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

Foot placement at ball address

Point both feet towards the kicking tee. Your left foot should be 5” in front of your right foot. Shift body weight to your left foot. You should be able to pick up your right foot without leaning left. [See picture 12.]

#12

Positions of arms, shoulders and hips at ball address

Arms must be relaxed and at your sides. Square your shoulders and hips to the kicking tee, with your waist and knees slightly bent. [See picture 13.]

#13

COMMON ERROR
Leaning too far forward.

Where to look when waiting for the ball to be snapped

Check for proper alignment to the tee and the goal posts. Look at the center, wait for the snap.

What to think as the ball is snapped

Think about getting to the ball quickly and visualizing your form.

COMMON ERROR
Thinking about the score and making the field goal instead of concentrating on your form.

Timing with the center, holder and you

Practice with the center and holder. If that is not possible, use anyone you can. The more you practice, the better your timing will be.

When to start the take-off for the kick

Focus on the tee. The holder’s left hand should be on the tee, his right arm outstretched towards the center. After you give the holder the signal, the holder will raise the hand that was on the tee, so that both his hands are in position to catch the ball. While looking at the tee, you will see the ball being snapped back to the holder. As the holder brings the ball down to the tee, start your approach.

COMMON ERROR
Starting after the ball is on the tee.

Steps

  • First Step. Approach the ball in a straight line. If your planting foot is not pointing towards the tee, then the first step with your left foot will not be towards the tee. In other words, if you want to walk north, do not point your feet west. The first step is with your left foot and is 4”-6” long. The approach must be quick.
  • Second Step. The second step is taken with your right foot; it is a full-stride step.
  • Third Step. The third step is with your left foot and is the planting step. Your planting foot must land next to the tee, with the middle of your foot even with and about 5-7” to the left of the tee. If you incorrectly stride with the first or second step, your plant foot will either be short of (ball sails left) or past (ball sails right) the tee.

Where to look when approaching the ball

Look at the spot on the tee where the holder will put the ball. After the ball is placed down, look at the spot on the ball you will kick.

COMMON ERROR
Looking at the center.

Proper take off towards the ball

Pretend you are taking off as if to jog. Jog straight toward the tee.

COMMON ERRORS:
Walking and not jogging to the ball.
Not approaching the ball in a straight line.

Foot spped at the approach

Must be quick. Jog to the ball. Speed is very important to get the kick off between 1.3 and 1.35 seconds from the time the ball is snapped.

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