Technique Analysis of a Place Kick in Rugby Union

Abstract

Place kicking is a method for score points in the sport of rugby union. There are two types of place kicks:  penalty kick (occurs after a referee penalises a team)  conversion kick (which takes place after a try has been scored)To score points the ball must be kicked in between the two upright posts and over the crossbar. The place kick is one of four methods of scoring in rugby union:  conversion  penalty kick  drop goal  try The following study analysis six international place kickers. During the study, videos of the players were gathered and analysed. The main analysis technique applied was observation analysis:  looking at the qualitative aspects of the kicks  looking at phase analysis,  temporal analysis  critical features. Example of rugby posts iii Player 2 and 3 had two kicks one from each side of the pitch while players 1, 4, 5 and 6 only had one kick each. Each kick was broken down to see each step of the place kick technique. The kicks were analysed next to the Biscombe and Drewetts (2010) model of a place kick that is available to coaches and players. In the results summary it shows that the kicks observed followed the model - however some aspects of the model can be adapted to help improve the technique. Through further research and a more advanced model, a deeper analysis of the place kick can be obtained. Questionnaires could be useful to gain information about how the kicker perceives their own kicks.