Gaelic Football: Short or Long Kickouts
The kickout in Gaelic football decides many possessions. Teams practice short and long kickouts and learn to choose based on where the opponents stand, while a scorekeeper logs which kickouts are won and which are lost.
How to play
- Explain the adapted kickout: after a point, a goal or a wide, the goalkeeper kicks from the 13 m line (marked with cones) and all players stay outside that line until the kick (2 min).
- 3 vs. 3 plus goalkeeper drill: receivers move to offer a short kickout to the sideline or a long one to the middle; the keeper chooses depending on whether the defense presses high or sits back (6 min).
- 6 vs. 6 games on two fields with H-shaped goals (a futsal goal with two poles taped to the posts); the scorekeeper logs each kickout as short or long and as won or lost (13 min).
- Using the card, each team works out its success rate for each type of kickout and decides its strategy for the next game (4 min).
Rules
- In a contest for a long kickout, jump straight up and go for the ball, never into the opponent.
- No ripping the ball from someone's hands or pushing; the ball can only be intercepted in the air or slapped with an open hand on the bounce.
- With the ball in hand, take no more than four steps before bouncing, soloing or passing.
- The goalkeeper has ten seconds to kick out.
Variations
Easier
Defenders cannot press inside the 20 m line during the kickout.
Standard
Short and long kickouts with scorekeeper logging and 6 vs. 6 games.
Harder
The kicking team may use only one type of kickout per half, announced in advance.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: plays goalkeeper and takes kickouts by hand instead of by foot.
- Hearing impairment: the keeper points to the kickout direction before kicking.
- Low fitness: plays as the short-kickout receiver, with shorter runs.
Learning goals
- Execute short and long kickouts accurately.
- Choose the kickout type based on the opponent's defensive setup.
- Analyze kickout effectiveness with data collected by the scorekeeper.
Equipment for a class of 25
- volleyballs: 4
- pinnies: 24
- cones: 24
- futsal goals: 2
- poles: 4
- colored tape: 1
- cards: 4
- pencils: 4
Teacher tip
A soft volleyball is enough and easy to catch. Remind everyone before starting that aerial contests are no-contact, and stop play if anyone charges.
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