The Art of Punting: What is Needed to Coach Punting Properly
by: Mike McCabe©
More from this issue
You must set a punting and kicking training program that has an
emphasis on technique development. Regardless of the level of performance
your punter has accomplished, a period of technique evaluation,
film evaluation and drill development is needed. Too many punters
that just kick for their training will be their downfall. The player
can develop bad habits if a proper training program is not in place.
The training program I will show and explain to you is important
towards maximizing your punter’s ability.
Proper technique and training is the foundation for being a consistent and effective
performer. Working on their fundamentals to perfect the proper technique is what
needs to be developed to successfully execute the skill of punting.
The first set of photos you will see is what most punters have learned, the result
of this is that you will only be an average punter – not a real weapon.
I will explain to you what needs to be adjusted in their technique for maximum
performance. (See Photos 1-3)
Photo 1. |
Photo 2. |
Photo 3. |
The Stance: Feet, head and body pointing toward the direction
you want to punt the ball down field. Your weight must be evenly
distributed and on the balls
of your feet.
Hips and shoulders square but your shoulders should be over your toes as though
you are almost leaning forward. Your knees should be slightly bent. (See Photo
1)
Feet: Your kicking foot in front of the plant foot slightly ahead – feet
inside shoulder width. If you are to use a shuffle start your plant foot will
be slightly ahead of your kicking foot. The shuffle builds more momentem into
the punt – right foot kicks back and down, the plant foot jab steps 6
inches forward. (See Photo 4)
Leg alignment: The punter must line his right or left kicking leg over the center
so the ball is received over the kicking leg.
Receiving the ball: Every punter I have coached starts with their arms and
hands straight down. The problem with this is that you have to move your arms
and hands
to catch the ball to adjust for proper alignment to place it on your drop table
(Drop table goes from your soloplex-mid chest (See Photos 1 & 7). This
takes time for a punter to accomplish this witch will affect his get-off time,
alignment,
and drop placement. This will also affect his reaction time if he receives
a bad snap. Example: fumbling the ball.
Punters make this motion when the ball is 3-4 yards from them (See Photo 2)
and when they receive the ball they bring the ball right back down on their
first
step (See Photo 3). This happens because of muscle memory and lack of drill
training. You’ve already told your mind it is ok to have your arms to your side.
(See Photos 4 & 5)
Just as the long snapper is to fire that ball back to you, your arms must be
in front of you, palms facing up and fingers open showing a target for the snapper
with a slight bend at the elbows. Do not bring the ball into your body when you
receive it. (See Photo 4)
Photo 4. |
Photo 5. |
Photo 6. |
If you have a high snap your hands are there with a quicker reaction
time then if they are by your side. If the snap is low you can
scoop the ball and place
it on the drop table for proper alignment.
Once you have received the snap immediately turn the ball to its proper position
laces up. A lot of coaches want the ball 5 degrees inside. Why would you
do that when the ball naturally will turn 5 degrees on it’s own from
the force of body movement and drop. If you turn the ball 5 degrees then
your ball
will
turn 10 degrees to the inside of your body and you will only turn over 55%
of your punts or, the punts will fish tail, go end over end, or shank. Keep
the
ball straight down field and do not look at laces for alignment with your
right eye for that will have the ball on the inside of your leg. Look at
the inside
logo of ball with your right eye (right legged punters) left legged use left
eye. This will allow you to line the ball over the center of your leg. Tuck
the elbow inside but not next to your body; that is, in front of you over
the center
of your kicking leg. (See Photo 5)
Proper Hand Placement of the ball:
The ball must not be dropped but float to the foot for proper hitting position.
Every coach teaches different ways to hold a football. A lot of coaches teach
a player to hold or grip the ball with the hand on top of the ball or held by
the nose. The problem is that the ball when released will have a quicker descent
for the drop. It also can leave your release arm still tucked into the body which
will leave the ball too close to the body and will cause the punter to lean back.
(See Photo 6)
At left (Photo 7.) is Freddie Capshaw – former Miami Hurricanes punter
and Ray Guy Award Finalist. We teach to hold the ball underhand – or to
the side a little (as in picture). The hand is on the side of the ball with the
first and second finger under the stitch line – outside of ball – side
of ball and the third and fourth finger under the ball. The thumb would be
on the inside of the ball and inside of body. The right eye is looking at
the inside
logo of ball. The back point of the ball would fit in the palm pocket and
the ball is straight not turned laces up. (See Photo 7)
One of the finest punters in Miami history, Freddie is one of the best punters
I have seen and in 2003 was with San Francisco 49er’s in pre-season.
Photo 7. |
Photo 8. |
Photo 9. |
The Under Hand Placement: This is a similar hold as the side hold
except that the thumb finger is on the right side next to the
logo outside of body
(example
- Wilson, Nike, etc.). The hand is at the back of the ball underneath and
fingers spread the ring finger on the seam. The right eye is looking at the
inside
logo of ball. The back point of the ball would fit in the palm pocket and
the ball
is straight – not turned laces up. This will allow the ball to float
out then just drop quickly past the impact point. The point of this is to
get the
ball to float out to your foot with minimal descent – almost like a
trap door – punting it out of your hands. Your drop would only descent
a foot to a foot and a half not three feet. (See Photo 8)
The Approach and drop: Your shoulders would be ahead of the hips square to
point of target. The first step is a short natural walking step; do not overstride
on steps or your body will pass your impact point which will cause the punter
to lean back – (like he is sitting in a chair) and the ball would be
by his knee. (See Photo 6)
The second step is parallel remaining square but a walking stride. This will
keep your body square for ball contact and leg lock and will eliminate crossovers
and from over- striding on the second step. (See Photo 9) You have 3-4 yards
for impact point. Any more will result in a blocked punt. You must have a
short second step, not overstride to pop your hips through the ball. We call
it short
step and pop. First step is walking stride and second is walking stride but
moving quickly into the punt towards target direction. The left hand moves
off the ball
when you’re on to your second step (See Photo 8) with right elbow still
slightly bent.
In Photo 9 the left arm does not go past your shoulders so you do not cause
yourself to lean back. Your body weight is going forward at a 45 degree angle.
The elbow
now pops the ball forward from the bent position by lifting the elbow to
a locked position – upward to cause it to float out to impact point and not drop.
The ball releases the hand when the second step heal is to touch the ground – you
can see the sole of the cleat. As the ball leaves the hand it will float out
straight and level with a slow descent. Do not pull the drop arm downward. You’re
then telling the ball to drop down at a quicker descent. Have the arm pop – elbow
forward as you are giving the ball to someone and the arm moves to the right,
not down.
You will see from (Photo 9) the punter is not overstriding – if he was,
both feet would be off the ground and the ball would be too close to his body.
The ball is held by it’s nose and the elbow doesn’t extend the ball
to float forward as seen in the picture and the ball is too close to this punter’s
body. The nose of the ball heads for a nose dive which will cause this punter
to lean back to make contact. This will cause you to lose 35% power. When
you are air born as seen in this photo all your weight comes crashing down
on the
plant spot not generating the power to thrust a t a 45 degree loft. You then
are using your leg because your power is now behind you.
As the ball floats forward (See Photos 10, 11, 12) the punter fires thru
the ball with a popping thrust – this is were the hip and knee are pulled through
the ball. The foot meets the ball near knee height in front or just above it.
As the leg hips and knee pop through the ball this is driving your body to thrust
at a 45 degree angle downfield with your head down and shoulders forward. From
the knee down is the whip action of the leg for leg lock and ball contact which
would be (for the nose of the ball at 11 o’clock and the back of the ball
at 5 o’clock) on the bone of the foot, the ball will be floating out
and turning on its own which will be 5 degrees. The result is the ball turning
over
and high booming spirals.
Photo 10. |
Photo 11. |
Photo 12. |
Photo 13 will show from the pop action of the hips and knee the
thrust of the body launching the ball to its desired target.
The follow through: the
pop
backswing of the leg is parallel to the ground and the thigh and hip muscles
drive the
leg through the ball and the “whip” is from the knee to the ankle
firing through the ball. (Photos 10, 11 & 12). The knee and leg swing
must be straight through the ball. The leg will follow straight through and
up to
the right eye and right ear to the side of head. You will not have a cross-over
if all aspects of this article are followed. The hips and knee pulling your
body through the ball will lead to the popping noise of the ball making impact
to
foot. Your body will drive through the ball from the “whip”action,
hips and knee to leave the ground with the plant foot and the ball riding
your foot for a longer period for maximum hang time. (See Photos 13, 14 & 15)
Your body will continue downfield allowing that momentum to carry your body
to the point of target.
Photo 13. |
Photo 14. |
Photo 15. |
Corey Newton from Tusculum (Div. II punter) is featured in most
of these photos. We have selected him because he should become
an All-American next year and has
a professional leg for the NFL.
About the author
Mike McCabe
Coach Mike McCabe is both the founder and owner of One-On-One Kicking, a year-round
organization and camp to help punters at all levels. He led the nation in punting
in 1988 while at Illinois State and was with the Chicago Bears until an achilles
injury ended his career. You can reach him at oneononekicking@bellsouth.com