Prerequisites / What You Need to Get Started

Alright, footy fans. Let’s be real for a second. You can have all the talent in the world, a booming kick, and hands like glue, but if your training gear is falling apart or you’re using the wrong stuff, you’re basically trying to win a grand final with a tennis ball. It just doesn’t work.

Whether you’re a grassroots coach trying to run drills for the local under-14s, a parent who just got voluntold to manage the gear shed, or a player looking to sharpen your skills in the backyard, the two unsung heroes of your training kit are cones and mats. They are the foundations of your session.

But walking into a sports store (or scrolling online) can be overwhelming. Do you get the flat ones? The tall ones? The ones that look like mini witches hats? And what about mats? Are they just for tackling?

I’ve put together a practical, no-nonsense buying checklist to help you avoid buying junk that will blow away in the first spring breeze. By the end of this, you’ll know exactly what to look for to build a training kit that would make even a seasoned pro nod in approval.

Prerequisites / What You Need to Get Started

Before we dive into the steps, let’s establish what you are actually buying for. This will dictate everything.

• Your Role: Are you a coach, a parent, or a player?
• The Surface: Are you training on grass, a synthetic pitch, or an indoor gym floor?
• The Budget: Are you looking for a cheap set for the backyard, or a heavy-duty set for a club that will last multiple seasons?
• The Goal: Are you marking out a ground, running agility drills, or practicing contested marking?

Once you have those answers, we can hit the checklist.

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The AFL Training Cones and Mats Buying Checklist

Here is the step-by-step process to ensure you get the right gear for your local club or personal training.

Step 1: Know Your Cone Shapes (It’s Not Just a Cone)

This is where most beginners get it wrong. You don't just buy "cones." You buy specific shapes for specific jobs.

• The Flat Disc (The "Saucer"): These are the absolute must-have for any coach. They are low-profile, usually about 2-3 inches high. Why? Because players can run over them without tripping. They are perfect for marking out boundary lines on a training oval, setting up grid drills, or creating "gates" for handball accuracy. If you are running a high-intensity session, avoid tall cones—you will have a player rolling an ankle.
• The Tall Marker (The "Witches Hat"): These are the classic 12-inch cones. They are brilliant for visibility. If you are setting up a drill on a big oval and you need the players to see the turning point from 50 meters away, this is your cone. They are also great for marking out a goal square or a corridor. Downside: They fall over easily in the wind or if a ball hits them.
• The Stackable Cone: A hybrid option. They usually have a hole in the top so you can stack them for storage. They are a good middle-ground, but they are often heavier than the flat discs.

The Verdict: If you can only buy one type, buy flat disc cones. They are safer and more versatile for footy drills.

Step 2: Consider the Weight and Material

You are buying gear that will be kicked, thrown, sat on, and left in the sun. Material matters.

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): The standard for cheap cones. They are rigid but brittle. In cold weather, they can crack when you stomp them into the ground. Avoid these if you live in a cold climate.
• Rubber / TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber): This is the gold standard for flat discs. They are flexible, heavy enough to stay put in a breeze, and won't shatter when a ute runs over them. They are slightly more expensive, but they last forever.
• Polyethylene (for Mats): Look for a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for marking mats. It needs to be rigid but not slippery.

Pro Tip: Don't buy the cheapest 50-pack you find online. You will be picking up broken pieces of orange plastic within a month. Treat this like a long-term investment—buy for longevity.

Step 3: The Mat Dilemma – Agility vs. Marking

In AFL training, "mats" usually fall into two categories. Don't confuse them.

• Agility Mats (Ladders & Dots): These are flat plastic ladders or numbered dots you lay on the ground. They are essential for footwork drills. If you are coaching a local club, a 10-rung agility ladder is a non-negotiable. It helps with the fast, sharp footwork that players need to evade a tackle.
• Marking Mats: These are square, rigid plastic mats. They are used to simulate a "marking contest" on the ground. You can throw a ball at them to practice your high-marking leap, or you can place them on the ground as "landing zones" for goalkicking accuracy drills.
• Tackling Mats: This is where you need to be careful. A proper tackling mat is usually a large, rectangular foam bag (like a tackle shield). While technically a "mat," it is very different from a plastic agility mat. If you are looking for tackling practice, you need the foam, not the plastic.

The Verdict: If you are a coach, buy agility ladders and flat marking discs first. Tackle bags are a separate, more expensive purchase.

Step 4: Color Coding is King

Don't buy 50 cones all in the same color. You need variety for drills.

• Red/Orange: High visibility. Use these for "danger zones" or the main boundary.
• Yellow/Green: Good for "safe zones" or specific player positions.
• Blue/White: Excellent for marking out goal squares or specific target areas.

When you are running a drill like a "kick-to-kick" target practice, you can say, "Hit the blue cone for 2 points, hit the red for 1." This adds a competitive edge to training. It turns a boring drill into a mini grand final battle.

Step 5: Check the Base Dimensions

This is a specific technical point for tall cones. Look at the base.

• Small Base (6-7 inches wide): These are for indoor use or gym floors. They are light and easy to move. Do not use these outside.
• Large Base (8-10 inches wide): These are for outdoor use. They are heavier and resist the wind better.
• Weighted Base: Some high-end cones have a hollow base where you can pour sand or water. These are excellent for windy days. If you train near the coast, this is a must.

Step 6: Storage and Portability

You are not a professional—you don't have a personal equipment manager. You have to carry this stuff to the car.

• Mesh Carry Bag: Most cone sets come with a mesh bag. Check the zipper quality. A broken zipper on a bag full of 50 cones is a nightmare.
• Stackability: Do the cones stack neatly? Flat discs are easy to stack and tie together with a bungee cord. Tall witches hats are bulky and take up a lot of space.
• The Mat Roll: Agility ladders should roll up easily. If they are stiff plastic, they will be a nightmare to roll up in the cold. Look for flat ladders that fold like a ribbon, not a rigid tube.

Step 7: Safety First (The "Ankle Roll" Check)

This is the most important step for a coach. Do not buy cones that are too high for the drill you are running.

If you are doing a high-speed agility drill where players are cutting at 90-degree angles, a 12-inch cone is a hazard. If a player clips it with their toe, they can roll an ankle. This is a guaranteed way to send a player to the sideline for a week.

Rule of Thumb:

• High speed / Running drills: Use flat discs only.
• Stationary drills / Skill work: Use tall cones for visibility.
• Marking contests: Use the marking mats, not the cones.

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Pro Tips / Common Mistakes

Let’s look at what the pros do and what the amateurs mess up.

Pro Tip 1: The "Ping Pong Ball" Test If you are buying marking discs (the flat ones), test them. Can you throw a ball at them and get a consistent bounce? Cheap discs are too soft and the ball just dies. Good discs have a rigid center that gives a predictable bounce, helping players practice their "marking on the chest" technique.

Pro Tip 2: Don't Use Soccer Discs for Footy Soccer training discs are usually very small and very flat. They are fine for marking lines, but they are terrible for footy because they are too easy to miss. You need a slightly taller disc (about 3 inches) so the player can see it in their peripheral vision while looking up for the ball.

Common Mistake: Buying "Kids" Gear for Adults A lot of "junior" packs come with smaller, softer cones. If you are coaching an under-16s team or above, buy the adult standard gear. The kids' stuff is for under-10s only.

Common Mistake: Forgetting the Ground Stakes If you are using marking mats or an agility ladder on a grass oval, you need ground stakes (pegs). Otherwise, the first player to run through the ladder will kick it out of shape. Look for kits that include metal stakes.

Common Mistake: The "White Cone" Problem White cones look great in the shop. On a sunny day on a grass oval, they are invisible. Unless you are training indoors on a dark floor, avoid white. Stick to bright orange, yellow, or red.

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Checklist Summary

Here is your quick-reference checklist to take to the shop or open in your browser tab.

The "Perfect" Training Kit for a Grassroots Club or Player:

• 30 x Flat Disc Cones (TPR rubber, 3-inch height, assorted colors)
• 10 x Tall Witches Hats (Weighted base, for visibility on long kicks)
• 1 x Agility Ladder (Fabric ribbon style, with ground stakes)
• 4 x Square Marking Mats (Rigid HDPE, for marking practice)
• 1 x Heavy Duty Mesh Carry Bag (Reinforced zipper)
• Optional: 1 x Tackle Shield (Foam, if you plan to do contact drills)

The "Budget" Kit for the Backyard or a Single Player:

• 10 x Flat Disc Cones (Any color, but avoid white)
• 1 x Small Agility Ladder (6 rungs is enough for solo work)
• 2 x Marking Mats (For goalkicking target practice)

The "Do Not Buy" List:

• PVC cones (too brittle)
• White cones (invisible on grass)
• Small base tall cones (they will fall over)

So there you have it. You don't need a massive budget to set up a world-class training session. You just need the right tools for the job. Get the right gear, set up your ground properly, and watch your skills improve.

Now, go grab your cones and get on the grass. The next big game isn't going to practice itself.