Kicking Off for Pressure
It's not enough to simply kick long or short from kick offs. This article looks at the basic tactics of creating pressure from your kick offs.
There are three possible outcomes you want from a good kick off:
- Giving yourself a chance to win the ball straight back from the restart.
- Putting the opposition under enough pressure for them to make a mistake.
- Making them play the ball into a position of your strength. Most probably a lineout to you.
The most difficult of the three outcomes is to win the ball. It is, however, a possible outcome of pressurising your opponents into making a mistake. Consequently, it's best to focus on this option first.
Putting the opposition under pressure to make a mistake
A high hanging kick: A drop kick needs to be performed on a hard surface so the ball bounces up from the drop. Do not expect this to happen on a wet day or when the grass is long. The half way line whitewash is a good place to drop the ball.
The kicker also needs to generate elevation. The best tip here is cup the foot upwards to get under the ball like a pitching wedge in golf, but then to follow through like a normal kick.
Two waves of chasers: Different coaches have different names for the two waves. One wave challenges for the ball. This wave will contain the best jumpers, probably the locks and the number 8.
The second wave is there to clear up the knockdowns by either team. They spread themselves around the landing area, some ahead of the ball and some behind it.
Angles of run: The first wave should start wide and come towards the landing area so they can "eyeball" the opposition and ball as much as possible. The second wave should be spread evenly between the touchline and kicker and run towards the landing area.
The landing area: This should be the area where the kicker feels they can land the ball most of the time, preferably near to the 10m line. This can only be achieved through practise.
Kick right to give your team a greater advantage: Some coaches say that it is better to kick right from the kick off, even if the kicker is right footed. This is because most players are right handed, therefore making it easier for your chasers to challenge for the ball with their stronger hand.
Correspondingly, the opposition is more likely to be hindered with their kicks for touch, and their long passes away from this part of the field.
Control the actions of the opposition
A common strategy is to kick the ball long and force the opposition into kicking for a lineout. How is this best achieved?
A long kick into the "soft area": Most teams line up with most of their forwards between the 22m and the 10m lines. The "soft area" is behind the 22m line, where the number 8 and the scrum half (9) normally stand. Their catcher here is probably more isolated than for a shorter kick, with his supporters having to come in from the wrong side.
A low kick: A low kick travels further, especially on a windy day. The tactic leaves the catcher more likely to be isolated, and reaching for a ball travelling at a greater velocity. The catcher will, therefore, have less time to make decisions before they catch the ball, but more time once they have it.
A high kick: A high kick gives the chasers more chance of closing down the catcher.
A team with a kicker who can vary the distance of his kicks will probably want to do both.
Different roles for kick chasers: Chasers have different roles. Either winger should play an important part, trying their best to meet the opposition catcher as he receives the ball. A couple of other players should also be designated in this role.
The next wave must come up in a line, so as to reduce your opponent's options to break out.
A centre (12 or 13) or both centres should charge up the middle. Their target is to close down the fly half (10) to prevent the counter attack.
Defensive runner/counter attacker: Two players should hang back to collect a miss-hit touch finder or "up and under". This is normally the scrum half (9) and the team’s best forward runner.
Lineout strategy pre-determined: Given that the plan is to force the opposition to kick to touch, the lineout call should already have been made and before this restart.