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Placekicking

Height

Place the ball 7 yards from the goal posts. Kick it over the crossbar. When you can consistently get the ball over the crossbar 10 times in a row and at least 30-40 yards downfield, move closer to the goal posts by ½ yard. Kick 10 more times. Move in another ½ yards. Your goal is to be at least 5½ yards from the goal posts. If you can clear the crossbar, your attempts will never be blocked because of low trajectory.

Maximum distance

Distance is a function of how fast you swing your leg and how high you kick the ball. No matter how strong you are, there is an optimum height for you. Kick the ball 10 times at the same height. Plot each kick’s distance on paper. Kick 10 more times, this time increasing the height of the kicks. Plot each kick. If the distance is greater, increase the height again and repeat the process. If the distance is lower, then kick the next 10 balls a little lower. Plot the kicks and repeat the process. You will find the optimum height.

Quick kick

Assume it is the end of a period or the end of the game, your team has no time-outs remaining and the clock is moving. You do not have time to go on the field and count out 7 yards from the line of scrimmage, determine the angle and proper alignment by taking 3 steps back and 2-1/2 steps to the side, or do your final relaxation exercises. Run to the spot where the ball must be placed, put the tee down and run to your set-up position. Practice this scenario over and over again until you get a good feeling about where to line up. It is important that you pay attention to the game and where on the field the ball is on third downs, in case you have to run out to try a field goal.

Bad holder

How do you deal with a bad holder? You have to practice as much as you can with the holder. Try to get a holder who is not a starting player at another position so that the two of you can practice more together. The more confidence you have in the holder, the better for you. Work with the holder during the spring and summer.

Weekly work-out schedule

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Extra points	30	30	20	15	15
Field Goals	30	30	20	20	10
Kick-offs	20	20	15	15	10
On-side kicks	10	10	5	5	5
Angle kicks	10	10	5	5	5

Game day schedule

Get out on the field first thing when you arrive at the school. Walk on the grass to see how soft it is to determine which cleats you should wear. Try to get out to the field as soon as possible to practice your kicks. If you get to the field before the opposition arrives, start your practice on their side of the field first.

	Left Hash Mark	Center	Right Hash Mark
Extra Point		3
10 yard field goal	2	1	2
15 yard field goal	1	1	1
20 yard field goal	1	1	1
25 yard field goal	1	1	1
30 yard field goal	1	1	1
40 yard field goal		1
40 yards+		2

Determine which way the wind blows at both ends of the field.

Find the maximum distance that you can reach a field goal from both ends. The coach may ask you during the game if you can reach a 35 yard field goal. If you could not reach it before the game, then he needs to know that 35 yards is out of your range. However, if there is a wind at your back and you can reach it, he needs to know that too.

If you happen to be both the punter and kicker,kick extra points, field goals, punt and then kickoff. If you only have a few minutes to practice, then practice field goals.

During the game, do not let the kicking block and kickoff tee out of your sight. When you kick off, make sure you designate someone on the team to hold the field goal block for you. The last thing you want to do is to be looking for either the kick-off tee or field goal block when you need them.

Miscellaneous

What to do when goal posts are not available
Do anything but stand around. Jog, walk back and forth, stretch, kick into the net, or air kicks if a net is not available. Practice your form, practice speed of your approach to the ball, practice on-side kicks, practice severe angle kicks.

Can the coach improve your kicking?
If the coach tells you any of the following, he cannot help you:

Do not miss next time
Keep your head down
Kick better
Kick higher
Kick faster
Kick it straighter
Take fewer steps
Take more steps
Stand closer
Stand farther away
Get new shoes
Change your angle

What to do when the coach insists you change your form to something you know is not correct

This is one of the hardest dilemmas to resolve. Depending on your ability to communicate with the coach, you will have to decide what to say. But remember that he is the coach and you must try to do what he asks, or else he may find another kicker.

There are very few football coaches who can help you with kicking form. If there is a college nearby, go visit their kicker and see if you can pick up any pointers from him.

Be ready to not have much practice time with the holder and center. Most likely, the holder will be the quarterback or receiver and they will both be busy working on offensive plays and have little time for you except when the team goes into the kicking drills.

Kickers tend to be the butt of many jokes. Take it in all in stride. You are still a member of the team with a special talent.

Be ready to be alone much of the time. Most schools have only one kicker, and there is no one to socialize with during practice or during the game. You do not have teammates to work with. Unlike other positions that have two or three players for each position, there is usually only one kicker. Chances are you will be both the kicker and punter. At best, you may have a punter who will also try to be a kicker and you will try to be a punter. Being a kicker is lonely.

There is no playbook for kickers.

No one knows how to kick but you. If you get hurt, there most likely is not a replacement.

Some players may resent the fact that you do not have to go through tackling, blocking and specialty drill.

Be ready for a lot of psychological pressure. The coach may have you try a long field goal in practice, the success of which will determine whether the whole team has to run wind-sprints at the end of practice.

Be ready to be shag your own kicks

Be ready to not have balls to kick, because the offense/defense needs them all. Be prepared and get your own set of footballs. Mark them with a big “K”. Keep them in a separate bag that you take on and off the field.

Be ready to not have a place to kick because the field is taken by all other positions

If you get into a slump, be ready for 100 suggestions to improve your kicking from people who know very little on how the kicking should be done. Be gracious, because their intentions are good.

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