Kicking the Winning Goal
June 7th 2006 01:41
Expert's tips
DAVE ALRED, the England kicking coach, reveals the secrets of the trade:
1) You must mean it when you say: this ball is going over. If there’s any doubt or apology, then mentally you’re not going to achieve the outcome.
2) Think of a free punch, one single opportunity to knock out a person who is four stone heavier and six inches taller. How would you go about that punch?
It would be a slow and deliberate build-up, a very precise, measured, powerful punch. Think of the fairground hammer: its lifting up is very controlled, but when it comes down, all the power is in the last six inches of the hammer’s flight.
3) One of the side-effects of adrenalin is to rush the kick. One of the metaphors we use is to imagine that you’re in treacle and you have to slow everything down and be deliberate.
4) Take dead aim. This is a crucial part of focus; it helps to block out any interference because there is no spare conscious attention available.
“Take dead aim” means focusing on the absolute, precise spot. With dead-ball punting, “take dead aim” is probably the most crucial part of the mental preparation before executing the kick.
5) Your thoughts just before and during a kick need to be precise, specific and simple. So the key here is to think: “Right here and right now, the most important thing in your life is this one kick. There has been no past and no future.”
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Comment by Laura