I hear that there are two schools of thought about players being able to kick well on their non preferred foot. 

Some are saying that with the pace of the game as it is these days, it's best for players to work on improving their preferred foot than to spend their time on the non preferred.

My view is that you can give me a Sam Mitchell every day of the week and that players need to be proficient on both sides.

Thoughts?

If you're in tight space and can wheel around like mitchell does - it's always a bonus to be able to execute - further - particularly in planning from the opposition to corral onto the non preferred and increase the likelihood of a turnover. Watched Daisy do it a few times last night, nice kicks, just didn't quite hit the targets running out into space. 

44 minutes ago, Pinball Wizard said:

I hear that there are two schools of thought about players being able to kick well on their non preferred foot. 

Some are saying that with the pace of the game as it is these days, it's best for players to work on improving their preferred foot than to spend their time on the non preferred.

My view is that you can give me a Sam Mitchell every day of the week and that players need to be proficient on both sides.

Thoughts?

totally agree. but it's a bit late if you wait till you are at afl level. needs to be encouraged/taught at the youngest possible age

49 minutes ago, Pinball Wizard said:

I hear that there are two schools of thought about players being able to kick well on their non preferred foot. 

Some are saying that with the pace of the game as it is these days, it's best for players to work on improving their preferred foot than to spend their time on the non preferred.

My view is that you can give me a Sam Mitchell every day of the week and that players need to be proficient on both sides.

Thoughts?

Unfortunately there is only one Sam Mitchell. Until he can be cloned, there will be plenty of one sided mids. It doesn't hurt for them to practice with both sides, but I'd much rather they kick with their preferred. 

Mitch Hannah kicks with both feet - beautifully. ( but not at the same time! )

Players need to be able to kick on both feet, but the only time a player should kick on his or her non-preferred is when they are forced to.

 

Brayshaw goes pretty well on both.

Agreed with CB above though it is only important to kick on your non-preffered under pressure. It is going to be a more rushed kick anyway. Just need to be able to do it rather than picture perfect.

You used to hear stories of good young players (under 14-15) exclusively using their non preferred foot for a season so as to develop that skill.

Not sure if it still goes on.

Oops , l meant Mitch Hannan.

I'd suggest that the pace and pressure of the game actually puts even more value on being able to kick with the non-preferred foot, offering a competent alternative when being closed in on from your preferred side. Similarly, the amount of tactics and mid-week video analysis of opponents that goes on these days makes being a bit unpredictable a bit of a bonus, too.

I do wonder if there is also a general kicking benefit to putting players through non-preferred kicking drills, in that it forces them to concentrate and think through correct ball drop and so on. Anyone got advice on that?

I think the game is heading towards kicking on both, but to change the game from AFL level down you have to recruit and develop like Clarko and Hawthorn have done for footskills and that's going to be even harder to find dual sided players than finding good kicks/left footers like Hawthorn did.

The problem is kids start playing matches in under 9's and for the majority of them kicking proficiency isn't a vital skill. I want kids that age to just go out and have fun and as they progress though the years you want to see them marking, tackling, running with the ball, handballing etc. Being an accurate kick doesn't really matter until about under 15 or so when switching, kicking to leads etc becomes part of how a team plays.

But to train (or find in those rare naturals) high quality dual sided kicks and train them up it has to be more like junior tennis where you have academies and daily coaching and so on from really before the age of 10 if not ASAP after that.

I guess not every Hawthorn player is a great kick even after they develop them, so it might not take recruiting a full 22 of dual sided ability, but I'd love to see a midfield and half backline of quality players who have confidence to go on either side. 

I wouldn't hold your breath for Melbourne though. We might try more opposite foot kicking this year but unless it's a safe kick to space there's only a few in the side who I'd like to see given that license.

On 12/02/2017 at 0:28 PM, Diamond_Jim said:

You used to hear stories of good young players (under 14-15) exclusively using their non preferred foot for a season so as to develop that skill.

Not sure if it still goes on.

I did that when I was about 16. Always kicked left at training and kick to kick at school. It became natural for me to use my left if I was on that side. Sadly it was the only part of my game that was any good.

 

I've noticed a lot the past few years blokes kicking checksides on the run when pushed to their left, really surprised me as I thought kids would have developed it by the time they hit the big league

Remember that  50 metre left foot goal from Bernie Vince  at Geelong during our 2015 victory?! Inspiring!

Jack Viney 2016

Left foot kicks 320

Right foot kicks 7

needs to focus on removing the 7 right foot kicks !!!!

Has to be both, too much science going into analysing players preferred feet. Being able to kick both blows open these defensive plans. I also found it demoralizing as a defender, working like buggery to shut down a blokes' preferred side, only to watch him open it up by switching sides.

I am sure there are guys in the MCC stand who don't care which, as long as they "kick it long"!

I try to get my son to kick with both feet  from the age of 7, the little bugger hates kicking with the non preferred, 

18 hours ago, monoccular said:

I am sure there are guys in the MCC stand who don't care which, as long as they "kick it long"!

Well most of them were around when smiths teams where a long kicking side and collingwood where a stab kicking side.