Three drills for hitting the leading forward

Forwards learn when and where to lead. Kickers learn to hit them out in front. For under 16s up to open grade.

A forward who leads at the wrong time, or straight at the kicker, is hard to hit. A kicker who aims at the chest instead of out in front makes the forward stop and wait.

These three drills work on both halves of the job. Run them in order, adding pressure as you go. Use the forward half of the ground with a ball for every kicker.

1. Lead and hit

Two lines of kickers on the wing side of the centre square. Two lines of forwards near the goal square. Forwards lead out on an angle, one side at a time.

F1 leads up and out towards the top boundary, and K1 kicks into the space in front of them. Next, F2 leads the other way for K2.

The forward leads when the kicker has the ball in hand and is looking at them. Too early and the space is gone.
Lead on an angle, not straight at the kicker. It opens up your chest and keeps the space in front of you.
The kicker aims a step or two in front of the lead, on the side away from where a defender would be.
Forwards mark with hands out in front of the eyes, then turn and play on or go back.

Coach it: "Lead on the kicker's eyes, not before."

2. Lead up, then double back

Add a defender. The forward leads up the ground, the defender follows, and the kicker goes over the top. The forward stops, turns and runs back towards goal.

F leads up to drag D away from goal, then turns and doubles back. K kicks long into the space towards goal for F to run onto.

The first lead has to look real. If the defender doesn't believe it, they won't follow.
Plant the outside foot hard to stop, then turn and accelerate.
The kicker waits for the turn, then puts the ball into space for the forward to run onto.
Defenders start passive. Build to full pressure once the timing is there.

Coach it: forwards, keep your eyes on the ball as you double back.

3. Two forwards, one space

Two forwards and two defenders inside the forward 50. The kicker comes from the bottom wing. One forward leads into the space up the ground. The other forward holds the space behind.

F1 leads up into the space. F2 waits, then pushes back towards the goal square for the next kick. D1 and D2 go with their players.

Forwards talk before the kick. Decide who leads first and keep the other space empty.
Never lead into the same space as a teammate. If one goes up, the other goes back or across.
If the first lead is covered, the kicker looks for the second forward going to the goal square.
Swap roles after every kick so everyone leads, defends and kicks.

Coach it: "One leads, one waits. Never two in the same space."

Do it in Sportdify

Set up the training session, ask players to RSVP and you'll know how many forwards to plan for.

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