Coaches get a kick out of session
AFL coaches from the Central Coast and the Hunter region have been given a rare opportunity to learn from the best in the business when former Sydney Swans players Jason Saddington and Nick Davis ran a kicking master-class in Lake Macquarie on Monday night.
The concept of the session was to support and educate community club coaches on one of the most important, yet difficult to teach, components of AFL football – kicking.
In a 90 minute practical session coaches were given an in-depth tuition on the most effective tools, techniques and activities to coach AFL participants at both the junior and senior levels.
Saddington, a 162 game player with the Sydney Swans and Carlton, said the night was a huge success.
“It’s not every day coaches get the opportunity to learn the techniques of kicking by people that have spent a significant amount of time in the AFL system,” Saddington said.
“It was fantastic to see so many people come along and take on board our advice. It is hoped the lessons learned by the coaches will flow onto their club so they can improve players’ skills and ultimately their team performance.
“The AFL (NSW/ACT) is committed to creating a positive club environment and coach education is a major component of this.”
For the coaches there was no better player to teach them kicking techniques than 2005 premiership hero Nick Davis.
Davis, who will be best remembered for his four goal last quarter against Geelong in the 2005 semi-final, has recently set up a kicking school for kids with his father Craig, himself, a leading goalkicker at Carlton and Collingwood in the 1970s. Davis has also spent time in the USA trialing to be a punter in the NFL.
The kicking master-class took place at Lake Macquarie Australian Football Club and was open to all AFL accredited coaches who are automatically part of the Coach Association.
