Help with High Fielding

gaatipstr

Hows it goin. This might sound a bit stupid but can anyone tell me how to improve my high fielding. Im 6'5 and am average build and because of my height im always placed midfield. But i can never seem to catch a ball from a kickout,my timing does be wrong and can never judge the ball properly. Can anyone help me. Im gonna lose my place shortly

WesternZulu

Never played in midfield...never was good at fielding but here is my advice anyway...

I heard that Willie Joe Padden, who was probably the best midfielder Mayo has ever produced, used to bring a ball to a ball alley and practice and practice and practice fielding in there.

And he was not tall but could out jump the best of them and his timing was brilliant.

Thats my 2c anyway.

GAAman

I take a ball to an empty pitch and kick it as hard as i can straight up in the air, this is not the best for when getting a ball from the kick out but it does teach you to read the ball, i would count in my head from ten down to one

10 - 4 ball in air reading where it is gonna go

3 start to jump

2 catch and hold ball

1 work away

For the other part i would suggest you and your keeper durin trainin or whatever practice between you, he is working on his kick outs and you are working on your ball work

Diabhal Beag

People take for granted how important the timing of the jump is. As soon as it drops jump (preferably forward to know you won't be body-checked on the jump).

gaatipstr

Thanks for the advice lads. Its hard to get any wall or space where i can kick it off the wall and practise so i think il go out into the field a few evenings with our keeper and get him to kick it out while i can practise my catching

Diabhal Beag

gaatipstr wrote: »

Thanks for the advice lads. Its hard to get any wall or space where i can kick it off the wall and practise so i think il go out into the field a few evenings with our keeper and get him to kick it out while i can practise my catching

You'll have an All-Ireland medal in no time

rebel girl 15

gaatipstr wrote: »

Thanks for the advice lads. Its hard to get any wall or space where i can kick it off the wall and practise so i think il go out into the field a few evenings with our keeper and get him to kick it out while i can practise my catching

Doing some bounding/plyometric work can help springing up off your feet.

What I do is off the wall as well, underarm throw off the wall, and spring off one foot up, make sure your hands are in a good position with the W shape - it is a lot about getting your eye in as well to judge it. the space I have is only about 4/5 feet wide. The underarm throw is better as it bounces upwards, overhead throw ends up with the ball going down. Getting together with the keeper is probably the best way to go as it is match specific.

teednab-el

gaatipstr wrote: »

Hows it goin. This might sound a bit stupid but can anyone tell me how to improve my high fielding. Im 6'5 and am average build and because of my height im always placed midfield. But i can never seem to catch a ball from a kickout,my timing does be wrong and can never judge the ball properly. Can anyone help me. Im gonna lose my place shortly

You could give Kieren Donaghy a bell. Im sure he could offer you some helpful advice

Radiotower

You should get a good idea of the distance your goalkeeper gets on his kick-outs then you move out the field a good bit further than where the ball lands - as your goalie is taking his run up to the ball you also start your run - its far easier to get a decent leap from running rather than a standing jump. I always liked making a slightly diagonal run because the half forward/back will usually be square infront of you but if you land diagonally to the end line you usually get away. Another important point is to keep your eyes open- sounds stupid but I always see players taking their eye off the ball at last minute and losing out.

I played midfield for years, I'm 6'1" and always rathered playing on a tall player like yourself because they never have a good leap off the ground - I put it down to playing underage you were probably a good bit taller than the rest of the players at the age-group and never had to develop that skill but never too late to work on it.