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 soccer 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, players need to be ready at the front of the pack to take the mark. Other players, in front of the groups, must be ready for the ball to spill ahead of the group.

On the other hand, a ball kicked in the wind is more likely to fly over the pack or fall out of the pack’s hands onto the back of the pack.

In a crosswind, here the ball will swing off the front of the pack and come out on the side opposite the direction of the wind.

Kicking on goal in windy conditions is difficult. The player needs to drop the ball in a much lower position to guide it towards the foot and reduce the impact of the wind on the ball as it falls 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.

Kicking into a crosswind means the player must aim upwind 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 further 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 drop position to ensure good ball contact.