Advanced kicking - the mental side of it

One-time Springbok Vlok Cilliers talks to us about the mental aspect/side of kicking and the importance of it in big games and how to cope with pressure and to deal with every kick.

I firmly believe that a kick is as difficult as you want it to be. For example: If you have a kick in the corner between the 10m and halfway line, and you said the following to yourself - it's far, it's a corner kick and what will the people say/think if I missed it. Now suddenly you put a lot of pressure on yourself and you start thinking of the outcome rather than to focus on your technique, to go through your routine and to stay calm and focus.

Another aspect that is very important in kicking is the physical aspects of kicking. If only those physical techniques are mastered, and not the mental side, you will have a tough time progressing beyond anything more than an average goal kicker - and that is assuming that you are blessed with a strong leg.

To raise your kicking game to a higher level, such when Johnny Wilkinson was on song in the last World Cup or a brilliant Daniel Carter in the 2005 season, the mental side of your game must be developed.

For me personally kicking is 90 percent mental. No matter how far, or how consistent someone can kick a ball in practice, they are not going to be successful unless they can do it when it counts in the game. To perform well in games, you as a kicker must learn/develop the ability to concentrate with every kick.

Any great kicker in the world has the capacity to stay positive no matter what the situation is on the field or during the game. Even if you missed your previous two kicks, the kicker with the best mental attitude (I call it that) can stay calm and knock the ball through the uprights for the victory.

In the Super 14 game between the Bulls and Cheetahs Derick Hougaard kicked a goal with two minutes to go, after missing three goalable kicks - that's mental toughness for me. It was a kick from 45m out.

Here's two things to work on to improve your mental game as a kicker:

1. Visualizing or Positive thinking. Here you see yourself performing well. Try and spend 10 to 15 minutes a day, closing your eyes and watching yourself make kick after kick. Close your eyes and go through your routines with every kick. It's also important when doing this, to hear the crowd noise, see a full stadium (or the grounds you regularly play at) and to get the surroundings with every kick. This will also help raise your confidence and the ability to stay positive. Visualizing that successful kick is only possible with a lot of concentration which is needed to be a great kicker one day.

2. Concentration. To help you with this is simply to stare at the rugby ball. That may sound weird, but this is to know the sweet spot on the ball. When you focused on that spot, just think how it feels when you make solid contact with the ball on that spot and then see the ball going through the middle of the uprights. If you can do this for five to 10 minutes a day, it will helps you a lot. The ability to concentrate without letting anything come into your mind is the secret to successful kicking.

I hope in this article you will find something that will helps you in becoming a better kicker.

You can visit Vlok Cilliers' website for more on kicking!