Clean Hands with Matthew Rowell

by Kane Dewhurst | Apr 2, 2020 | Coach Development, Player Development

Key points around Ground Ball 

• Cleans hands ( 1 touch ) 
• Always look to get low using your legs 
• Spread fingers and get dirt in your fingernails when picking up the ball  
• Eyes always on the ball   
• Footwork, always adjusting feet prior to picking the ball up 
• Create challenges how many effective ground balls eg 1TOUCH and handballs can you do without error in 60sec

Start Point 

• 1.5 meter apart  Rowell to pick GB up and HB back while partner rolls ball left to right continuous effort after 60sec swap over  
• Working on footwork and continuous movement  ( EFFORT ) 
• When you HB back keep alternating hands and feet 
• Increase the length and speed of drill  

Progression 1

• Start behind the cone while your partner rolls the ball out for you to run towards once you receive GB and then HB back you must backpedal around the cone going the other way 
• Increase the speed adding in more pressure ( EFFORT ) 
• Keep a focus with your footwork eg Right HB = LF Left HB = RF 
• Increase the length of handball when comfortable 

Progression 2

• Two balls required  – Clean hands ( 1 TOUCH ) 
• One handballs the other hits the ball back with the footy making it challenging 
• Alternate hands and increase the speed as you become comfortable 
• Footwork really important always be on your toes  
• Increase the speed and  length of handball when comfortable ( EFFORT ) 

Progression 3

• One Ball required – Rowell starts with ball 
• HB to your partner who then taps the ball to an area making you work to pick the GB up 
• The player tapping the ball must look to challenge their EFFORT and change of  direction to work on agility 
• Requires a high work rate in a small area ( EFFORT )

Want to reach your full potential?

by Kane Dewhurst | Feb 24, 2020 | Coach Development, Player Development

Reaching Your Full Potential in Football  – a mental training guide for athletes and coaches – with Damien Lafont from Vida Mind. 

Many athletes and coaches have heard of the world “mental toughness”. Most people assume that mental toughness is about using the mind to be become physically tough; but it’s so much more than just being tough.

What is mental toughness?

Mental Toughness isn’t about using all your brawn and muscle and having the reckless attitude to use it in an extreme way. Though a good hard tackle and the ability to hold your own in a pack are great and noble traits for football, we also have seen many recklessness footballers that have a lot of muscle and very little know-how. Strength and the ability to “go in hard” will never go out of style in such an athletic sport as Aussie Rules; however there is much more to “making it” at the top level than physical prowess.

When does it make a difference?

There comes a time in all sport that talent, strength and fitness MUST meet a mindset equipped for sport. If an athlete or team do not have a mind that is trained and equipped for the ups and downs of the rollercoaster ride that we call sport, then they will discover that those emotional highs and lows became difficult to deal with. Soon enough, mental training becomes a necessary component in all elite sport.

Imagine you have two teams – both physically strong, both supremely fit, both with top level skill and impeccable talent; however only one of them has trained their mind for the encounter.

We all know that it’s the team who is mentally equipped for the challenge that will win. And, we’ve all seem times when the less-skilled team beats the more-skilled team through sheer determination and persistence.

There will always be tough opponents, that’s the nature of sport—but there’s always a large majority of these opponents who aren’t mentally equipped for the game. They simply have never utilised mental skills in their sport, they expect everything to happen by miracle. It’s quite strange in a way because these same athletes have spent endless hours kicking the footy, taking shots at goals, balking tackles, building strength and agility, training at the gym, stretching, watching replays….the list goes on. Many athletes are dedicated to their sport and spend countless hours perfecting their skills—but many neglect to train their mental skills. Those that do, are fully equipped and ready to play regardless of the circumstance.

“To be mentally tough isn’t only what you do on the field; it’s how you are off the field too.”

Mental Toughness is a whole new attitude to life. Mental toughness is not what you think it is. Its definition is the same as persistence “the ability to continue to do something despite the obstacles”. It does not suggest that there won’t be any obstacles, in fact it suggests that obstacles are guaranteed– to expect them. But its greater suggestion is: that YOU will continue regardless of these. This is in fact is a mental ability and a much over-looked one at that.

Why is this simple trait a mental ability?

Because once the physical is spent, once the body is exhausted and the skill level drops, you can’t rely on them to be the best part of you. They may be an ability but they are one that is declining and under exhaustion. It is here you can rely on a mental ability to drive your physical one. If you remember what true toughness is, what true persistence is (the ability to continue to do something despite obstacles) then you will have a deeper ability to NOT expect your physical to be the ultimate edge, but to use the mental edge to power the physical. Between two exhausted players or two exhausted teams; the one that uses the mental ability will over-power the one who doesn’t. It can be soul-destroying when you know your opponent will never give up regardless of what you dish out.

Teams that train toughness the right way gain an unseen edge and have a secret and noble cause. They cease to panic and become nervous because the outcome isn’t an important as the effort and endurance. However, of course if you focus on effort, the outcome steers largely in your favour. It’s a win/win proposition.

Mental Toughness is an attitude, a silent and noble one

The “underdog” is the example of it and we all secretly applaud this type of character because he or she is digging deep and using all his/her inner resources against the odds. When the external resources are reliable, the inner resources become the defining point. It’s often true in any life endeavour, not just on the footy field.

There is more to read about mental toughness in the members section of the my.vidafooty.com.au website.   If you want to have access to the rest of this resource and much more please contact us for more information.

Footy drills for small groups

by Kane Dewhurst | Feb 18, 2020 | Coach Development, Player Development

With pre-season just around the corner, we thought we would share some of the activities from the Members only area. Pre-season is a time when coaches can work with small groups on skill development and set the tone for the remainder of the season.

The goal of these activities is to maximise skill development and be more efficient when training.

The main philosophies with these activities are;

• Small groups for maximal touch
• Quality and efficient activities
• Skill Development
• Have a purpose
• Have other coaches helping with the session, rather than just one main coach

The overall goal for our junior players is to make sure they are getting the most out of their time at footy training.  We want players leaving their junior careers with fundamental skills good enough to convert into any level of senior competition.  Regardless of talent level, every player should be given the maximum opportunity to achieve their highest amount of skills.

Take a look at the follow video’s, and maybe you could implement them into your training in the future.  Our membership site already has over 150 activity video, and more are added each week. Click here to find out more!

Colour Grid.  This activity ensures lots of touch and can be modified with a range of skills.

Handball Criss Cross.  Great for warm-ups!

Kick Slide and Bounce

Multiple Grids.  An example of running small groups within a big group