Kick-to-kick
Kick-to-kick is a
Although not a sport in itself, the term is used to describe a social exercise played in parks, fields, streets, back yards and also as a
Kick-to-kick is used as a warm-up exercise of many Australian rules football clubs[2] and has been the beginnings of many clubs in far-flung places. It has long been a pitch invasion tradition in the breaks immediately after official Australian rules football matches, although as professionalism in the Australian Football League increased, the practice was discontinued at most of AFL venues.[3]
Informal kick-to-kick
The two players will space themselves about 15 metres or more apart and alternate kicking whilst the other
Variations
More formal kick-to-kick can involve multiple players, usually grouped in two bunches at either end for easier return of the ball, resulting in similar informal games, such as
Origins of the pastime
The ancient
Author Sean Fagan claims that the kick-to-kick tradition originates with rugby football in England, citing books from 1856 which make reference to the term "punt about", however although the sources mention kicking practice they do not indicate other participants catching or marking the ball or kicking it back.[7]
Kick-to-kick type practice in other sports
References in popular culture
Playing "Kick to kick football" is sometimes used by Australian rules fans as a derogatory term to describe uncontested, possession based style of play sometimes seen at the professional
Rock band TISM featured a song titled "'And The Ass Said to the Angel: "Wanna Play Kick To Kick?'" on the album Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance in 1988.[8]
Michael Leunig painted "Street Football" in 1990.[9]
The pastime inspired a short film named "Kick to Kick" by Tony McNamara in 2000.
Auskick in 2007 used the kick-to-kick tradition as part of their promotional television campaign, which shows kids from around the country kicking the football to each other to the tune of Gimme Dat Ding.[10]
References
- ^ Golightly, Earnest (3 April 1987). "Footy gets heavy, but the kick to kick lives on". The Age. pp. 1 & 3. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ^ AFL Auskick Manual Archived 27 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine; AFL.com.au, p168
- ^ "Saturday Arvo Fever". Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
It is only recently that crowds have been banned from running onto the field after a match for a game of kick-to-kick
- ^ Sports stars can help fight battle of bulge; The Age
- ^ "Ball or outdoor games". Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ^ Kids play kick to kick −1850s style from abc.net.au
- ^ "AFL kick-to-kick". www.rl1908.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008.
- This Is Serious Mum
- ^ Michael Leunig’s Street Football
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: 2008 NAB AFL Auskick Ad - Gimme That Thing.mp4. YouTube.