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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Developing the High School Kicker & Punter

by: Greg Lauri
Special Teams Coordinator, Sachem North High School (NY)
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Some of the most exciting and scary moments of a high school football game usually surround one player on your team, the young man who handles your extra points, field goals, kickoffs and/or punts. These plays usually have the coach’s heart somewhere in his throat, but if you stop to think about it, how much practice time have you devoted to this young man on his kicking mechanics and game preparation?
As a special teams and kicking coach, I understand that most high school football programs don’t have the luxury of having a coach whose sole responsibility or job is to work with the kickers. If you do have this luxury, then great! If not, then understand it is important to give these players a specific program and practice schedule that will help them achieve their goals for the season.
It is important to establish a routine that the kickers can follow from the first day of training camp, through the season, and right into the championship game. Remember, the ability of your kicker to excel throughout the season depends on a well-structured and thoughtful practice plan. The main things to consider as a special teams/kicking coach are the following:

1. Plan the kicker/punter practice time.
2. Evaluate your kicker/punter ability level.
3. Coordinate his specialized training periods.

One of the major things to consider in this process is maintaining your kicker’s leg strength throughout the season. Therefore, your thought process should be punting and kicking for quality instead of quantity. This will help your athletes achieve their goals.
Don’t make the mistake of asking your kicker to kick a great number of balls the day before the game. This will wear out his leg and lead to fatigue on game day. Don’t look to make changes to his mechanics or techniques; this is not the time to do so. Any technique or mechanic changes should be addressed in the off-season. During the season you should be focused on building their confidence, focus and execution. Your job is to take what you have and make it game-ready. By this, I mean whatever their ability level is, they need to be consistent. Remember, you need to be able to depend on them during the game.
The time before practice (pre-practice) should be used as time for stretching and warming up. It must become the kicker’s responsibility to get dressed early, be stretched and ready to go. The team’s stretch time is an excellent time to be utilized as a specialty period to work with your kickers and punters. This is usually a twenty-minute period and if used correctly, could set the tone of practice for the kickers. This is a good time to look at or work on specific kicking tasks for the week. The special teams coach should be with them as well as the snapper and holder. They will have limited time with the coach so the punts/kicks must be of quality as they learn to focus.
As the special teams coach, it is your responsibility for the training and development of the kickers. Usually there is no practice plan for the kickers either because you are not sure what to do or you do not have the time.
Chart 1 is a simple daily practice plan that you can use. Remember, just like a quarterback and his practice as a passer, you don’t want the kicker kicking for two hours. Rest is part of the plan (See Chart 1).


Chart 2 is a proposed weekly practice plan, including basic drills and the number of balls to be kicked. You should start the week with heavy workouts, kicking a higher number of balls and decrease the number of kicks as the week progresses. This is commonly known as the Pyramid Workout. You should work the leg hard early in the week and give enough time for recovery at the end of the week. (Note: look to give your kickers a day off later in the season where they do no kicking at all. This will help to bring life back into their legs).
When determining the game situations to practice, you need to evaluate your overall team performance. Is your team kicking a greater number of field goals from the hash because you are an outside running team, or, has your offense been stalling in the red zone? Should your punter be working on his coffin corner or pooch kicks to help your defense? Knowing your kickers and punters will be extremely valuable to you as the special teams coach. You have to take the time to evaluate your kickers and punters so you know what their strengths and weaknesses are. This information will allow you to focus their practice time on the areas in which they need to improve.
You can’t expect your kickers and punters to perform at high levels during a game if you have never put them in these situations during your weekly practices. You wouldn’t ask your quarterback or middle linebacker to execute a play or blitz on game day if you hadn’t given them the proper amount of work during the week.
It is important to make your kicker feel as comfortable in these game situations as possible. There is a better chance for success and their confidence will improve after executing the kicks in practice. You can increase your kicker’s success and improve the productivity of your special teams simply by having a kicking plan for the season, the week, and practicing game situations (See Chart 2).


EVERYDAY DRILLS FOR KICKERS AND PUNTERS

PUNTERS
Ball Drop

Start position kicking with foot on the line, spin the ball and set it as if you are punting. First step is with your kicking foot as you stay on the line. Your second step is with your plant foot. Extend the ball as if you are getting ready to kick, stop and pose with the ball over the line. Now execute the drop. The ball should stay straight and land flat on the ground. It is important to note that a good ball drop is the first step towards being a successful punter.

Line Drill
Start with your kicking foot on the line. The first step is with your kicking foot on the line. Your second step is with your plant foot. Swing your leg as if you were punting the ball. When you finish your shoulders and hips should be perpendicular to the line. It is important to note that you should explode down the field.

KICKERS
Line Drill
Start with your kicking foot on the line. Take two steps to your right if right footed, or to your left if left footed. Pick an imaginary spot, set your feet as if to kick, then run through your kicking steps and swing your leg. When you finish, your shoulders and hips should be perpendicular to the line. It is important to note that you should explode down the field.

One-Step Drill
Start from your regular starting point and take two regular steps backwards. Then take one big step to the right if right footed, or to your left, if left footed. Slide you plant foot backwards and get ready to kick the football. You should be on the ball of your kicking foot with your body leaning forward. Push off your kicking foot and roll into your plant foot. At this time, drive your knee down at the ball and strike the football. When you finish, try to hold your leg out towards your target that ends up down the field.

Target Practice
Your punter can either use a garbage can or four cones set up in a 3 yard x 3 yard square. The punter, from about 30 yards, will take his regular steps and try to guide the ball into the target. This will teach him control off the foot as well as how hard or soft to strike the football.
Below is a routine you can put into practice as a warm up plan for game day (See Chart 3).

• All kicks should be done with the snapper and holder starting with extra points.

• All punts should be with a snapper.

• Kickers and punters should be on the field 60 minutes before.

• Kickers/punters must stretch on their own before going onto the field.

Pre-Practice – Stretch and warm up

• 20 minutes

Team Stretch – Specific training needs and review of practice plan • 20 minutes

Practice – Do prescribed workout • 45 minutes

Rest – Be part of the team and rest your leg
• Various

Stretch – Warm up for the special teams
practice • 15 minutes

Special Teams – Participate in special teams practice • 15 minutes

(End) Team Conditioning

 

Greg Lauri has had 19 seasons of coaching experience at the college, high school and youth levels. He has also been a kicking consultant to a number of Long Island HS programs. Coach Lauri is currently an assistant coach at John Glenn High School and can be reached at
GregLauri@gridironunlimited.com.





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