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All contents Copyright © 1999, George Jakowenko.
Shooters/Line Drives
This type of kick-off is used to hinder kickoff returns by making it
difficult for the receivers to catch the ball. The ball is kicked
low and with power, but not rolling on the ground, until it crosses the
25 yard line. Kick just below the center of the ball and do not raise
your kicking foot towards your opposite shoulder, and you will keep the ball
low. Hang time should be around 2.0 seconds.
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Squib Kicks
Similar to the line-drive kick-off, but the ball hits the ground earlier.
Kick the center of the ball and do not raise your kicking foot towards the
opposite shoulder, and you will keep the ball very low. Hang time will be about
1 second, and the ball will land approximately 25 yards downfield.
Onside kick-off
The ball must go at least 10 yards down field before your teammates
can touch it. On-side kicks should land between the hash marks and
the sidelines.
Line-drives - On-side kick-off
Kick the ball with medium power. The ball must hit the ground
as soon as it leaves the tee. If you kick the ball too hard, it
will go out of bounds; kick it too softly, and it may not go the required
10 yards.
High bouncers - On-side kick-off
Kick the ball on the top 1/3 to make it roll reverse end over end towards
the sidelines. As the ball rolls, it may bounce up in the air, giving
your teammates an opportunity to catch it. High bouncers, while not
difficult to perform, are very difficult to predict.
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How many balls to kick
The more balls you kick the better, about 40-50 kicks.
Accuracy
Start on the 20 yard line and move the tee past the right or left hash
marks toward the sideline. Continue moving to your right or left until the angle of the
goal posts reduces the goal post opening. Kick the
field goal from this mark to develop accuracy. Practice both left
and right angles.
Learn how to fall down
Practice falling down by having someone brush up against you after
you kick the ball. Act as if you have been run into by the defense
and fall down. Your goal is to get a “roughing the kicker” penalty.
Take advantage of the roughing the kicker penalty whenever you can.
Do not try to hold yourself up if you are hit or rolled into; fall down
immediately.
Concentration exercises
Practice “distraction” exercises. Have someone stand next to
you while you kick and yell as loudly as they can to distract you.
Have them jump up and down as you approach and kick the ball. Have
someone throw towels, shirts, or balls across your line of site as you
approach the ball.
Bad Hold
Have the holder hold the ball incorrectly on the tee. Have him
hold the ball at various angles, tilts and rotations and kick the panel, seams or lacing.
Bad Snap
Bad snaps are a way of life for a kicker, so get used to them.
Have the center intentionally snap the ball on the ground, snap it too
high, too far to the left and too far to the right.
Start-stop-restart
As you start your approach, have the holder pretend he receives a bad
snap and misses the tee the first time he places it down. This will
cause you to stop your approach momentarily. The holder then re-sets
the ball on the tee and you re-start your approach.
Missed-hold drill
Learn what to do when the ball goes through the holder’s hands.
One of two things can happen:
- The ball rolls to the holder, who gets up runs with the ball and you lead block, or
- The ball rolls to you, you pick it up and run with it and the holder blocks.
