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

Position of hips and shoulders at ball approach

Your hips and shoulders must be square to the ball at approach.

COMMON ERROR
Pivoting the shoulders and/or hips to the left before kicking the ball, which causes the ball to go left.

Position of arms at ball approach

Move your arms as if you are running.

Position of kicking foot prior to the kick

Bring your foot back toward your butt (cock your leg).

COMMON ERROR
Dragging the leg and not cocking it.

Positions of kicking thigh and knee at explosion into ball

Both your thigh and knee must face the goal posts. [See pictures 14 and 15.]

COMMON ERROR
Pointing the thigh and knee upwards. [See pictures 16 and 17.]

#14 #15
#16 #17

Position of arms at contact

As your foot kicks the ball,your arms should be extended for balance and no longer moving as if you are running.

Foot placement and angle of planting foot at contact

The planting foot needs to be 5-7” from the kicking tee and pointed toward the goal posts. The center of the planting foot should be even with the tee. If the distance between your foot and the tee is greater than 5-7”, you will not make proper contact with the ball. If the planting foot is too close to the tee, your ankle will be the first part of the foot to make contact with the ball, and the ball will be pushed to the right.

Position of head at contact

Your head should be in an upright position. Look at the spot where the ball will be placed. [See picture 18.]

COMMON ERROR
Lowering the head and shoulders, preventing the kicking leg from completing the proper high follow-through. [See picture 19.]

#18 #19

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