Windy conditions can have a significant impact on the game of Australian rules football. This is because the field used is the largest of any of the football codes. It is oval in shape about 160 meters long and 120 meters wide in the middle of the field. Since long kicks are a feature of the game, the wind can wreak havoc on the ball.
This article looks at some of the things players need to keep in mind when playing in windy conditions.
When playing against the wind, the ball will fall short. Therefore, the players must be ready at the front of the group to take the mark. Other players, at the front of the groups, must be ready for the ball to spill in front of the group.
On the other hand, a ball kicked in the wind is more likely to fly over the package or fall out of the package’s hands and into the back of the package.
In a crosswind, here the ball will swing out the front of the pack and out the opposite side of the wind direction.
Kicking on goal in windy conditions is difficult. The player needs to drop the ball much lower to guide it towards the foot and reduce the impact of the wind on the ball as it lands towards the player’s instep.
When kicking into the wind, the player should try to keep the ball as low as possible to reduce the impact of the ball. The opposite is true when kicking into the wind. That means the ball must be kicked high to get the maximum benefit from the force of the wind to move the ball greater distances.
Crosswind kicking means the player must aim into the wind of their target and keep the ball low to reduce lateral movement of the ball.
A torpedo punt is very effective when the wind travels much farther than a launch punt. On the other hand, the drop punt is more effective and precise in other wind conditions.
The most important idea to remember is the need to guide the ball into the boot from a much lower landing position to ensure good contact with the ball.
