportunity to use press forward defense, but doesn't
• Excellent Adelaide center bounce clearance
• Hawthorn creating and utilising the outnumber advantage

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 15: OVERLAP

 

The best way to play fast footy is not to get it and simply kick it forward at all costs, it's to get overlap.

The ability for individual players, and teams, to create this overlap means the ball is constantly in motion and the opposition will not be able to cover all of your offensive bases as you've given them no time to reorganise in the first place.

A scrambling defense is a vulnerable defense!

This follows the previous 14 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

#11 - Playing Between the Lines

#12 - Kick Out Strategies

#13 - Creating/Utilising Outnumber Advantages

#14 - Manufacturing Corridor

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

This week I'll release the remaining 4 chapters that I have currently completed so all 17 will be available at the time you need them - right at the start of pre-season training.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 14: MANUFACTURING CORRIDOR

 

Moving the ball through corridor is the the quickest way to goal but it also comes with the most risk.

Teams often set up defensively to cut off the corridor but it's all about how attacking you want to be.

Teams like Sydney and Collingwood attack the corridor with reckless-abandon and never shy away from doing it, as is their mindset around corridor play on offense.

This chapter will show you various ways teams manufacture corridor meaning they can still get advantages through the corridor out of seemingly thin air, whether it is covered or not by the opposition.

Like I said, corridor is a mentality!

This follows the previous 13 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

#11 - Playing Between the Lines

#12 - Kick Out Strategies

#13 - Creating/Utilising Outnumber Advantages

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

This week I'll release the remaining 4 chapters that I have currently completed so all 17 will be available at the time you need them - right at the start of pre-season training.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 13: CREATING/UTILISING OUTNUMBER ADVANTAGES

 

Playing with outnumber advantages is the foundational element of any team sport, including Aussie Rules.

We have a huge emphasise on creating free players in open space which is bloody hard with 36 players on the ground, but there is very little training to create outnumber advantages, have the team collectively identify them and then to actually utilise them to your team's benefit - and that's a huge mistake.

Only training to get players into free space means they usually need to disconnect from the play to do so and if they then don't receive the ball, they out of position to continue in the play or to defend on turnover.

It can have a pay off for you but there is also an equal pay off against you but there are better ways to go about as we'll see in this chapter.

After reading this chapter you'll have a couple of frameworks you can use to create and utilise outnumber advantage to greatly helping coaching this to your playing group.

This follows the previous 12 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

#11 - Playing Between the Lines

#12 - Kick Out Strategies

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

Next week I'll release the remaining 4 chapters that I have currently completed so 17 will be available at the time you need them - right at the start of pre-season training.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 12: KICK OUT STRATEGIES

 

The following stats come from this post.

Port Adelaide topped the scoring from kick outs in 2024 at 6.3pts per game with a single game high of 26pts.

Geelong topped scoring from their defensive 50 at 20.1pts per game with GWS getting the single game high of 50pts.

 Geelong also topped scoring from defensive center at 20.9pts per game and St Kilda reached the single game high total of 51pts.

From cneter bounce Geelong wins again at 14.4pt/game and the single game high of 45 from Collingwood.

Forward center scores were highest by the Hawks at 31.1pts/game with Sydney getting the single game high total here of 31pts.

The Western Bulldogs were the best for scoring from inside forward 50 at 23.5pts per game with a single game high of 55pts!  

Apart from the obvious that it's easier to score from your forward half then anywhere else on the ground, from the stats you can se that if you can get your defensive half ball movement on song, then you can still rack up solid scores from there on a semi-regular basis when you compared the single game high scores from each category.

This chapter will focus on kick out strategies but the process of them can still be used for general play ball movement within, and out of, your defensive half.

This follows the previous 11 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

#11 - Playing Between the Lines

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

I'm planning on adjusting my release schedule and up it to 3 chapters a week for the next couple of weeks to get them all out in time for pre-season 2025 for local/amateur coaches.

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW WEEK 1 FINALS GAME ANALYSIS

                                 

An excellent 1st up week of AFLW finals over the weekend with all games being competitive, and so they should be at this time of the year.

It's a lot easier watching 4 games v 9 anyway that's for sure!

Today we look at:

• North Melbourne stoppage formation located on one of the outer sides of the corridor
• North Melbourne going inside forward 50
• Adelaide kick out
• Essendon at center bounce clearance
• Fremantle going to ground on their own
• Essendon not trapping the ball
• Hawthorn getting length then using run from behind options through corridor

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership at https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 11: PLAYING BETWEEN THE LINES

 

If opting for a possession game during your game play, then you need to use short to medium passes.

This goes against the usual territory tactic used by most local/amateur football teams but you can use this to your own great advantage.

Playing between the lines refers to playing to open teammates positioned between the lines of the opposition's defense.

Short pass-by-short pass will not gain a tonne of territory, but if you perform these passes with relative quickness and precision, then you can break the first 2 - 3 lines of the opposition defense WHILE gaining territory which can give you far improved field position and a chance to get the ball deep inside your forward 50.

The process is that each short pass before going inside forward 50 drags an opposition player up to man the mark, opening the space they just occupied, and someone can move into it to receive.

Lateral kicks don't do this as you don't gain territory nor do you drag a defender up and out of formation, a defender from the same line simply slides across and you've moved the ball, but not the defense.

At some point the defense will then need to decide to continue to push up and man the mark or hang back, at which point you've now got multiple options to play to. 

This follows the previous 10 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

#10 - Wing Play

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

I'm planning on adjusting my release schedule and up it to 3 chapters a week for the next couple of weeks to get them all out in time for pre-season 2025 for local/amateur coaches.

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 10: WING PLAY

 

The wing position is the most structure-based position in the ground in today's football and has those players performing many different roles in any 1 game.

It requires great player flexibility,adaptability and game intelligence of knowing what role to play,when, and how, with a huge reliance on them from everyone else on the team to be successful.

It's not just a case of putting your greyhound on the wing and letting them run all day anymore, although if your winger has those physical qualities as well then that's a huge bonus, but between 2 fast wingers, the most intelligent one will win out every time.

This follows the previous 9 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

#9 - Forward Play

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

I'm planning on adjusting my release schedule and up it to 3 chapters a week for the next couple of weeks to get them all out in time for pre-season 2025 for local/amateur coaches.

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW ROUND 10 GAME ANALYSIS PART 3/3

3rd and final part of game analysis for AFLW round 10 where we look at:

• Sydney forwards working together to confuse the defenders
• Sydney kicking to the side of the congestion
• North kicking inside 50 to options coming from behind them 
• Carlton not defending inside or outside
• Hawthorn create a +1 and gets the Tigers defender caught between them
• Poor Hawthorn play on handball
• Richmond forward press defense

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 10 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/3

                               

Today we have part 2 of 3 from round 10 where we look at:

• Carlton forwards too deep to contest aerially
• North Melbourne forwards coming at to meet the ball aerially
• Sydney not getting as many numbers in front of the ball as the defense
• Adelaide not manning the mark and Geelong falling for it
• Geelong defender rolling back to the goal square and not looking for any opposition to pick up in defensive 50
• Bulldogs getting the outnumber and overlap to open space in front of goal

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 10 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/3

                             

The final home and away round is done and dusted for the AFLW and I'm sticking with North Melbourne to finally break through for their 1st premiership win by the end of the finals.

This week we have 19 clips over 3 videos which again, is more than usual but that's also more learning so the more the better!

Today's video groups a lot of forward press defense plays from the weekend then the other 2 days are a mash up of the rest.

Today we have:

• Gold Coast not using forward press defense at all
• Gold Coast not using it again but this time it results in a goal
• Carlton trying to use it but has the timing all out of whack for it to be effective
• Gold Coast deciding to use it and dramatically altering the shot on goal because of it
• Geelong also altering the kick on goal from using it
• Geelong knowing it has to happen and finally it does to cause a stoppage on a fast play going inside forward 50

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 9: FORWARD PLAY

                                                    

You've got to score to win and after all the good work from your defense and midfield, then it's in the forwards hands to finish off all the good work done up the ground.

In terms of training at local/amateur level there's a fair bit of focus put on zone defenses and stoppage formations but the forward is usually left to its own devices, relying more on the individual talent you have there more than anything else.

Increasing the forward craft of your players is essential in being effective when going inside your forward 50 and a dangerous forward lines puts a heap of pressure on the entire opposition team as they need to stay at home and defend making it hard for them to get overlap and outnumber advantages through the middle of the ground.

If you can finish great passages of play through the defensive and middle 50m areas then it's great team lifter and confidence booster but is highly deflating when it comes back out as quick as it went in.

This follows the previous 8 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

#8 - Center Bounce Clearance

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 8: CENTER BOUNCE CLEARANCE

                                                   

This is the most detailed chapter of the lot at 21 pages, 21 video clips and 24 images looking at many center bounce clearance formations you can use.

To train just choose the formations and movement you prefer, get your midfield together and get after learning them and get the timing of them down.

Center bounce clearance is the most vital part of getting field position because it's the only rime you'll have a 4v4 in a 50x50m space, if only for a few seconds or so.

If you can win out of their more then the opposition then you can start putting the other parts of your game model into the game but if you're not then everything you do is reactive and that's a terrible place to be during games.

This follows the previous 7 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

#7 - Creating/Utilising Length

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW ROUND 9 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/2

                                 

Another 9 clips over 2 videos to cover off round 9 where we look at:

• Essendon using their free player
• Essendon offensive ruck run
• Bulldogs maintaining possession but not getting the overlap or outnumber from it
• Saints not manning the mark
• Bulldogs maintaining possession and now getting the overlap and outnumber
• Elite Pritchard inside 50 kick
• Bulldogs block in aerial contest
• Collingwood going inside forward 50 then wondering why they can't score
• Collingwood ruck not contesting ball up inside forward 50

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 9 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/2

                                   

1 week of the AFLW season to go and the top 8 is a lot clearer now with what looks like Essendon now getting the 8th spot over my choice, Melbourne. 

I've compiled more videos than normal from this round so we'll have 2 posts consisting of 2 videos each.

Today we look at:

• The best way to get over alp and the outnumber at the same time
• Bannan guessing way too early and giving up a potential outnumber advantage because of it
• Poor GWS marking in their own defensive 50
• Gold Coast staying connected to the play and being too far back to make the kick inside forward 50
• Gold Coast Kick Out tactic they should use far more often
• Subpar Port Adelaide decision making giving up a certain goal going inside forward 50
• West Coast player not having enough adaptability with ball in hand
• Defender v Midfielder - who should man the mark?
• Richmond transition offense off of a kick out

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 7: CREATING/UTILISING LENGTH

                                                 

In junior football ranks of football we've got a sort of football epidemic where players are forever running away from the ball carrier once they receive a pass, and quite often far out of reach of how far they can kick.

Coaches then implore with their players to lead up at the ball and then we congest any space around the ball to go short, end up going long and the players default back to getting "over the back".

They are essentially creating length by doing this but have no idea about it, nor what else needs to be in place for this play to continue on to our team's advantage, with 666 Connection being a big factor here in how the players are organised across the field at any given time.

When coached properly, the power of length can greatly boost your territory, how you achieve that territory, overall field position and thus, your offensive in general.

This chapter consists of 6 game clips, 10 game images and 1 training activity to put this into place with your own team. 

For training it's a more a matter of first giving your players the knowledge of the game on creating and utilising length and then designing appropriate training activities that will provide opportunities to practice this.

It follows the previous 6 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

#6 - Team Formations

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 6: TEAM FORMATIONS

                                                       

"Good decisions are made from good positions"

Team formations can greatly assist in ensuring that every player on the ground is aligned with the collective process and the preferred outcome at any given time in the game.

This occurs when everyone is in their correct ground positions dependent on ball location, and goes a long way in that play looking how we want it to look such as where does the ball go, who ends up with the ball etc.

When all these are lined up then decision making is easy and you're team will look far more cohesive as the opposition.

In local/amateur football most coaches do spend time on formations but it's mostly kept to kick out zones and this suggests that formations are important enough, and this takes a look at full team formations based on different game situations and ball location. 

For lesser ability teams, formations is the best thing you can train because at least you'll be organised and that means you can defend somewhat against more attack from the opposition and also be somewhat efficient when you have possession.

It follows the previous 5 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

#5 - Exploiting the Stand Rule

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW ROUND 8 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2

                              

Here's part 2 of this weeks game analysis from round 8 of AFLW, where we look at:

• Port Adelaide going from even numbers to being outnumbered to having the outnumber
• Saints going inside forward 50 too fast resulting in the immediate turnover
• Elite team work rate from Port Adelaide
• Geelong break the Lions defense with speed!
• Collingwood hand back defenders giving them less players to move the ball with

For full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW ROUND 8 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1

                               

Back to normal scheduled programming in the AFLW and with 2 rounds to go there is still potential for plenty of ladder movement with 6 genuine 50/50 games to play that can shape the top 8.

My eventual pick is for Melbourne to take Essendon's spot in the 8 in the next 2 weeks for clinch a finals birth.

On to this weeks game analysis which is 10 clips over 2 posts looking at:

• Bulldogs using patient slow play ball movement, simply taking what the defense is giving them
• Carlton not recognising a 1v1 at the top of the goal square anywhere near fast enough
• Poor Carlton forward craft
• Blues and Dogs have a good old fashioned "spare off" - who wins?
• Dogs leaves last Carlton player to cut off transition

For full access to this game analysis register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 5: EXPLOITING THE STAND RULE

                                                           

Chapter 5 looks at the stand rule that most leagues have in place and how you can exploit it to your advantage, and a big one at that.

From a coaching and playing point of view, I personally love the stand rule as it really opens up your ball movement and can help even the worst of teams get some easy territory if utilised correctly. 

It contains 3 clips to show how this used to great affect in games followed by 4 training activity videos for your own coaching toolbox.

If follows the previous 4 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

#4 - 666 Connection

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL CHAPTER 4: 666 CONNECTION

                                                  

Chapter 4 is a big one as it introduces a new concept for most coaches - what I term 666 Connection.

This chapter is filled to the brim with information and explanations of how what it looks like, how it develops and how to train it via 11 game clips, 14 images and then 2 videos on training this with your team.

If follows the previous 3 chapters:

#1 - Forward Press Defense

#2 - Lane Running

#3 - Midfielder Running Patterns

It is now available from the register page as a stand alone product which when purchased is then emailed to you in a PDF, meaning you don't have to be a member to gain access.

If you're a local/amateur football coach then you're well aware that apart from your assistant coaches, there is distinct lack of readily available resources form where you can learn about different concepts used in football.

All coaches watch and read about footy and the different tactics and strategies that are used by are left wondering what is it exactly and how can I teach my players to do that?

That exact question is what I set out to answer in this mammoth series.

My plan going forward is to release a different chapter every Monday and Friday for 2 reasons:

1 - I want space the release time of each chapter enough to give you time read, digest and then get a handle on each chapter before the next one comes out to ease the mental load compared to receiving all of these chapters at once and then wondering where do I start? 

and;

2 - I also want to make all, or most, chapters available for all coaches before pre-season for 2025 commences so you can factor these new concepts into your plans for next season.

Make 2025 the season you positively turn your coaching practices upside down and re-energise your passion for teaching, coaching and leading your players.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 10

 

Last but not least, part 10, where we look at:

• North Melbourne creating the outnumber advantage in transition offense
• Sydney not using the numbers around them and kicking to a near-empty forward 50
• St Kilda displaying a triple layer of forward press defense for the first time (that I've seen anyway)
• Adelaide power run their way out of stoppage to a huge number advantage  

For full access to this game analysis post, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.

AFLW CONDENSED FIXTURE GAME ANALYSIS PART 9

                               

2nd last part of the condensed fixture with another 5 clips in 8mins, where we look at:

• The Dogs not communicating or being cohesive enough on defense
• West Coast not using their numbers around the ball
• Hawthorn team defense formation
• Suns set up the forward press defense trigger but the rest of the team doesn't follow
• Suns create an excellent 2v1 opportunity but fail to utilise it

Fore full access to this game analysis, register for a level 1 membership from https://aussierulestraining.com/membership-account/membership-levels/.