Kick-out patterns

Setup

1. A kicker in the goal square with a pile of balls, four defenders and a winger up the ground.
2. Four opponents stand in the back half to cover the leads, like forwards after a behind.
3. Agree three pattern names: Short (to the pocket), Long (to the wing) and Switch (to the far side).

How it runs

1. The kicker calls a pattern, then has 5 seconds to kick out once the coach says play.
2. Players run the pattern; the kicker picks the open lead, not just the called one.
3. A mark scores 1 for the kicking team; a spoil or intercept scores 1 for the opponents.
4. Six kick-outs, then swap kickers; rotate the opponents every round.

Coaching points

• Lead at different times: one player clears space up the ground so the next one has room.
• Short leads go toward the boundary pocket, away from the corridor where a turnover hurts.
• Kicker: step out of the square and play on if the short option is open; don't wait.
• After the first mark, play on quickly before the opponents reset.

Common mistakes

• Everyone leads at once and the opponents cover all of them.
• Kicking short into the corridor where one spoil means a shot at goal.
• The kicker holds the ball too long and the leads run out of space.