Placekicking

  1. Choose Your Approach
  2. Warm-ups
  3. Stretching
  4. Kicking routine
  5. Mental routine
  6. Proper distance and angle from the ball at ball address
  7. Foot placement at ball address
  8. Position of arms, shoulders and hips at ball address
  9. Where to look when waiting for the ball to be snapped
  10. What to think as the ball is snapped
  11. Timing with the center, holder and you
  12. When to start the take-off for the kick
  13. Steps
  14. Where to look when approaching the ball
  15. Proper take-off toward the ball
  16. Foot speed at the approach
  17. Position of hips and shoulders at ball approach
  18. Position of arms at ball approach
  19. Position of kicking foot prior to the kick
  20. Positions of kicking thigh and knee at explosion into the ball
  21. Position of arms at contact
  22. Foot placement and angle of planting foot at contact
  23. Position of head at contact.
  24. Position of shoulders at contact
  25. Position of hips at contact
  26. What part of the ball to kick
  27. What part of the foot kicks the ball
  28. Position of laces, tilt and angle of the ball on contact
  29. Ball rotation on contact
  30. Position of head during follow-through
  31. Position of shoulders during follow-through
  32. Position of arms during follow-through
  33. Position of planting foot during follow-through
  34. Position of hips during follow-through
  35. Position of kicking foot during follow-through
  36. Position of head after follow-through
  37. Position of kicking foot after follow-through
  38. Where to land after follow-through
  39. Speed of ball rotation after the kick
  40. Holding the ball
  41. Which hand to hold the ball
  42. Wind direction and speed
  43. Temperature
  44. Seam vs. panel vs. laces
  45. Accuracy
  46. Indicator as to why the kick missed
  47. Increasing traction
  48. Kick-off
  49. Normal kick-off
  50. On-side kick-off
  51. Practice Drills
  52. Height
  53. Maximum Distance
  54. Quick kick
  55. Bad holder
  56. Weekly workout schedule
  57. Game day schedule
  58. Miscellaneous
  59. Adjustments for missed kicks
  60. Injuries
  61. Weight training
  62. Equipmen
  63. Glossary

Kicking Glossary

Ball Address: The act of standing in the ready position prior to the snap of the ball to the holder.

Center: The second most important man on the field goal unit. He snaps the ball back (hopefully quickly) and accurately, to the holder. Always thank him, regardless of whether the snap is good or bad.

Contact point: The area on your kicking foot that must come in contact with the ball.

Foot Speed: How fast you get to the ball.

Holder: The most important man on the field goal unit besides you. He catches the ball from the center and places the ball in the exact position and angle you need for a successful kick. Always praise him regardless of whether the hold was good or bad.

Laces: Stitching on the ball.

Mental Routine: Also referred to as visualization. Picture yourself performing the kick using the perfect form you have used time and time again. The object is for your mind to see what you are supposed to do, and your mind will tell your muscles to perform the same techniques.

On-side kick: The ball is kicked 10 yards, generally to the left or right side of the field, between the hash marks and the out-of-bounds line.

Panel: Each football is made up of four panels.

Planting Foot: The foot that is placed next to the kicking tee prior to kicking the ball.

Seam: Each one of the four panels is stitched together at the seam.

Squib Kick: A low line drive over the front line of the opposition on a kick-off.

Stride Length: The distance between the toe of one leg and the heel of the other when walking or running.

Sweet Spot: The THUNK heard when the foot makes optimum contact with the ball. The sweet spot is two inches below the center of the ball.

Thunk: The sound heard when the foot makes optimum contact with the ball.

Visualization: The act of seeing yourself kick the ball, using all of the proper techniques.

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