Lead to Open Space

Skills

Kick Long.

Purpose

Kicking to a player who is leading at 45 degrees is a difficult skill, as players must judge their teammate's speed and angle, and put the ball to a spot they can run onto. This drill practices kicking to players leading at 45 degrees, both defensively and into attack with the flight of the ball.

Difficulty

Players

12⁺

Balls

2⁺

Cones

Step 1
(A) starts as though they have just taken a mark, then switches by running sideways across goal before kicking to (B)

(B) leads wide and defensively

Players should kick so the leading player can run onto the ball, and not have to wait under it
Step 2
(B) marks, turns and uses the space by running hard and bouncing, before kicking long out in front (C)

(C) leads wide and deep with the flight of the ball
Step 3
(C) mark, then switches by running sideways across goal before kicking to (D)

(D) leads wide and defensively
Step 4
(B) marks, turns and uses the space by running hard and bouncing, before kicking long out in front (A)

(A) leads wide and deep with the flight of the ball
Step 5
Introduce more balls to increase the intensity